Perfect Pot Roast – Spend With Pennies

Melt in your mouth tender, full of rich beefy flavor, and all cooked in just one pot, the ultimate comfort food.

Every home cook needs to have a classic pot roast recipe served with carrots, potatoes, and rich brown gravy!

This easy recipe is great for beginners and delivers incredible results every time! Chuck roasts are inexpensive cuts of beef that cook in the oven at a low temperature for a few hours. Add in a handful of veggies and some savory herbs for the perfect meal.

What is Pot Roast?

This is a classic recipe and for good reason! A pot roast is a beef roast that generally starts with a tougher cut of beef. Cooking at a low temperature for a long time breaks down the tough connective tissues resulting in deliciously tender beef with a flavorful gravy. The meat is seared, surrounded by carrots, onions, and a savory combination of herbs and spices and baked or oven-roasted until melt in your mouth tender.

This is one of the best pot roast recipes because it isn’t overly salty with additions like packets of onion soup or canned soups.

How to Cook a Pot Roast

Similar to Mississippi roast this can be made in a slow cooker (this recipe is made in the oven), but pot roast can also be made in an instant pot (or pressure cooker) too! While this oven version is our favorite an instant pot pot roast is great when you’re short on time!
Here’s how to make pot roast:

1. SEAR BEEF Add oil to the pan and sear chuck roast in oil (bacon grease is better if you have it!) until browned on all sides.
2. ADD BROTH Place the onions around the roast and add wine, broth, rosemary, and thyme. Bring to a simmer and then bake two hours in the oven.
3. ADD VEGGIES Add potatoes and carrots and bake until the potatoes are tender, about two more hours. Remove the bay leaf.
4. SERVE Cut the roast into smaller pieces or shred with two forks and serve.

Pot roast is an instant favorite! Not only is it easy to put together, but it makes for great pot roast sandwiches as leftovers with gravy or in a crusty bun dipped in the leftover juices (like a French dip). Serve this hearty and heartwarming recipe over creamy mashed potatoes and with a side of homemade garlic bread.

How Long to Cook a Pot Roast

This recipe is based on a typical chuck roast, about 4lbs (give or take). Pot roast is best cooked at a low temperature for a long period of time to break down any tough tissue.

• Cook a 3lb roast for 3-3.5 hrs
• Cook a 4lb roast for 3.5-4 hrs
•  Cook a 5lb roast for 4.5-5 hrs

Cook times can vary based on the type of roast. Check the roast with a fork, if it is tough, the roast probably needs MORE time to cook. Cover it back up and let it keep on cooking.

How to Make Pot Roast Gravy

Turn the sauce into a great pot roast gravy in only 3 steps!

1. Whisk two tablespoons of corn starch in cold water until smooth (this is called a slurry).
2. Remove beef and veggies the broth and bring to a simmer. You should have about two cups, add more beef broth if needed.
3. Whisk the slurry into the simmering broth until thickened.

Tips for the Perfect Roast

• Select a roast that has lots of marbling in it -which carries flavor and helps make the gravy absolutely mouth-watering!
• Baby potatoes are a great choice. They don’t require peeling and hold their shape well (russet potatoes tend to fall apart, although they still taste great)
• Cut the carrots and celery a bit bigger so they don’t overcook
• After searing, add a little of the broth to the pan and scrape up any browned bits, they add lots of flavor.
• Fresh herbs are best but dried ones can be used, just use them sparingly since dried herbs have a more concentrated flavor than fresh.
• Add 2 tablespoons tomato paste to the broth if desired.

Favorite Cozy Beef Meals

Did you make this Pot Roast? Be sure to leave a comment and a rating below!