There is nothing more comforting than a big pot roast with hearty vegetables. This is the easiest, 5 minute prep Crockpot Chuck Roast recipe. Slow cooked and the meat literally falls apart and melts in your mouth and requires minimal effort!.
When it comes to the ultimate comfort food, I make pot roast more often than any other dish. This Crockpot Chuck Roast recipe is all about slow-cooked beef that melts in your mouth. The whole family loves it. Is this the best Sunday dinner or what?.
This roast is paired with tender veggies, potatoes, onions and seasoned just right. But the best part is that it literally only takes about 5 minutes to prepare. And we all have that time, right?.
If you want something easier to make with beef, this Slow Cooker Shredded Beef is another chuck roast we love. Short Rib Ragú is also great.
Cooking beef chuck roast in a slow cooker is one of the easiest ways to make incredibly flavorful and tender beef. The low, slow cooking helps break down the collagen in the meat, transforming it from tough to melt-in-your-mouth tender. But exactly how long should you cook a chuck roast in the slow cooker to get the perfect texture?
In this comprehensive guide, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about cooking times, temperatures, tips and tricks to make chuck roast in the slow cooker that your whole family will love.
Why Cook Chuck Roast in a Slow Cooker?
Chuck roast comes from the shoulder of the cow, which gets a lot of exercise, so it’s naturally tough. All that connective tissue needs long, moist cooking to break down.
This makes the slow cooker the perfect tool for chuck roast. The low temperature gently converts the collagen to gelatin over several hours, tenderizing the meat.
Other benefits of using a slow cooker for chuck roast:
-
Infuses the meat with flavor as it braises for hours in the cooking liquid
-
Minimal hands-on time – just prep and set it
-
More flexible schedule – cooks while you’re out and about
-
Even consistent cooking with no burning or drying out
-
Makes the house smell amazing
So while you can braise or roast chuck roast in the oven, the set-it-and-forget-it slow cooker gives the most hassle-free, foolproof results every time.
How Long to Cook Chuck Roast in a Slow Cooker
Cooking times can vary quite a bit for slow cooker chuck roast based on the specific cut, size, and your slow cooker model.
Here are some general time ranges to aim for:
2-3 pound roast
- Low: 8-10 hours
- High: 4-6 hours
4-5 pound roast
- Low: 10-12 hours
- High: 6-8 hours
Boneless vs. bone-in – Bone-in roasts take longer. Add 1-2 hours to the times above if using a bone-in cut.
Smaller slow cookers – For 3-4 quart models, check about 1 hour sooner than times listed.
Larger slow cookers – For 7+ quart models, allow 1-2 hours longer cooking time.
These cooking time ranges should provide tender, fall-apart chuck roast. But don’t rely on time alone. Always check for doneness at the end of the cooking time by piercing the thickest part of the meat with a fork. It should slide in easily with no resistance when it’s done.
Helpful Tips for the Best Slow Cooker Chuck Roast
Follow these tips for fork-tender, delicious chuck roast from your slow cooker:
-
Trim excess fat to prevent greasiness. Leave about 1/4 inch.
-
Sear meat first for better flavor – brown on all sides in a skillet.
-
Use lower moisture cuts like chuck arm or shoulder roasts, not chuck eye roast or stew meat.
-
Add vegetables towards end so they don’t overcook.
-
Shred with forks once cooked for easy serving.
-
Make gravy from juices for serving.
-
Let rest 10 mins before slicing for juicier meat.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Here is a simple step-by-step method for cooking perfect chuck roast in the slow cooker:
Ingredients:
- 3-4 lb chuck arm or shoulder roast
- Salt and pepper
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 onion, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup beef broth or stock
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 lb carrots, peeled and cut into chunks
- 1 lb potatoes, cut into chunks
Instructions:
-
Trim excess fat from roast and pat dry. Generously season all over with salt and pepper.
-
Sear roast on all sides in a hot skillet with olive oil until well browned, about 2 minutes per side.
-
Place onions and garlic in a 6-qt slow cooker. Add beef broth, Worcestershire, tomato paste, and bay leaves. Stir in meat.
-
Cover and cook on LOW for 8-10 hours or HIGH for 4-6 hours until very tender.
-
In last hour of cooking, add carrots and potatoes. Cook until veggies are tender.
-
Remove meat and vegetables to serving platter. Shred beef with two forks.
-
Make gravy from juices. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
-
Serve shredded roast and vegetables topped with gravy. Enjoy!
Tips for Storing and Freezing Leftover Roast
Leftover cooked chuck roast keeps well for several days refrigerated. For longer term storage, freeze it in portions:
-
Let roast cool completely before storing.
-
Place shredded meat and gravy in airtight containers or freezer bags.
-
Freeze for up to 3-4 months.
-
Thaw overnight in fridge before reheating gently on the stove or in the oven.
Delicious Chuck Roast Recipes for the Slow Cooker
Once you’ve mastered the basic roasted chuck roast in the slow cooker, get creative with these flavorful recipe ideas:
French Onion Roast Beef
- Cook roast with onions and beef broth seasoned with thyme and red wine.
Chuck Roast with Mushroom Gravy
- Sauté mushrooms with onion and garlic. Cook roast in broth and Worcestershire sauce.
BBQ Pulled Beef Chuck Roast
- Shred roast after cooking in a tangy barbecue sauce. Serve on buns.
Cheesesteak Chuck Roast Sandwiches
- Shred roast and mix with sautéed peppers, onions and melted cheese.
Chili-Rubbed Chuck Roast Tacos
- Season roast with ancho chile powder, cumin, garlic and oregano. Shred for tacos.
Italian-Seasoned Pot Roast Subs
- Cook roast with tomato sauce, herbs and pepperoncinis. Slice for subs.
The Takeaway
Cooking chuck roast in a slow cooker is an easy, foolproof way get incredibly tender, flavorful beef in dishes like pot roast, shredded beef, sandwiches, tacos and more. While cook times can vary, aim for 8-12 hours on LOW or 4-8 hours on HIGH for a 2-5 pound chuck roast. And always check for doneness by fork tenderness, not time alone. Follow the tips above for serving up the most delicious, melt-in-your-mouth chuck roast every time.
Why You Will Love This Crock Pot Chuck Roast Recipe:
- It takes 5 minutes to prepare. Cooking is not everyone’s favorite past time. Sometimes we just don’t have the time. That’s fine! This pot roast in the slow cooker is the best way to make dinner easy. One vegetable only needs to be chopped; the rest can be added to the pot. Can’t beat it!.
- It’s a full meal in one pot. Beef, veggies and potatoes. All in one dish. That is what we love. Of course, you can serve this with fresh bread or a big salad, but it’s enough to feed the whole family!
- Even delicious as leftovers. If you store this roast in its juices, it’s still great the next day or so. You can reheat it in the crockpot if desired. That way, you get two for the price of one.
- Freezer-friendly! I love putting the extra meat from this recipe in the freezer. I can use it later for tacos, sandwiches, or just another simple meal like the one it started with.
Step By Step Instructions:
- First, put the potatoes, onions, and carrots in the bottom of the slow cooker pot. This is another easy slow cooker pot roast recipe. Toss to combine. You don’t have to add salt, pepper, and garlic, but you can if you want to.
- Place the beef chuck roast on top of the veggies.
- Pour the broth over top of the meat. Cover completely with the sea salt, pepper, thyme and garlic. Toss a few fresh sprigs of thyme if desired.
- Cover and cook on low for eight hours, or until the meat is soft enough to fall apart with a fork and the vegetables are soft. If the meat is still tough after 8 hours, it’s not done yet! I don’t recommend cooking on high, but 4-6 hours should work if you have to.
- Do not use a knife to cut the meat into pieces when it is done. Instead, let it fall apart on its own. Mix corn starch with water if you want the juices to be thicker. Move to a serving platter and let it sit for five minutes before serving. Store leftovers.
- You can thicken the juices easily if desired. We’ve always liked the roast’s juices better, and we pour them over as we serve. If you want to make it a little thicker, mix about 1 to 2 tablespoons of cornstarch into the juice at the bottom 20 to 30 minutes before you serve it.
- When you can easily tear the meat apart with a fork, it’s done. Don’t freak out if the meat in your pot roast is really tough when you come back to it. This just means it is not done yet. We worry a lot about cooking meat too long, but a pot roast needs to cook all the way through to be soft and melt in your mouth.
- If you want, you can skip the searing step and just brown the pot roast on each side before putting it in the slow cooker. I never do and love the results still.
Putting leftovers in the fridge: Move the chuck roast to a shallow dish so that it can stay in the juices. You can store the carrots and potatoes separately if desired, but it is not necessary. Store airtight for up to 4 days. Reheat in the oven, microwave or put back in the crockpot if desired.
Freezing: To freeze, allow the crockpot chuck roast to cool completely, I usually do this in the refrigerator. Again, make sure to store in some of the juices for best results. Place in a freezer safe, airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months. I don’t think you should freeze the carrots and potatoes because they can get mushy when they thaw, but if you don’t mind, go ahead and freeze them!
Slow Cooker Beef Pot Roast Recipe – How to Make Flavorful Beef Pot Roast in the Slow Cooker
FAQ
Is 3 hours enough for slow cooking beef chuck?
How long does a roast stay in the crockpot?
Is it better to cook a roast on high or low in slow cooker?
How long does it take to cook a chuck roast?
How do you cook a chuck roast in a slow cooker?
Sprinkle the chuck roast all over with 4 teaspoons of the salt and 2 teaspoons of the pepper. Step 2: Sear the beef. In a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil over medium-high. Place the meat in the skillet and sear it until browned on all sides, 12 to 16 minutes total. Transfer the meat to a 6 ½-quart slow cooker.
How do you cook a beef chuck in a crock pot?
Place the beef roast with ranch dressing in the slow cooker. Make the beef broth if using bouillon. Pour the broth around the chuck and add the onion slices on top. Cover and roast in the crock pot for 3-4 hours on High or 6-8 hours on low. Scrub and chop the potatoes and carrots.
How long does a pot roast take to cook in a crock pot?
Pack them in if needed. Sprinkle a generous teaspoon of salt over the top and ½ teaspoon of black pepper. Add the beef base to the pot crock. Then pour in the water and Worcestershire sauce. Cover and set on high for 7 to 9 hours, or on low for 11 to 14 hours. Get the Complete (Printable) Slow Cooker Pot Roast Recipe + Video Below. Enjoy!
How long do you cook beef in a slow cooker?
Cook on low setting for 8-9 hours or on high for 4-5 hours (or until the beef is fork tender). If you have the time we recommend the low setting for the most flavorful and tender beef. Pour the liquid from the slow cooker into a medium stock pot, leaving the roast and vegetables in the warm slow cooker.