Perfect Pot Roast Recipe | Cook the Book (2024)

  • Roasted Beef
  • Beef Chuck
  • Comfort Food
  • Winter Mains

A foray into the world of slow and low cooking during the cold weather.

By

Caroline Russock

Perfect Pot Roast Recipe | Cook the Book (1)

Caroline Russock

Caroline Russock is a writer who splits her time between Philadelphia and the Caribbean covering food, travel, leisure, lifestyle, and culture. Her writing is featured in PhillyVoice, Eater, Eater Philly, Serious Eats, and The Tasting Table.

Learn about Serious Eats'Editorial Process

Updated September 07, 2023

Trending Videos

Perfect Pot Roast Recipe | Cook the Book (2)

There are so many things that I love about fall—the crisp air, pulling on that first wool sweater, smelling smoke that is from a chimney (not a barbecue). But my favorite thing about the fall is that it marks my official return to the kitchen. I keep my stove and oven use to a minimum in the summer but when the weather gets cold I can fire up all of the burners and not worry about turning my kitchen into a mini inferno. In other words, let the braising begin...

This Perfect Pot Roast from The Pioneer Woman Cooks by Ree Drummond was my first foray into the world of slow and low cooking this season.

My usual braises are typically more complicated affairs but this one was a cinch—just salt, slice, sear, and stick it in the oven. Against my better judgment I followed Drummond's advice. I didn't poke or prod the roast at all during the cooking time. I let it cook for the entire four hours without even a glance into the pot.

An hour went by and I waited for the meaty and braise-y aromas to start emanating from my oven. Sometime during the second hour, it happened. That warm smell that only occurs when you just do happen to have a very large piece of meat slowly releasing it's flavorful juices in your kitchen. All of a sudden my house smelled more like my grandmother's house than my own, and it was then that I knew: this was truly a perfect pot roast.

This was one of those dishes that I didn't even have to taste to know it was spot on. It emerged from the oven looking like it could grace the cover of any fall issue of a cooking magazine—and it smelled like fall. The next logical steps were to mash some potatoes and break out the flannel sheets.

October 2009

Recipe Details

Perfect Pot Roast

Prep0 mins

Cook3 hrs 30 mins

Total3 hrs 30 mins

Serves6 servings

Ingredients

  • 2 or 3 tablespoons olive oil

  • Kosher salt

  • One 3- to 5-pound chuck roast

  • 2 onions

  • 6 to 8 carrots

  • Pepper

  • 2 to 2 1/2 cups beef stock

  • 3 or 4 fresh rosemarysprigs

  • 2 or 3 fresh thyme sprigs

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 275ºF.

  2. Heat a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil and let it get really hot. While it heats, prepare the other ingredients.

  3. Generously salt the chuck roast on both sides. I like kosher salt because it adheres more readily to the meat.

  4. Cut a couple of onions in half from root to tip...

  5. Then cut off the tops and bottoms and peel off the papery skin.

  6. When the pot is very hot, place the onions in the oil and brown on both sides, about a minute per side. Remove the onions to a plate.

  7. Next, thoroughly wash-but don't peel-the carrots. Cut them roughly into 2-inch slices..

  8. Throw the carrots into the same (very hot) pot. Toss them around until slightly brown, about a minute or so. The point here is to get a nice color started on the outside of the vegetables, not to cook them.

  9. Remove the carrots from the pot and allow the pot to get really hot again. Add another tablespoon of oil to the pan.

  10. Place the meat in the pot and sear it, about a minute per side. Remove to a plate.

  11. Now, with the burner on high, deglaze the pot by adding 1 cup of the beef stock, whisking constantly. The point of deglazing is to loosen all of the burned flavorful bits from the bottom of the pot.

  12. When most of the bits are loosened, place the meat back in the pot...

  13. Followed by the carrots and onions. Pour enough beef stock into the pot to cover the meat halfway.

  14. Next, put in the fresh rosemary and thyme sprigs. The fresh herbs absolutely make this dish. Tuck them into the juice to ensure that the flavors are distributed throughout the pot.

  15. Now, just cover the pot and roast for 3 to 5 hours, depending on the size of your roast. For a 3-pound roast, allow 3 to 3 1/2 hours. For a 5-pound roast, allow for a 4- to 5-hour cooking time. Don't disrupt the roast during the cooking process.

  16. When the cooking time is over, check the roast for doneness; a fork should go in easily and the meat should be very tender. Remove the meat to a cutting board and slice against the grain.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
619Calories
39g Fat
9g Carbs
58g Protein

×

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6
Amount per serving
Calories619
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 39g51%
Saturated Fat 15g75%
Cholesterol 188mg63%
Sodium 992mg43%
Total Carbohydrate 9g3%
Dietary Fiber 2g8%
Total Sugars 4g
Protein 58g
Vitamin C 4mg19%
Calcium 73mg6%
Iron 6mg31%
Potassium 1032mg22%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Perfect Pot Roast Recipe | Cook the Book (2024)

FAQs

Should a pot roast be covered in liquid? ›

Traditionally, this means the meat is partially covered in liquid and cooked for hours until it becomes juicy and tender.

What not to do to pot roast? ›

5 Mistakes to Avoid When Cooking Pot Roast
  1. Using the wrong roast.
  2. Not browning the roast.
  3. Deglazing with just broth.
  4. Cooking the vegetables too long.
  5. Not thickening the gravy.
Mar 29, 2017

Does pot roast get more tender the longer you cook it? ›

Yes, pot roast absolutely becomes more tender the longer it cooks. Roasts are generally made from tougher cuts of meat, such as chuck or brisket, which contain a lot of collagen, connective tissue, and fat. These tougher tissues require a long cooking time to break down and for the collagen to converts into gelatin.

How do you keep a pot roast moist and tender? ›

Low and Slow is the Way to Go

Whether you cook your pot roast using a stovetop, oven, slow cooker, or pressure cooker method, you'll always get the most tender and flavorful results if you use low temperatures over a long period of time.

When should I add potatoes to my pot roast? ›

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.

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

1. **Vegetables on the Bottom:** Placing vegetables on the bottom of the crock-pot allows them to cook directly in the flavorful juices released by the meat as it cooks. This can result in very tender and flavorful vegetables, but they may become quite soft or even mushy if cooked for a long time.

How to add more flavor to pot roast? ›

A little tomato paste, generous amount carrots to sweeten, garlic, onions, thyme, and rosemary to add flavor the roast. I love root vegetables like add parsnips, or white turnips and may add them for complex unique taste. Roast slowly on low heat in oven for a few hours until tender.

Do potatoes go on top or bottom of roast? ›

The roast cooks on top of potatoes, carrots, and celery, resulting in incredibly tender meat and veggies that are perfect for dinner any day of the week.

Can you put too much broth in a pot roast? ›

The dissolving gelatin and juices from the meat are what make the pot roast sauce so delicious, and too much liquid at the start means a diluted sauce with less silky mouthfeel and rich flavor. Remember that the meat and any veggies in the pot will also add to the liquid volume.

Should I flip my pot roast over? ›

Should I Flip My Roast In The Slow Cooker?: There is no need to flip meat in a crock pot.

Is it better to cook a roast in the oven or crock pot? ›

It's delicious both ways. If you want to give your crock-pot a whirl, here's a slow cooker pot roast recipe for you. But pot roast is plenty easy to make in the oven! You do all the browning and roasting all in the same pot and it requires less time than in a slow cooker roast.

Why is my roast still tough after 8 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.

What makes pot roast taste good? ›

What Makes the Best Pot Roast? Pot roasts typically use the tougher cuts of beef—a chuck roast or shoulder roast—which have the most flavor. Slow cooking at low heat is what melts the tough connective tissue between the muscle fibers, leaving you with tender meat that pulls apart with your fork.

Is it better to cook a roast at 325 or 350? ›

When roasting meat and poultry, set the oven temperature to 325°F (163°C) or higher. Explore the charts below to learn how to get great results every time you cook.

What tenderizes pot roast? ›

Pot roasts are cooked over low heat for a more extended time, making them juicy and flavourful. But first, you'll want to sear roast is seared in a skillet to help tenderize the meat. Vegetables typically roast alongside the beef, which you can later serve as a delicious side dish.

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.

How much water should cover a pot roast? ›

Place roast in a large baking pan; arrange potatoes, onion, carrots, and celery around roast. Pour 3 cups water into the baking pan. Season roast with salt, pepper, and garlic salt. Cover pan with aluminum foil.

Is it better to cook a pot roast covered or uncovered? ›

A surefire way to make a tender, juicy pot roast is through braising; that is, cooking the meat in a small amount of liquid in a tightly covered pot at low temperature.

Should a roast be completely covered with water? ›

You do not need to submerge the pot roast to cook it thoroughly. In fact, the heat from your slow cooker and the bit of braising liquid from deglazing your pan will be just enough to prepare the food for you perfectly. Much of what you're cooking, in this case, meat and vegetables, will release liquid as they cook.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Terrell Hackett

Last Updated:

Views: 5779

Rating: 4.1 / 5 (52 voted)

Reviews: 83% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Terrell Hackett

Birthday: 1992-03-17

Address: Suite 453 459 Gibson Squares, East Adriane, AK 71925-5692

Phone: +21811810803470

Job: Chief Representative

Hobby: Board games, Rock climbing, Ghost hunting, Origami, Kabaddi, Mushroom hunting, Gaming

Introduction: My name is Terrell Hackett, I am a gleaming, brainy, courageous, helpful, healthy, cooperative, graceful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.