This classic Beef Pot Roast recipe is as easy as it gets. Beef chuck roast cooks low and slow in a wine and herb infused broth until fall apart tender. Carrots and potatoes are added in the last 30 minutes and served in a bowl with warm bread and a quick gravy.

Comfort food and the reason why I love fall.

The moment there is a chill in the air, I crave comfort meals. Give me all the slow cooked, stick-to-your-ribs meals that are soul satisfying… like pot roast. Besides being simple and flavorful, pot roast is one of those meals that fills your home with that cozy aroma that lingers. Like a good hug.

This classic recipe is simple and straightforward, which is why I love it so much. It yields ultra tender beef, perfectly cooked vegetables and the most delicious pan gravy. Sear, sauté, simmer and off to the oven to finish cooking = my kind of recipe.

I’ve made quite a few different pot roasts in my life, but this one is my go-to. You can never go wrong with a classic.

Classic Pot Roast Recipe ingredients

To Make This Classic Beef Pot Roast You Will Need:

  • avocado oil – Or use extra light olive oil.
  • beef chuck roast – For this recipe you will need a 3-1/2 to 4 pound roast.
  • kosher salt – Enhances the flavor and lends a nice crust to the meat when seared.
  • yellow onions – Lends delicious onion flavor
  • garlic – Adds distinct punchy flavor.
  • pinot noir – Use a favorite you like to sip!
  • beef broth – The base of the braising liquids, use fat-free homemade or high-quality store-bought stock.
  • thyme (fresh) – Lends an earthy, slightly minty and lemony flavor.
  • bay leaf – Lends an earthy, slightly pine-like flavor with notes of black pepper.
  • ground black pepper – Adds some subtle bite and flavor.
  • carrots – Adds a delicate sweetness to the pot roast meal as a whole.
  • redskin potatoes – A starchy side that balances the meal.
  • cornstarch – Used as a thickener for the quick and easy gravy.
I’ve also included instructions, in the recipe printable, on how to make this slow cooker friendly!

Start by heating 2 tablespoons of extra light olive oil in a large (5 qt. or larger) Dutch oven over medium-high heat.

pat the chuck roast dry

Meanwhile, pat dry a 3-1/2 pound beef chuck roast with paper towel.

season with kosher salt

Season both sides with kosher salt. I personally don’t pepper my roast because when the meat hits the hot pot it tends to burn the pepper, but I do add it in later on.

sear the beef

Once the pot is hot, sear the roast for 3 to 4 minutes.

seared beef.

Turn the roast using tongs and repeat searing for another 3 to 4 minutes.

seared chuck roast on a white plate.

Once a good crust forms remove the roast to a plate.

add onions to the pot.

Reduce the heat to medium and add in 2 medium onions that have been roughly chopped. Stir and cook for 5 minute or until starting to soften.

sauteed onions with garlic.

Next, add in 3 cloves of minced garlic. Stir and cook for 1 minute.

deglaze the pot with pinot noir

Deglaze with 1 cup Pinot Noir.

scraping up the brown bits with wooden spatula.

Use a wooden spatula to scrape all the brown bits up from the bottom of the pot.

Note: Here is where you can transfer everything to a slow cooker if you wanted to. Cook, covered in your slow cooker, on low for 6 to 8 hours.

pour in beef broth.

Then pour in 2 cups of beef broth and stir to combine.

add seared chuck roast

Place the seared chuck roast back into the pot and add the 6 sprigs of fresh thyme, 1 bay leaf and 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper. Cover and bring to a simmer before sliding the pot into a preheated 350° oven for 2 hours.

prepped carrots and potatoes

With 15 minutes left on the timer, wash and quarter up 2 pounds of red skin potatoes and peel 4 to 6 carrots before cutting into 1-1/2 to 2 inch pieces.

slow cooked pot roast

After the 2 hours are up, the roast is basically done and smells amazing.

potatoes and carrots with pot roast in dutch oven.

Add the quartered potatoes and the chopped, peeled carrots.

Cover and place back into the oven for 30 more minutes.

Once done, use a slotted spoon to transfer the carrots and potatoes to a serving bowl or plate and cover with foil to keep warm. Use tongs to transfer the pot roast to a carving board and slice. Cover that with foil also while you make the super simple gravy.

liquids from pan.

Pour the remaining liquids from the pot into a fat separator. Pull the plug in the spout and pour the drippings (leaving the fat in the cup) into a sauce pan. Bring to a boil (this takes only minutes) while you mix 1 tablespoon cornstarch with 1 tablespoon water. Once boiling, whisk while pouring in the cornstarch slurry. It should thicken immediately. Pour into a gravy boat or bowl.

Serve with a sprinkle of minced fresh parsley.

Perfection.

Serve this classic beef pot roast it in a bowl, a plate or a trough hung around your neck… just kidding. But what’s not a joke, is how amazingly delicious this pot roast is.

The beef is fall-apart-melt-in-your-mouth tender. Vegetables are perfect and the gravy is phenomenal. Like I may or may not have licked the bowl clean after I sipped the gravy from the bowls rim. #sorrynotsorry

Can This Pot Roast Be Made In The Slow Cooker:

Slow Cooker Instructions:

Once the meet has been seared and onions are tender, deglaze the pot with wine before transferring everything to your slow cooker and follow the remaining steps. Cover, cook on low for about 6 to 8 hours for a 3 to 4 pound chuck roast.

What To Do With Leftover Pot Roast?

Enjoy! And if you give this Beef Pot Roast recipe a try, let me know! Snap a photo and tag me on twitter or instagram!

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Yield: 6 servings

Classic Beef Pot Roast Recipe

This classic Beef Pot Roast recipe is as easy as it gets. Beef chuck roast cooks low and slow in a wine and herb infused broth until fall apart tender. Carrots and potatoes are added in the last 30 minutes and served in a bowl with warm bread and a quick gravy.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 2 hours
Additional Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 3 hours

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons extra light olive oil or grapeseed oil
  • 3½ pounds beef chuck roast
  • kosher salt
  • 2 medium yellow onions, chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup pinot noir
  • 2 cups low-sodium beef broth
  • 6 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 4 carrots, peeled and chopped into 2-inch pieces
  • 2 pounds small to medium redskin potatoes, quartered
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch, plus 1 tablespoon water for cornstarch slurry
  • minced parsley, for serving

Equipment

Instructions 

MAKE THE POT ROAST:

  • Preheat your oven to 350°.
  • Add olive oil in a large 5-quart (or larger) Dutch oven and heat on medium-high heat.
  • Meanwhile pat the chuck roast with paper towel before seasoning both sides with kosher salt.
  • Once the pot is hot, sear the roast for 4 to 5 minutes a side. When a good crust has formed (on both sides), use tongs to transfer the roast to a plate.
  • Reduce the heat to medium and add in the chopped onions. Cook until softened about 5-8 minutes. Add in the chopped garlic, stir and cook for 1 minute.
  • Deglaze the pot with the wine and scrape the browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Then pour in the beef broth. Transfer the roast back into the pot and add in the thyme, bay leaf and black pepper.
  • Cover and bring to a simmer before sliding the pot into a preheated 350° oven. Cook for 2 hours.
  • After the 2 hours, remove, uncover and add in the potatoes and carrots. Cover and place back into the oven for another 30 minutes.
  • Discard the thyme stems and bay leaf.
  • Use a slotted spoon to transfer the cooked carrots and potatoes to a serving bowl or plate and cover with foil to keep warm. Use tongs to transfer the pot roast to a carving board and slice. Cover that with foil also while you make the super simple gravy.
  • Serve with minced fresh parsley.

MAKE THE GRAVY:

  • Pour the remaining liquids into a fat separator. Pull the plug in the spout and pour the drippings (leaving the fat in the cup) into a sauce pan.
  • Bring to a boil (this takes only minutes) while you mix 1 tablespoon cornstarch with 1 tablespoon water.
  • Once boiling, whisk while pouring in the cornstarch slurry. It should thicken immediately. Pour into a gravy boat or bowl and drizzle over pot roast and vegetables.

Notes

Slow Cooker Instructions:

Once the meet has been seared and onions are tender, deglaze the pot with wine before transferring everything to your slow cooker and follow the remaining steps. Cover, cook on low for about 6 to 8 hours for a 3 to 4 pound chuck roast.
Nutrition Disclaimer: All information presented on this site is intended for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and any nutritional information shared on SimplyScratch.com should only be used as a general guideline.
Serving: 1g, Calories: 429kcal, Carbohydrates: 34g, Protein: 27g, Fat: 18g, Saturated Fat: 6g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 10g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 78mg, Sodium: 296mg, Potassium: 1423mg, Fiber: 5g, Sugar: 5g, Vitamin A: 6869IU, Vitamin C: 20mg, Calcium: 64mg, Iron: 4mg
Author: Laurie McNamara
Course: Mains & Entrees
Cuisine: American