Crockpot Pot Roast Recipe for Weeknights

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Last updated on October 12th, 2021 at 03:03 pm

Is it legal to call this a pot roast if it is cooked in the slow cooker? Should it have a different name since it isn’t in a pot? Is a Crockpot a pot? Pot is in the name, after all. Whatever its called, this Crockpot pot roast recipe will make a full meal while you are at work or otherwise occupied.

It will take some prep work ahead of time to get everything set, but it is worth it for the end result. And it can be ready for whenever your family wants to sit down for dinner. This is one of those dinners that I keep going back to get more, even when I know I am full. It is too tasty!

Though there are a lot of roast options out there, I recommend going with a good marbled chuck roast. This will get you that fall-apart tender roast. Bottom round, top round, and brisket roasts can also be used. Your results may vary with those other cuts.

Either way, make sure you opt for a quality piece of meat as it will be reflected in your final results.

For the vegetables, I go with the typical carrots, potatoes, and onion. These are sturdier vegetables that take on the flavors of the beef. The carrots and onions help add a touch of sweetness. The potatoes just soak up that broth and become a smooth, salty treat.

But you can choose to replace any of the vegetables with ones that you think would work well. Make sure they can stand up to the long cook time without turning to mush. It isn’t pleasant for anyone. They need to have a little bit of a bite to them still when they’re done cooking.

Prepping the Crockpot Pot Roast

The biggest effort in prepping this meal is washing and chopping all of the vegetables. If you are planning on getting this meal in the slow cooker before leaving your house for the day, then you may want to tackle the vegetables the night before. Just wash, slice, and store them in the fridge. The next morning they’re ready to go with no effort.

To prepare everything in the morning, salt and pepper the roast and give it a good sear. This helps add some flavor and color for the final roast. Just look how good the roast looks with just a quick sear. Then just toss everything into the Crockpot and you’re good to go. Set it and forget it for many hours.

My recommendation for this Crockpot pot roast recipe is to try and build a sort of bed of one layer of vegetables, then place the roast on top off that layer and fill in around it with the remaining vegetables. I then pour in the liquids, add the seasonings, and top the roast itself with the halved garlic. See image below for reference:

Once it is done cooking, you can make a gravy. I love gravy. My wife does not. Her loss.

It is a velvety-smooth sauce that gives you a full punch of the roast flavor because we use some of the liquid that distilled in the bottom of the Crockpot to make the gravy. It starts out with a quick roux, to which we add the drippings and some beef broth. What’s not to love?

Equipment

While we were still living in Texas, we had a smaller pantry. So I guess not everything was bigger in Texas (though most things were…). And we ended up keeping our Crockpot on the floor of the pantry under the lowest shelf.

I do not remember exactly how, and nobody is naming any names or pointing any fingers, but the lid of the Crockpot broke. Shattered, to be exact. Just the top handle, the metal ring and a pile of glass were left. We kept it for a while, thinking we would just buy a new lid. But we never got around to that.

Eventually, I saw a sale, did a little (or a lot) of research, and decided to upgrade. With the advent of the InstantPot, Crockpot had to step up their game. So I ended up getting this rather large multi-cooker Crockpot when it was on sale. It is a 10-quart beast that is round instead of its usual oval shape.

And I love it. It has so many functions. I was able to sear the roast right in the multi-cooker. One less thing to clean. It is a very large one, though I do think they offer a few other sizes as well.

You can also opt to use slow cooker liners to make for easy clean-up. My wife’s family endearingly calls them Crockpot condoms. So take that as you will.

But when everything is done cooking and you’ve eaten every last morsel, you can just pull that bag out, toss it, and put the slow cooker away. They are made to be safe for heat and food.

So, go find yourself a chuck roast and make this Crockpot pot roast recipe today.

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