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Tender pot roast and gravy on a white plate with potatoes and green beans.
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4.97 from 28 votes

Crock Pot Chuck Roast (SO tender & easy!)

Season, Sear, Pour, and Go! This Crock Pot Chuck Roast recipe is slow cooker magic! Start with an economical piece of meat and transform it into a succulent and hearty pot roast bathed in a simple gravy. Serve with creamy mashed potatoes and a side of vegetables for the easiest comfort food meal you can make.
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time8 hours
Total Time8 hours 20 minutes
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Servings: 6
Calories: 425kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

  • oil
  • 3 lb chuck roast trimmed if needed
  • 2 tablespoon steak seasoning
  • 1 tablespoon dried thyme
  • 1 cup beef broth
  • cup water
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch

Optional Vegetables

  • 2 lbs potatoes optional
  • 1 lb carrots optional
  • 1 yellow onion optional
  • 1 tablespoon steak seasoning optional
  • teaspoon thyme optional

Instructions

  • Coat each side of the roast with oil. Combine steak seasoning and thyme in a small bowl. Liberally season both sides of the roast.
    oil, 3 lb chuck roast, 2 tablespoon steak seasoning, 1 tablespoon dried thyme
  • Heat skillet over high heat. Once the skillet is hot, sear each side of the roast for 2-3 minutes. Place roast in slow cooker.
  • Pour beef broth into skillet. Allow broth to simmer for one minute. Scrape the bits up off the bottom of the skillet. Pour all liquid from skillet into the slow cooker.
    1 cup beef broth
  • *OPTIONAL: If using vegetables wash, peel, and cut them into large pieces. Add them to a large bowl, then drizzle with a little bit of oil. Sprinkle on seasonings and mix until evenly distributed. Top the roast with the vegetables.
    2 lbs potatoes, 1 lb carrots, 1 yellow onion, 1 tablespoon steak seasoning, 1½ teaspoon thyme
  • Cook on low for approximately 7 hours or high for 3.5-4 hours. I prefer low whenever possible.
  • Around hour 7 (or 3.5-4 if your slow cooker is on high) begin checking for tenderness with a fork. Once the roast just begins to fall apart around the edges, dissolve the cornstarch in the water and pour into the liquid left in the slow cooker. Stir well to combine. Cover and allow to cook for one more hour.
    ⅓ cup water, 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • After an hour, the gravy should be thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. If it isn't leave the slow cooker on high with the lid off while you prepare the meat in the next step. That will allow extra water to evaporate, thickening the juices.
  • Before serving, carefully remove meat from slow cooker and place onto a cutting board. Gently separate the meat form the fatty sections. Discard the fat. Place the large chunks of meat on a platter or back in slow cooker to serve.

Notes

Tips & Tricks
  • Trim the meat before seasoning if it has too much fat around the outer edge.
  • Make sure your pan is very hot in order to get a good sear.
  • Simmer the beef broth for a couple seconds before scraping up the bits off the bottom. Adds tons of extra flavor!
  • Dissolve all the cornstarch in a little water before adding to the hot liquid. This will avoid clumpy gravy.
 
Prep Ahead Notes
Season the meat and wrap in a layer of plastic wrap and then a layer of tinfoil. Either refrigerate overnight or freeze. If frozen, thaw in refrigerator for at least 24 hours. Then allow the roast to sit on the counter for 30 minutes before searing it. 

Nutrition

Calories: 425kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 44g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 156mg | Sodium: 334mg | Potassium: 784mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 131IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 76mg | Iron: 6mg