Here’s a classic pot roast recipe—slow-cooked, tender beef with rich gravy and vegetables.
🍲 Classic Pot Roast (Oven or Slow Cooker)
🧂 Ingredients
- 1.5–2 kg beef chuck roast (best cut for tenderness)
- 2 tbsp oil (vegetable or olive)
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 4–5 garlic cloves, minced
- 3 carrots, cut into chunks
- 3–4 potatoes, cut into large pieces
- 2 cups beef broth (or stock)
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 1–2 tsp salt (to taste)
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp paprika (optional)
- 1 tsp dried thyme or rosemary
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce (optional but recommended)
👩🍳 Instructions
1. Sear the meat (important for flavor)
- Heat oil in a large pot or Dutch oven.
- Brown the beef on all sides (3–4 minutes per side).
- Remove and set aside.
2. Build flavor base
- In the same pot, sauté onion and garlic until soft.
- Add tomato paste and cook for 1 minute.
3. Add liquids & seasoning
- Pour in beef broth and stir.
- Add Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, herbs, and bay leaves.
4. Slow cook the roast
🍲 Oven method
- Preheat oven to 160°C (325°F).
- Place beef back in pot.
- Cover and cook 2.5–3.5 hours.
🥘 Slow cooker method
- Cook on low for 7–8 hours or high for 4–5 hours.
5. Add vegetables
- Add carrots and potatoes during the last 1.5–2 hours of cooking (so they don’t turn mushy).
6. Finish & serve
- Remove meat and let it rest 10–15 minutes.
- Slice or shred.
- Skim fat from the gravy if needed.
- Serve with vegetables and sauce.
🧠 Tips for perfect pot roast
- Chuck roast works best (it becomes tender when slow-cooked).
- Don’t rush—low heat is what makes it melt-in-your-mouth soft.
- Letting it rest helps retain juices.
🍽️ Serving ideas
- Mashed potatoes + gravy
- Rice or buttered noodles
- Crusty bread to soak up sauce
If you want, I can also give you a:
- Spicy desi-style pot roast
- Budget-friendly version
- Or a pressure cooker (quick 1-hour) version
