15 Slow Cooker Pot Roast Recipes for an Easy Savory Meal (2024)

Mix up your usual set-and-forget routine with one of these slow cooker pot roast recipes. You'll find all sorts of delectable twists on beef and pork pot roast—Philly cheesesteak, paprikash, and a German slow cooker pot roast are just the start. Sunday night dinners have never been more delicious.

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Italian Pot Roast with Penne

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Slow-cooked beef and vegetables get a hint of anise flavor from fennel and a taste of Italy from tomato-basil pasta sauce (if you want a truly easy slow cooker pot roast recipe, this one uses jarred pasta sauce to speed up the prep). Serve this Mediterranean pot roast recipe over pasta for an extra hearty meal.

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Balsamic Beef Roast with Polenta

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Instead of potatoes, bulk up this ultimate slow cooker pot roast by serving polenta on the side. Cooked in a rich tomato and balsamic vinegar sauce, this roast is the best comfort food for a cool fall or winter night. Add a few shavings of Parmesan cheese on top for extra decadence.

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Slow-Cooked Beef and Vegetables for Two

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Want to make an easy slow cooker pot roast as a cozy dinner for two? Use a small, 2-quart slow cooker to make an 8-ounce roast that's great for an intimate meal. Cook alongside carrots and cabbage for a healthy, hearty veggie side.

Buy It: Crock-Pot 2-Quart Slow Cooker ($15, Target)

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Mexican-Style Pot Roast Sandwiches

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Cook up this pork pot roast slow cooker recipe when you're craving a little more spice with dinner. This dish won't light your mouth on fire, but it does deliver on flavor thanks to cilantro, oregano, cumin, and red onions. After cooking, shred the meat and serve on buns with extra sliced red onion and a squeeze of lime juice.

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Pot Roast Paprikash

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Hungarian paprikash meets beef roast in this easy slow cooker pot roast recipe. Season the meat with both paprika and smoked paprika, then slow cook in tomatoes and beef broth. Once it's finished cooking, serve over noodles to help soak up every last drop of sauce.

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Italian Pork with Sweet Potatoes

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To mix up a classic recipe, use a different slow cooker pot roast seasoning blend than you normally reach for. A fennel-seed rub gives this pork pot roast a slightly crunchy, sweet taste that complements the warm flavors of the cooked sweet potato side dish. If you want to include something green on your plate, serve steamed broccoli or green beans on the side.

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Red Wine and Caramelized Onion Pot Roast

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When you're craving a traditional Sunday dinner, this is easily the best slow cooker pot roast recipe you'll find. The beef chuck roast simmers alongside new potatoes, carrots, rutabaga, and celery until it's melt-in-your-mouth tender. Spoon the red wine and tomato sauce straight from the slow cooker over the meat for serving.

Buy It: Hamilton Beach Slow Cooker ($50, Bed Bath & Beyond)

Espresso-Braised Beef

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Classic slow cooker pot roast with potatoes and carrots gets a bit of an upgrade in this easy recipe. A unique pot roast seasoning of espresso powder, brown sugar, and red wine takes the ordinary to extraordinary in this hearty dinner. Ladle over fluffy sweet potatoes for a warm, filling meal that's ready when you are.

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Philly Cheese Pot Roast Sandwiches

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Transform your dinner roast into a tasty pot roast sandwich. Make a simple slow cooker pot roast seasoned with dried herbs and Worcestershire sauce, then send it on a trip to Philly. Your family will love this slow cooker adaptation of the classic Philadelphia sandwich—served on a hoagie bun with cheese, of course.

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Burgundy Beef Stew

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Cozy up to a low-and-slow meal that takes pot roast to new heights with ingredients including Burgundy wine and smoky bacon. This slow cooker pot roast stew cooks alongside crispy carrots and green beans, so a serving of veggies is mixed right in.

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German-Style Beef Roast

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Dill pickles, German-style mustard, and homemade gravy set this slow cooker pot roast recipe apart from the rest. When you add red wine to the mix, it might sound like an odd combination, but the result is a truly delicious slow cooker beef pot roast. For a more authentic German meal, serve over hot cooked spaetzle.

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Chunky Pot Roast-Portobello Soup

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Make beef roast even heartier by turning it into a soup with meaty portobello mushrooms. The meat cooks first in red wine and beef broth, then stir the mushrooms in for the last half hour so they don't get mushy. The result is a slow cooker pot roast with vegetables and a yummy broth that's worth slowly savoring.

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Pot Roast with Fruit and Chipotle Sauce

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Calling for only 15 minutes of prep, this six-ingredient pot roast slow cooker recipe is a cinch. It gets its sweet and spicy flavor from dried mixed fruit and chipotle peppers. Spoon extra sauce over the meat and add a few sprigs of cilantro to make a truly irresistible meal.

Buy It: Crock-Pot Cook & Carry Slow Cooker ($50, Bed Bath & Beyond)

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BBQ Beef Roast with Corn and Pepper Couscous

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Get your barbecue fix year-round with a simple slow cooker pot roast recipe. It has a south-of-the-border twist with a dash of chili powder and cumin for a hint of spice. Dish it up over corn and pepper couscous and serve with lime wedges to heighten the Tex-Mex flavors.

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Make-It-Mine Fork-Tender Pot Roast

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There are enough combinations to change up this beef pot roast slow cooker recipe every time you make it. Swap celery for fennel or kale, carrots for squash or beets, or onions for leeks or shallots. Even the sauce can be anything you want, including red wine, apple juice, or cranberry juice. Get creative with your favorite flavors for a one-of-a-kind meal.

15 Slow Cooker Pot Roast Recipes for an Easy Savory Meal (2024)

FAQs

Should pot roast be covered in liquid in crock pot? ›

Traditionally, this means the meat is partially covered in liquid and cooked for hours until it becomes juicy and tender. In this case, the steam from the slow cooker creates moisture for the meat to braise in.

What is the most tender beef roast for slow cooker? ›

Chuck roast is one of the more popular slow-cooker options because of how tender and flavorful it becomes after several hours of cooking on low.

Do you have to brown a roast before putting it in the crock pot? ›

"Browning, or caramelizing, meat before putting it into a slow cooker isn't 100 percent necessary, but it is well worth the effort for the most flavorful and full-bodied end result," he says. "The caramelized surface of the meat will lend rich flavor and color to the finished dish."

What is the best meat for pot roast? ›

The best meat for pot roast is a beef cut with abundant connective tissue, like chuck roast, beef brisket or bottom round roast. This connective tissue called collagen is what makes pot roast melt-in-your-mouth tender.

Do potatoes go on top or bottom of meat in crockpot? ›

Place firm, slow-cooking root vegetables like potatoes and carrots at the bottom of the crock and pile the meat on top. Set the heat level: A general rule of thumb is that cooking on the low setting (170 degrees F for most models) takes about twice as long as cooking on high (280 degrees F on most models).

Should vegetables go on top or bottom of pot roast? ›

Do you put vegetables on top or bottom of pot roast? Your roast should be touching the bottom of the pot, with the veggies nestled around it. This will allow for the meat (vs. the veggies) to make the most contact with the hottest part of the pot, making for both a tender roast and perfectly cooked veggies.

Why is my roast still tough after 6 hours? ›

There are several reasons why this could have happened even after so much cooking. First, your choice of a rump roast could be a factor since cuts from the hind quarter are very muscular and, since muscles are the most resistant to breaking, this cut is quite stubborn when it comes to becoming tender.

Which beef roast falls apart when cooked? ›

A perfectly cooked beef joint makes a wonderful centrepiece for a Sunday roast or Christmas dinner. To cook it until it's so tender it falls apart, you'll need to choose a joint like chuck and blade or beef brisket and either braise, slow roast or slow cook it for at least a couple of hours.

Can you overcook roast beef in a slow cooker? ›

Can you overcook something in a slow cooker? Slow cookers are specially designed to cook food for long periods of time, but yes, you can still overcook in a slow cooker if something is left on the wrong setting for longer than it's supposed to be.

When should I add potatoes to pot roast? ›

Cover and cook for 3 hours, or until the roast is very tender. Add the carrots and potatoes to the pot when there's about an hour of cooking time left, turning the roast over when you do. To serve, spoon any excess fat off the surface and slice or shred the beef to serve with the veggies, drizzled with sauce.

What to season your roast with? ›

A basic roast beef rub can include a combination of the following ingredients:
  1. Salt.
  2. Pepper (freshly cracked is best)
  3. Garlic powder or minced garlic.
  4. Onion powder.
  5. Dried herbs like thyme, rosemary, and oregano.
  6. Olive oil or melted butter for basting.

Should a roast be flipped in crock pot? ›

There is no need to flip meat in a crock pot. In fact, I don't recommend trying it because it will be more hassle than it's worth. While it can be tempting to flip a roast in the name of even cooking, the crock pot takes care of that for you.

What is the most flavorful roast? ›

The boneless chuck roast is among the most popular roasts on the market due to its incredible beefy taste, fat content (it's well marbled), and effortless cooking process. It comes from the shoulder primal (like the pot roast), just in front of the rib section.

What is the difference between a roast and a pot roast? ›

But roast can also refer to a cut of meat. Pot roast is indeed a roast-style cut of beef, but not one you'd typically see used for roast beef, and not at all cooked the same way. Pot roast involves tough cuts rendered to fall-apart tenderness with the gentle application of moist heat over a long period of time.

What kind of roast is best for slow-cooker? ›

7-Bone Chuck Roast

Identified by the 7-shaped bone it contains. Rich and flavorful, it's ideal for the slow-cooker.

Does meat in crock pot need to be covered with liquid? ›

Water or liquid is necessary to create steam. When cooking meat or poultry, the water or liquid level should cover the ingredients to ensure effective heat transfer throughout the crock. Some manufacturers of slow cookers recommend adding liquid to fill the stoneware 1/2 to 3/4 full.

How much liquid should cover a pot roast? ›

Put the roast in the pot; the water should come only about 1 inch up the sides of the meat. Reduce the heat so the liquid is simmering, not boiling, and cover the pot tightly with the lid so meat braises.

How do you keep a pot roast from drying out in a crock pot? ›

Another problem is overcooking the pot roast, leading to dry meat. Prevent this by ensuring you have enough braising liquid in the pot and don't let it go dry. For smaller roasts under 3 pounds, check for doneness at two hours. For larger roasts, check three hours.

Does a roast need to be covered in crock pot? ›

Searing the Roast isn't completely necessary but it adds a nice color, texture, and element of flavor. Even when I'm in a rush, I go for the sear. It's worth it! Don't open the lid of the Crock Pot during cooking, you lose a lot of heat and about 30 minutes of cooking time.

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