Dinner cooks itself with this easy recipe for Crockpot Pot Roast with Gravy. The roast is tender and juicy, and you can make the gravy in just 5 minutes.
Easy crockpot meals are a staple at my house, and this Crockpot Pot Roast with Gravy recipe is one of them.
I love a recipe where I can throw everything into the crockpot at cook it (like this Beef Stew with Onion Soup Mix).
This recipe is also one of those, but with one extra step: browning the chuck roast in a skillet first.
Browning the chuck roast first adds even more flavor to this amazingly simple dish. The combination of red wine, beef broth, thyme, and rosemary create a rich sauce for the pot roast, which we’ll use to make gravy.
The gravy is thick and smooth, thanks to a classic, fool-proof method that I’ll share below (you can also skip to the recipe card to get it).
If you’re not a gravy person, you can just spoon the juices from the crockpot over the meat for an equally as delicious dish.
If you love a saucy beef recipe, don’t miss my Beef Stroganoff with Cream of Mushroom Soup!
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Ingredients
- The recipe starts with a chuck roast. This is one 3 pounds, but a roast anywhere from 2–4 pounds works with this recipe.
- Carrots and onion add color and flavor.
- Potatoes (I used red potatoes) make this extra hearty.
- Salt, pepper, thyme, and rosemary flavor the dish.
- Red wine and beef stock create the rich sauce (which we’ll turn into gravy).
How to make pot roast in the crockpot
Start by seasoning the chuck roast with salt and pepper. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
Add the chuck roast and cook for 4–5 minutes, or until nicely browned.
Flip and cook for another 4–5 minutes or until browned on the other side.
Transfer the roast to the crockpot, and add the onion, carrots, thyme, rosemary, red wine, and broth.
Cover and cook for 3 hours on high or 6 hours on low.
Add the potatoes and continue cooking for 1 hour on high, or until the potatoes are tender.
The chuck roast should be fork tender, which means it falls apart relatively easily when you try to separate the meat with a fork.
Remove the roast and place it on a serving platter. Tent with foil to keep warm.
How to make gravy for pot roast
Ladle out 1½ cups of liquid from the crockpot. I suggest ladling it into a gravy separator, or a glass measuring cup works, too.
Let it sit for a few minutes to allow the fat to rise to the top.
Pour the juices (but not the fat) into a small saucepan. A little fat is ok though!
If you’re using a glass measuring cup, spoon the fat out before pouring. If you’re using the gravy separator, it’ll pour the juices out first, so no need to spoon the fat out first.
Bring the juices to a boil on the stovetop over medium-high heat.
Meanwhile, combine the flour with ⅓ cup water in a jar with a tight-fitting lid. Shake to combine.
When the juices come to a boil, whisk in the flour mixture. Cook, whisking occasionally, until the mixture is thickened, about 2 minutes.
Remove the carrots and potatoes from the crockpot, and put on the platter next to the roast. Serve the Crockpot Pot Roast with gravy.
Why add potatoes later?
If potatoes are cooked for really long periods of time (such as 4 hours), they become mushy. To achieve perfectly cooked potatoes, add them one hour on high or two hours on low before the roast is done.
Frequently Asked Questions
Red potatoes or Yukon Gold potatoes are best for a pot roast. Cut them into 1–2 inch pieces before cooking if they are large.
A pot roast (chuck roast) will generally be tender after 4 hours on high or 6–8 hours on low. If the roast is still not tender after that time, give it another hour to cook.
Chuck roast is the best beef cut for pot roast. It will be very tender after low and slow cooking.
A 3 pound chuck roast can be cooked in a 300°F oven for 3 hours. If the roast is larger, aim for 4 hours.
Pot roast should be fall-apart tender when it’s done. To check, use a fork to try to separate the beef roast. If it separates easily, it’s ready to eat.
It didn’t cook long enough. A 3 pound chuck roast, for example, should cook for at least 4 hours on high or 6–8 hours on low in the crockpot.
Leftovers/freezing instructions
Leftover pot roast can be stored in the refrigerator for up to four days.
To freeze pot roast, let the roast cool completely. Place the roast, vegetables, and juices in a large freezer-safe dish. Freeze for up to 2 months.
Defrost in the refrigerator for 48 hours. Reheat on the stovetop, in the crockpot, or in the microwave until hot throughout.
Serving suggestions
This Crockpot Pot Roast with Gravy is delicious on its own, or you can serve it with any of these side dishes to soak up the juices/gravy:
- a hunk of crusty bread
- egg noodles
- rice
- mashed potatoes
I like serving a green veggie on the side too, such as Garlic Roasted Broccoli or a leafy green salad.
Have you tried this recipe? Please leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating and/or comment below!
📖 Recipe
Crockpot Pot Roast with Gravy
Ingredients
- 1 (3 lb) beef chuck roast
- 2 teaspoons salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 large onion, cut into wedges
- 1 cup baby carrots
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 1 cup red wine
- 3 cups beef broth
- 1 lb red potatoes (cut into 1.5 inch pieces if large)
- 3 tablespoons flour
Instructions
- Season the chuck roast with salt and pepper on both sides. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Place the chuck roast in the hot skillet and cook until browned on one side, about 3–4 minutes. Flip and cook for another 3–4 minutes, until browned on the other side.
- Transfer the roast to a crockpot. Add the onion, carrots, thyme, rosemary, red wine, and broth. Cook for 3 hours on high or 6 hours on low. Add the potatoes and continue cooking for 1 hour on high.
- Remove the roast from the crockpot and place on a serving platter. Cover with foil to keep warm.
- Use a ladle to remove 1½ cups of liquid from the crockpot. Pour the mixture into a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil.
- Meanwhile, put the flour in a small jar along with ⅓ cup water. Shake to combine.
- Pour the flour mixture into the boiling liquid. Whisk constantly for 2 minutes, or until thickened. Taste and season with additional salt as desired. Remove from the heat and serve over pot roast.
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