Slow Cooker Perfect Pot Roast Recipe (and Homemade Gravy) (2024)

Our Slow Cooker Perfect Pot Roast Recipe and Homemade Gravy is full of flavor and tastes amazing - it turns out perfect every time!

Slow Cooker Perfect Pot Roast Recipe (and Homemade Gravy) (1)

From one sister to another (and anyone else who wants to make the Perfect Pot Roast) – this Slow Cooker Perfect Pot Roast recipe is for you!

Serve this roast with our Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes! To round out the complete dinner, you could make our 30 Minute Homemade Rolls Recipe, this Layered Green Salad Recipe, and a yummy dessert to serve at the end of the meal. 🙂

You can find the Instant Pot Version of this Perfect Pot Roast Recipe HERE!

Ingredients needed for this Perfect Pot Roast:

  • 3-4 pound beef pot roast (I prefer a chuck roast or rump roast, but any kind will work)
  • 3 Tablespoons olive oil, divided
  • 1 teaspoon salt (more to taste – be generous)
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper (more to taste – be generous)
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt (more or less to taste)
  • 1 onion, roughly chopped into large pieces
  • 1 pound baby carrots3 stalks celery, roughly chopped into large pieces
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 cups beef broth
  • 3 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • 1 Tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme (more or less to taste)
  • 1 teaspoon dried rosemary leaves (more or less to taste)

Gravy:

  • 3-4 cups drippings (liquid) from the slow cooker after roast is done cooking
  • 4 Tablespoons butter
  • 3 Tablespoons flour

Helpful items when making this Pot Roast:

  • Slow Cooker
  • Large Skillet
  • Spatula
  • Baster (we like this one)
  • Saucepan

How to make Slow Cooker Perfect Pot Roast:

Place a large skillet on stove top and heat over medium high heat (preferably a non-stick skillet).

Add 2 Tablespoons of olive oil.

Generously sprinkle salt, pepper, and garlic salt on all sides of the pot roast.

Slow Cooker Perfect Pot Roast Recipe (and Homemade Gravy) (2)

Place roast in hot oil on a skillet and let it sear on that side for 2 minutes. Flip the roast over and sear the other side for 2 minutes. Depending on the shape of your pot roast, you can sear the other sides if you choose.

Spray the slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray and place your seared pot roast in the slow cooker.

Slow Cooker Perfect Pot Roast Recipe (and Homemade Gravy) (3)

Add the remaining tablespoon of olive oil to the hot skillet. Add onion, carrots, and celery to the skillet and season with more salt and pepper, if desired.

Slow Cooker Perfect Pot Roast Recipe (and Homemade Gravy) (4)

Using a spatula, scrape the “brown bits” (aka the burnt bits) off the bottom of the skillet as you cook the vegetables (these bits add so much flavor!). Cook for about 3 minutes or until the vegetables start to soften.

Add garlic to the skillet and cook for 1 minute more.

Slow Cooker Perfect Pot Roast Recipe (and Homemade Gravy) (5)

Add the vegetables to the slow cooker, spreading the vegetables all around the roast.

Slow Cooker Perfect Pot Roast Recipe (and Homemade Gravy) (6)

Pour in the beef broth, being sure not to pour it directly on the roastor vegetables because you just cooked them in delicious flavors. Try to pour the beef broth on the sides as much as possible.

Slow Cooker Perfect Pot Roast Recipe (and Homemade Gravy) (7)

Pour the Worcestershire sauce, balsamic vinegar, and soy sauce directly on the roast. Sprinkle thyme and rosemary evenly around the meat and vegetables.

Slow Cooker Perfect Pot Roast Recipe (and Homemade Gravy) (8)

Place the lid on top of the slow cooker and set timer for 8-10 hours on low heat (it will vary based on your slow cooker – mine is done in 8 hours, but some will take longer) or 4-5 hours on high heat (I highly recommend cooking this roast on low – I have never had it turn out as well when I have cooked it on high. Also, you want your house to smell good alllllll day long).

Slow Cooker Perfect Pot Roast Recipe (and Homemade Gravy) (9)

Remove roast from slow cooker and slice into pieces (it should pretty much fall apart by this point).Serve with mashed potatoes and the cooked carrots on the side.

Slow Cooker Perfect Pot Roast Recipe (and Homemade Gravy) (10)

If making the gravy:

When the roast is done cooking, use a baster (or whatever method you want) to remove the liquid from the slow cooker.

Slow Cooker Perfect Pot Roast Recipe (and Homemade Gravy) (11)

To make gravy, you will want to get at least 3 cups of drippings from the slow cooker. If you don’t have quite enough drippings, you can supplement with a can of beef broth or beef stock (I like to use beef stock for gravy because it’s a little more flavorful).

Place a small saucepan on the stovetop over medium heat.

Slow Cooker Perfect Pot Roast Recipe (and Homemade Gravy) (12)

Add butter to the saucepan and let it melt.

Slow Cooker Perfect Pot Roast Recipe (and Homemade Gravy) (13)

Add flour and use a whisk to whisk flour and melted butter together until it makes a paste (takes about a minute).

Pour in the drippings, whisking the entire time.

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Cook for about 4-5 minutes minutes or until the gravy reaches the thickness you prefer.Serve roast with gravy on top and on top of mashed potatoes. It’s literally pot roast perfection.

Do you have to sear this roast?

You don’t HAVE to, but I highly recommend it. The reason you sear it before cooking it is to amplify the flavor (some say that it locks in moisture, but my roasts have turned out just as moist without searing).

When you sear a roast, you are caramelizing the surface of the meat, which just really enhances the flavor. Searing really is the difference between a mediocre roast and an AMAZINGLY flavorful roast.

If you are short on time or are trying to turn this into a freezer meal, then skip the searing and just dump the roast and vegetables into the slow cooker.

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Slow Cooker Perfect Pot Roast Recipe (and Homemade Gravy) (15)

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More dinner recipes you’ll love:

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  • Easy Instant Pot Beef Pot Roast
  • Instant Pot Mama’s Pot Roast Recipe
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  • Instant Pot Mississippi Pot Roast
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Slow Cooker Perfect Pot Roast Recipe (and Homemade Gravy) (16)

Serves: 8

Slow Cooker Perfect Pot Roast Recipe (and Homemade Gravy)

4.67 from 6 votes

Juicy and delicious this Slow Cooker Perfect Pot Roast Recipe and Homemade Gravy is full of flavor and tastes amazing! True Perfection!

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 8 hours hrs 15 minutes mins

Total Time 8 hours hrs 25 minutes mins

PrintPin

Ingredients

Pot Roast

  • 4 pound beef pot roast 3-4 pounds, (I prefer a chuck roast or rump roast, but any kind will work)
  • 3 Tablespoons olive oil divided
  • 1 teaspoon salt (more to taste – be generous)
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper (more to taste – be generous)
  • ½ teaspoon garlic salt (more or less to taste)
  • 1 onion roughly chopped into large pieces
  • 1 pound baby carrots
  • 3 celery stalks roughly chopped into large pieces
  • 3 garlic cloves minced
  • 2 cups beef broth
  • 3 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • 1 Tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme (more or less to taste)
  • 1 teaspoon dried rosemary leaves (more or less to taste)

Gravy

  • 4 cups drippings from slow cooker (liquid) from the slow cooker after roast is done cooking
  • 4 Tablespoons butter
  • 3 Tablespoons flour

Instructions

  • Place a large skillet on stove top and heat over medium high heat (perferably a non-stick skillet).

  • Add 2 Tablespoons of olive oil.

  • Generously sprinkle salt, pepper, and garlic salt on all sides of the pot roast.

  • Place roast in hot oil on a skillet and let it sear on that side for 2 minutes. Flip the roast over and sear the other side for 2 minutes.

  • Depending on the shape of your pot roast, you can sear the other sides if you choose.

  • Spray the slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray and place your seared pot roast in the slow cooker.

  • Add the remaining tablespoon of olive oil to the hot skillet. Add onion, carrots, and celery to the skillet and season with more salt and pepper, if desired. Using a spatula, scrape the "brown bits" (aka the burnt bits) off the bottom of the skillet as you cook the vegetables (these bits add so much flavor!).

  • Cook for about 3 minutes or until the vegetables start to soften.

  • Add garlic to the skillet and cook for 1 minute more.

  • Add the vegetables to the slow cooker, spreading the vegetables all around the roast.

  • Pour in the beef broth, being sure not to pour it directly on the roast or vegetables because you just cooked them in delicious flavors. Try to pour the beef broth on the sides as much as possible.

  • Pour the Worcestershire sauce, balsamic vinegar, and soy sauce directly on the roast. Sprinkle thyme and rosemary evenly around the meat and vegetables.

  • Place the lid on top of the slow cooker and set timer for 8-10 hours on low heat (it will vary based on your slow cooker – mine is done in 8 hours, but some will take longer) or 4-5 hours on high heat (I highly recommend cooking this roast on low – I have never had it turn out as well when I have cooked it on high. Also, you want your house to smell good alllllll day long).

  • Remove roast from slow cooker and slice into pieces (it should pretty much fall apart by this point).

  • Serve with mashed potatoes and the cooked carrots on the side.

If making the gravy:

  • When the roast is done cooking, use a baster (or whatever method you want) to remove the liquid from the slow cooker. To make gravy, you will want to get at least 3 cups of drippings from the slow cooker. If you don't have quite enough drippings, you can supplement with a can of beef broth or beef stock (I like to use beef stock for gravy because it's a little more flavorful).

  • Place a small saucepan on the stovetop over medium heat.

  • Add butter to the saucepan and let it melt.

  • Add flour and use a whisk to whisk flour and melted butter together until it makes a paste (takes about a minute).

  • Pour in the drippings, whisking the entire time.

  • Cook for about 4-5 minutes minutes or until the gravy reaches the thickness you prefer.

  • Serve roast with gravy on top and on top of mashed potatoes.

  • It's literally pot roast perfection.

Notes

  • Serves 8 (more or less depending on the size of your roast)

Do you have to sear this roast?

  • You don’t HAVE to, but I highly recommend it. The reason you sear it before cooking it is to amplify the flavor (some say that it locks in moisture, but my roasts have turned out just as moist without searing). When you sear a roast, you are caramelizing the surface of the meat, which just really enhances the flavor. Searing really is the difference between a mediocre roast and an AMAZINGLY flavorful roast. If you are short on time or are trying to turn this into a freezer meal, then skip the searing and just dump the roast and vegetables into the slow cooker.

Nutrition

Calories: 472 kcal · Carbohydrates: 11 g · Protein: 53 g · Fat: 23 g · Saturated Fat: 9 g · Polyunsaturated Fat: 1 g · Monounsaturated Fat: 10 g · Trans Fat: 1 g · Cholesterol: 162 mg · Sodium: 1559 mg · Potassium: 1081 mg · Fiber: 2 g · Sugar: 5 g · Vitamin A: 8012 IU · Vitamin C: 4 mg · Calcium: 83 mg · Iron: 6 mg

Equipment

  • Slow Cooker

  • Large Skillet

  • Baster

  • Saucepan

  • spatula

Recipe Details

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Slow Cooker Perfect Pot Roast Recipe (and Homemade Gravy) (17)

Adapted fromA Bountiful Kitchen

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  1. Andrea says:

    Would this recipe work in the instant pot?

  2. Momma Cyd says:

    You could easily adapt this roast to the instant pot, but you don't want to add your veggies until the very end or your carrots will be mush. Roast takes longer to cook and the carrots don't need to cook as long.

  3. Teresa says:

    This turned out good but not amazing. The roast was actually a bit tough after 8 hours on low....I'm thinking I may let it go for about 12 hours next time. I seared my roast for the first time ever and, although it smelled wonderful in the house, I could not discern that it tasted any different than my usual non-seared method. It was fun to try something new. Thanks!

    Slow Cooker Perfect Pot Roast Recipe (and Homemade Gravy) (18)

  4. Tanya says:

    I saw this on Pinterest and thought it looked good. The instructions were easy to follow and it turned out awesome! The whole family loved it and this will probably be one of my go-to pot roast recipes.

    Slow Cooker Perfect Pot Roast Recipe (and Homemade Gravy) (19)

  5. Momma Cyd says:

    Hi Tanya, We are so glad that you and your family loved the Pot Roast Recipe. It really is so easy to make!

  6. Katie says:

    Made this on Sunday and it was SO GOOD!! I made it as written and it was easy!

    Slow Cooker Perfect Pot Roast Recipe (and Homemade Gravy) (20)

  7. Katie says:

    This recipe is my absolute favourite for making a roast.. however beware.. I’ve tried both ways, and highly recommend cooking in high for 5 hours instead of on low for 8… the later made a really tough and chewy beef.. while the shorter time on high was absolutely perfect. Melt in your mouth, tender and juicy!

    Slow Cooker Perfect Pot Roast Recipe (and Homemade Gravy) (21)

  8. Momma Cyd says:

    Thanks for letting us know what worked best for you!!! We love to hear!

  9. Bailey Dimke says:

    I made this tonight and it was absolutely amazing :) I followed the directions fairly exact and it turned out just fabulous!

  10. Momma Cyd says:

    Hi Bailey, thanks for letting us know! It's a delicious pot roast recipe!

  11. Christania Hunt says:

    First time making pot roast and thanks to this recipe, it turned out amazing & everyone loved it!

    Slow Cooker Perfect Pot Roast Recipe (and Homemade Gravy) (22)

  12. Lisa Clark says:

    Outstanding! Used my own homemade beef bone broth and omitted the celery because I didn't have any. Cooked on low for 8 hours using a bottom round roast and it was fork tender. Delicious hot and equally delicious on a cold sandwich the next day.

    Slow Cooker Perfect Pot Roast Recipe (and Homemade Gravy) (23)

  13. Momma Cyd says:

    So glad you liked it! It's one of our favorites!

  14. JC says:

    Delicious, would definitely make again!

Slow Cooker Perfect Pot Roast Recipe (and Homemade Gravy) (24)

About The Author:

Camille Beckstrand

Camille Beckstrand is married to Jared and they have 4 kids. She loves a good true crime podcast, a big plate of cheesy loaded nachos, and going on adventures with her family.

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