Slow Cooked Pot Roast

Slow cooked pot roast is an awesome weeknight recipe because it’s simple to prepare and family friendly. This hearty slow cooked pot roast recipe is delicious! It’s another easy slow cooker beef recipe to try.

When you need a great meal that is wholesome and hearty you can’t beat a pot roast. This classic dinner recipe is perfect for Sunday dinner with the family but there’s also a lot you can do with pot roast leftovers which makes it a great meal to prepare on a Monday for leftovers all week long.

Since the Crockpot is going to do all the hard work for us this is also a really nice recipe for when you want to focus on other things! You can walk away from this one and not worry that it will be a disaster.

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The great thing about pot roast made in the slow cooker is that you can easily pair it with any sides that you like! Try out things like Balsamic Roasted Asparagus, Easy Garlic Green Bean Recipe With Tomatoes, Roasted Broccoli and Cauliflower, or Baked Acorn Squash Recipe for an easy way to add some veggies to your meal plan.

What to do with pot roast leftovers:

The great thing about pot roast is that the leftovers are really versatile. You can use them in things like Slow Cooker Beef Stew, Crockpot Italian Beef Recipe, or you can just it to top salads and make sandwiches. Hot beef sandwiches with melted cheese or marinara are super easy and kids can assemble them on their own!

You can also use pot roast leftovers to make recipes like these! In general a cooked pot roast will last in the fridge for about 5 days so you have time to use up those leftovers before they will go bad.

Remember you can also store the slow cooked pot roast in the freezer so you can thaw it out when needed for easy meals, sandwiches, and stews. Store it in airtight freezer containers in about one pound packs so you can easily thaw out the amount you need!

If you like to meal prep and freeze meals this is a great one. Grab a big pot roast and cook it up and put it in the freezer so you have ready to use meat in the freezer for an easy thaw and serve meal when things are hectic.

Slow Cooker Pot Roast Easy Ingredients List:

You can find the full list and amounts of these ingredients in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post. As usual there is also printable instructions, shoppable links, nutritional estimates, and more included there as well.

We will use the following for our slow cooker pot roast easy version: a 2 pound beef roast, small potatoes, baby carrots, celery, beef bouillon, salt / pepper to taste, and water for in the Crockpot!

What cuts of beef should I buy for pot roast?

You can use whatever cuts of meat you like, of course, but I like to use rump, sirloin, or chuck cuts when selecting options for pot roast.

These are cuts that work well for low heat and slow cooking. Some cuts of beef especially cook better at a higher heat for a shorter period of time so you don’t want to use any old cut of beef or it can get tough instead of getting that fall apart melt in your mouth finished texture!

Why are we using the slow cooker?

I like using the slow cooker for pot roast for a couple of reasons. First of all, it’s easier than using the oven because I don’t have to monitor the process. Secondly, it keeps the moisture contained which means again, I don’t have to constantly monitor the process and keep an eye on the dryness of the meat, etc.

Another reason to consider using the slow cooker is the fact that it’s more efficient at cooking the meat and the finished product is more uniform. The heat in the slow cooker once up to temperature is uniform and evenly distributed which means the meat will cook well in all directions even though it’s a very big cut of beef!

Why is it called pot roast?

Pot roast gets it name because the style of cooking that has been traditionally used requires a dutch oven or a pot where you can contain the moisture and heat to slow cook tough cuts of beef that might otherwise be less than ideal for use!

Pot roast is made by slowly cooking tough cuts of meat in moist heat (as mentioned above) that is why it’s great to use the slow cooker nowadays!

Browned meat (and usually root vegetables) cooked in a pot over low heat can be just about anything which is why pot roast recipes are as varied as anything else here on the internet!

How to make slow cooked pot roast:

Remove the roast from the packaging and set in the bottom of the slow cooker pot.

Sprinkle salt and pepper on the roast. 

Add bouillon and carrots.

Rinse and chop celery, then add to pot.

Pour in 2 cups of water.

Cook on high for 4 hours or low for 6-8 hours. *Note that it is most tender when cooked on low

Peel, rinse, and cut potatoes into 2 inch chunks, then add to the slow cooker 45 minutes before its scheduled time to finish cooking.

To serve, remove the roast and veggies from the slow cooker. Slice the roast.

Printable Slow Cooked Pot Roast Recipe: