Slow Cooker Pot Roast (with Onion Soup Mix)

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Slow Cooker Pot Roast is is a tender comfort food meal made even easier using onion soup mix! Carrots, potatoes, celery, broth, and beer round out this easy crock pot roast recipe packed with flavor.

white bowl with mashed potatoes and pot roast with slow cooker in background

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There’s not many meals as comforting as a hearty pot roast, don’t you think? While I am partial to making stovetop pot roast and sometimes Mississippi pot roast, when things get a little hectic during the school year I like to make this traditional pot roast with onion soup mix in my slow cooker to simplify dinner prep.

The long, slow cooking time of this easy recipe turns the beef chuck roast into fork-tender and flavorful shredded meat with sweet carrots and savory potatoes all drowning in a mouth watering onion gravy.

Why I love this recipe

literally only 5 minutes to prep
prep in the morning and dinner is waiting for you in the evening
leftovers reheat well

Ingredients

carrots
potatoes
celery
onion
onion soup mix
beef broth
beer (optional-see note below)
boneless beef chuck roast

The beer is a tenderizing agent and cooks off during cooking but if you don’t want to use it you can simply use more beef broth instead. You can also whip up a batch of pot roast gravy if you want extra for serving.

Step by step

This is a fail-proof dump it and forget it slow cooker recipe.

chopped vegetables and onion soup mix in slow cooker

Chop veggies and lay in the bottom of the slow cooker.
Sprinkle onion soup mix over the vegetables, then add the roast on top.
Pour beer, then beef broth over the meat and vegetables.
Cook for 8 hours on low or 5 hours on high.
If desired, shred the meat with two forks before serving.

Serving suggestions

This easy roast with its savory gravy is perfect for serving over mashed potatoes, egg noodles, rice, or simply on its own. Pair with homemade drop biscuits, garlic cheddar biscuits, garlic bread, or Texas toast for dipping if desired. Want more ideas? Learn all the best options of what to serve with pot roast.

FAQs

Should pot roast be covered with liquid in a slow cooker?

As the vegetables cook, they will release liquid that will partially envelop the roast as it cooks. However, it’s important that the liquid doesn’t completely submerge the pot roast, as our aim is to avoid boiling it.

Do I need to sear the meat before adding it to the slow cooker?

It is not necessary to brown the meat before adding it to the crock pot, this recipe has plenty of flavor without the additional step.

Can you overcook slow cooker pot roast?

It is possible to overcook pot roast in the slow cooker, resulting in chewy meat, but overall this is very forgiving recipe. I usually prefer to cook this on low for 8 hours instead of on high so there is no chance I will leave it cooking too long.

Can I cook a frozen pot roast in the slow cooker?

The USDA does NOT recommend cooking frozen meat in a slow cooker as it could cause the meat to spend time in the “danger zone” for bacterial growth as it warms. If your meat is frozen and you have an Instant Pot I recommend using that instead with a manual high pressure cook time of 90 minutes and a natural release.

Storage

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave.

If you try this recipe please comment and rate it below, I love hearing from you!