Pot Roast, Slow Cooker

also called yankee pot roast · hot beef commercial · hot beef sandwich · slow cooker pot roast · crockpot pot roast · crock pot roast

Also written for Instant Pot (3 to wash), the plain way (1 to wash).

Three ways to read this recipe

The table

Pot Roast, Slow Cooker: ingredients down the left, what to do with them across. Tap any cell to cross it off.
Half the liquid the oven takes. Three cups going in is three cups plus what the vegetables give up coming out
4 lb(1.8 kg)beef chuck roastrub, both facessear 12 min in a skillet, every facesoften, deglaze the skillet cleanbraise on low, 8 hrthicken on high, lid off
1 Tbskosher salt
1 tspblack pepper
2 Tbsvegetable oil
2 large(sliced)yellow onions
4 clovesgarlic
2 Tbstomato paste
1/2 cup(120 mL)dry red wine
1 cup(240 mL)beef stock
4 sprigsthyme
1 lb(450 g; cut in 2-in lengths)carrots
2 lb(900 g; halved)Yukon Gold potatoes
2 Tbs(16 g; slaked in 2 Tbs cold water)cornstarch
Tap anything to cross it off.

What to lay out

Everything the recipe asks for, sitting under the step that eats it. Tick each one as you measure it.16 things to get out.

Pans and tools

Before anything else

2rub, both faces

3sear 12 min in a skillet, every face

goes in with what step 2 made

4soften, deglaze the skillet clean

goes in with what step 3 made

5braise on low, 8 hr

goes in with what step 4 made

6thicken on high, lid off

goes in with what step 5 made

Cooking it

Tap a step when it is done; the next one lights up.

The clock

Start to finish
at least 8 hr 32 min2 of 5 steps give no time
Needs you
about 32 min
If you get it wrong
Forgiving — the potatoes give out first, and in a crock they were always going to be soft by the time the chuck is ready
What you'll wash
Four things — the slow cooker crock, the skillet, a cup to slake the cornstarch in, a plate to rest the roast on
Does it keep
4 days — slice it cold and warm the slices in the gravy; the whole piece goes stringy warmed twice
  1. rub, both faces

    not timedfrom the start

  2. sear 12 min in a skillet, every face

    12 minneeds youfrom the start

  3. soften, deglaze the skillet clean

    not timed12 min in

  4. braise on low, 8 hr

    8 hrwalk away12 min in

  5. thicken on high, lid off

    20 minneeds you(we think)8 hr 12 min in

You'll need skillet · slow cooker

See how it is written
>> title: Pot Roast, Slow Cooker
>> category: Stews & Braises
>> tags: beef, sunday dinner, braise, one-pot, slow cooker, crock pot
>> counters: The Slow Cooker
>> dish: pot-roast
>> kit: Slow Cooker
>> aka: yankee pot roast, hot beef commercial, hot beef sandwich, slow cooker pot roast, crockpot pot roast, crock pot roast
>> servings: 6
>> time: 8 hr 40 min
>> slack: forgiving — the potatoes give out first, and in a crock they were always going to be soft by the time the chuck is ready
>> washing-up: the slow cooker crock, the skillet, a cup to slake the cornstarch in, a plate to rest the roast on
>> keeps: 4 days — slice it cold and warm the slices in the gravy; the whole piece goes stringy warmed twice

Half the liquid the oven takes. Three cups going in is three cups plus what the vegetables give up coming out.

>> step: rub, both faces
Rub @beef chuck roast{4%lb}(1.8 kg) with @kosher salt{1%Tbs}, @black pepper{1%tsp}.

>> step: sear 12 min in a skillet, every face
Sear @&(~1)seasoned roast{} in @vegetable oil{2%Tbs} in a #skillet{} for ~sear{12%min}, turning it onto every face including the ends.

>> step: soften, deglaze the skillet clean
Soften @yellow onions{2%large}(sliced), @garlic{4%cloves}, @tomato paste{2%Tbs} in the same skillet with @&(~1)seared roast{}, then pour in @dry red wine{1/2%cup}(120 mL) and scrape until nothing is stuck to the base, which is the only place that flavour exists.

>> step: braise on low, 8 hr
Slow cook @&(~1)pot{} with @beef stock{1%cup}(240 mL), @thyme{4%sprigs}, @carrots{1%lb}(450 g; cut in 2-in lengths), @Yukon Gold potatoes{2%lb}(900 g; halved) in a #slow cooker{} on low for ~slow cook{8%hr}, lid on and left alone — every lift costs about twenty minutes of recovery.

>> step: thicken on high, lid off
Thicken @&(~1)pot roast{} on high with the lid off, stirring in @cornstarch{2%Tbs}(16 g; slaked in 2 Tbs cold water) for ~thicken{20%min}, the roast lifted out and resting under foil.