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Home » Entrees

The Easiest And Best Pot Roast Recipe Ever

11/06/2019 Updated: 04/19/2022 By Karrie 39 Comments

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Best pot roast recipe with roast in a pan surrounded by carrots, onion, and potatoes

This is the Easiest And Best Pot Roast Recipe with tender fall apart beef and fresh roasted vegetables!  Slow braised beef roast with potatoes, onions, and carrots make a delicious and comforting meal the whole family will love.

The best Pot Roast recipe around in a dutch oven surrounded by carrots, potatoes, and onions.

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This one pot meal is really the best pot roast recipe ever and is adapted from an old Food & Wine magazine (February 1991 issue date).

It's a perfect recipe for when you don't know what to do with boneless chuck roast. And it's the easiest one too!

No liquid at all is used in the pot and only salt and pepper for the seasoning, yet it consistently produces the most fantastic tasting roast around. 

Every single time!

Cooking tips

How to make the best pot roast recipe all starts with selecting the best quality ingredients. 

Choosing a well marbled, thick cut piece of beef and fresh vegetables to surround it is the key to tasty success.

This is a quick chuck roast recipe to prepare and let braise in the oven for a couple of hours.

Ingredients for oven roasted roast with a raw beef chuck roast, carrots with green tops, and a red onion cut in wedges.

It's also the perfect meal to make a day ahead of time too.

The next day just remove the congealed fat in the pot and puree the onions with the remaining liquid to make a gravy.  

Slice the roast and put it in the gravy before reheating or use the leftovers to make a roast beef hash.

Best cut of beef to use

Chuck roast is a rich cut of beef from the cow's shoulder and neck area. 

It's a cut that is tough and fatty, so it's full of flavor, yet is inexpensive compared to other beef cuts.

An inexpensive, tough piece of meat benefits greatly from a slow and low cooking method, such as braising.

Braising is the best way to break down the roast's collagen and connective tissue and it turns the meat into the most fall apart, fork tender beefy goodness.  

Step by step photos of cooking beef roast in oven with vegetables

What is braising

Braising is a one pot cooking method where meat is browned in oil, then placed in a pan with a tight fitting lid.

It's cooked at a lower temperature in a moderate amount of liquid, in the oven or on the stove-top.

There are two types of braising: short and long.

  • Short braising cooks in about an hour.
  • Long braising takes a few hours. This recipe uses the long cooking method and is an ideal way to cook a beef roast in oven!

Braising Tips:

  1. Use a dutch oven with a tight fitting lid.
  2. Pat meat until dry for better browning.
  3. Heat up a little oil in the pan over medium-high heat until hot, then sear the meat on all sides.
  4. Add a little liquid (or none at all, like in this recipe!). When adding liquid, make sure everything isn't submerged. It's cooked by steam with the liquid, but shouldn't be boiling in the liquid.
  5. Cover the pot with the tight fitting lid and cook low and slow, either in the oven or on the stove-top.

Best pots for braising

  • Dutch Oven with a lid is the BEST kind of pot to use for braising. They come in all different types of materials and range from inexpensive to very expensive.
  • A Sauteuse will work well too, but keep in mind it's smaller in size than a dutch oven.
  • If you want to be the envy of all your braising friends, get a Doufeu. It's a fancy dutch oven with a concave lid that holds ice to create condensation while cooking, which helps provide moisture to the food.
  • If you don't have any of the above in the house, MacGyver a kind of homemade dutch oven. Just take a deep roasting pan and tightly cover with heavy duty foil. It's not perfect, but it's better than nothing!

Other names for chuck roast

Chuck roast can be labeled different names for the same cut of beef. 

Any piece of beef that is labeled as a "pot roast" is typically suitable for braising. Look for:

  • 7-Bone Chuck Roast
  • Chuck Arm Pot Roast
  • Blade Chuck Roast
  • Chuck Eye Roast
  • Chuck Pot Roast
  • Shoulder Pot Roast
  • Chuck Roll Roast
  • Chuck Neck Roast
Pot Roast and mashed potatoes covered in gravy with carrots and french bread slices.

Side dish recipes

Honesty, anything will pretty much go with this ultimate comfort, but I've listed a few of my favorites down below:

  • Mashed Potato Cakes ~ Of course, everyone loves mashed potato with pot roast, BUT make dinner more special by turning some mash into crispy potato cakes!
  • Beet Salad with Goat Cheese, Apricots, and Pistachios ~ Beets and beef go together like peanut butter and jelly.
  • French Bread ~ I love a pot roast meal with hot, fresh bread and butter on the side. Plus, you can use the bread to dip in the gravy. YEEEAAAAAAAH!
    • Recipe makes 2 loaves of french bread, so enjoy one now and freeze one for later!
  • Fresh Green Beans ~ Green beans sautéed with garlic and fresh ginger is the perfect accompaniment to the braised beef with potatoes and carrots.
  • Angel Biscuits ~ A light biscuit-like roll with garlic and cheese that doubles as the bread for a leftover roast sandwich the next day.
  • Spinach Artichoke Risotto ~ A creamy, cheesy risotto flavored with spinach, garlic, and artichoke hearts. Tastes just like the dip, but in a side dish form.
  • Brie Soufflé ~ Soufflés are really easy to make and this batter can even be made a day ahead of time! Fluffy and so airy, these are ideal as a main entrée for the vegetarians at your dinner table.
  • Sweet Potato Rolls ~ A cloverleaf shaped yeast roll made with cooked, mashed sweet potatoes and topped with a bacon butter mix. Save this one for later because it makes a PERFECT holiday roll.
  • Chipotle Cauliflower ~ Keep it low carb by substituting the potatoes around the roast for oven roasted chipotle cauliflower florets.

Hope you enjoy making this oven baked chuck roast recipe!

Please let me know in the comments below if you agree this is the easiest and best pot roast recipe ever too.

The Easiest And Best Pot Roast Ever

The Easiest And Best Pot Roast Recipe Ever

This is the Easiest And Best Pot Roast Recipe with tender fall apart beef and fresh roasted vegetables! Slow braised beef roast with potatoes, onions, and carrots make a delicious and comforting meal the whole family will love.
5 from 13 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Entree
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 2 hours
Total Time: 2 hours 20 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 572kcal
Author: Karrie | Tasty Ever After

Ingredients

  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • 3 ½ pounds beef chuck roast
  • 1 large yellow onion , peeled and cut into wedges
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 3 large potatoes , unpeeled and cut into 1 inch chunks
  • 5-6 large carrots , unpeeled and cut into 2 inch pieces
  • salt and pepper , to taste
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Take the beef roast out of refrigerator and bring to room temperature, about 30 minutes, before cooking.
  • Preheat oven to 325F/163C degrees. Heat oil in a large (5-7 quart), heavy dutch oven pot over medium high heat until hot. Place meat in pot and cook, without turning, until bottom is well browned. Using tongs, turn meat and brown on all sides.
  • Push meat to the side of pan, add the onion, and lightly brown. Stir in the bay leaf and set the meat on top of the onion mixture.
    Scatter the potatoes and carrots around the meat. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
  • Cover the pot with a lid or foil and roast in oven for 30 minutes at 325F/163C degrees.
  • Reduce temperature to 300F degrees and cook another 1 ½ hours, or until tender.  Serve immediately.

Recipe Notes & Tips:

  • No liquid is needed in the recipe, as the roast produces it's own while cooking
  • To make a quick gravy:  Purée the onions and cooking liquid together
  • Leftovers are even better the next day!  Cook this roast a day ahead and heat up right before eating for an easy meal or make this beef hash 
    • To reheat: slice the meat and place in a baking dish, cover with the leftover gravy or add extra beef broth to cover the meat, cover the dish and reheat in a preheated oven at 325F/163C until just heated through.  Once reheated, pull it immediately out of the oven so the meat doesn't dry out and toughen up
  • Can freeze leftovers by storing in an air-tight container for up to 3 months
  • Adapted from a recipe in February 1991 Food & Wine magazine
Nutrition Facts
The Easiest And Best Pot Roast Recipe Ever
Amount Per Serving
Calories 572 Calories from Fat 279
% Daily Value*
Fat 31g48%
Saturated Fat 13g65%
Cholesterol 182mg61%
Sodium 260mg11%
Potassium 1507mg43%
Carbohydrates 19g6%
Fiber 4g16%
Sugar 3g3%
Protein 54g108%
Vitamin A 8525IU171%
Vitamin C 16.5mg20%
Calcium 98mg10%
Iron 9.1mg51%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Tried this recipe? Tag me today!Mention @tastyeverafter or tag #tastyeverafter

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 ©  Tasty Ever After  All images and content are copyright protected, so please do not copy or claim my work as your own.  Please do not use any images or republish this recipe without prior permission.  If you want to reference this recipe, link directly back to this post.  Thank you.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Sandra Carranza

    October 08, 2022 at 10:52 am

    5 stars
    I have used this recipe SO MANY TIMES. Simple, perfect & easy! I never knew I could make roast this good!

    Reply
  2. Casey

    October 05, 2022 at 4:27 pm

    How do you make gravy for this recipe? Thanks

    Reply
    • Karrie

      October 07, 2022 at 11:22 am

      You can remove the roast, vegetables, and bay leaf from the pot; then purée the onions and cooking liquid together to make a quick gravy 🙂

      Reply
  3. Gene

    March 06, 2022 at 9:24 pm

    This is an easier and faster pot roast recipe than most, and an excellent one. This time, rather than no liquid at all, I removed the meat and deglazed the brown bits in the Dutch oven with a half cup or so of Cabernet Sauvignon, then reduced the wine until it was thick and a spoon drawn through it left a trail...so ALMOST no liquid! It took only about four minutes, then proceeded as per the recipe. The Cabernet added flavor to the cooking liquid which was in the pot when done and which I pureed with the onions and a few chunks of potato to thicken into a sauce. Try it!

    Reply
  4. Steve

    December 06, 2021 at 9:20 pm

    5 stars
    Fantastic. I've tried so many variations before this and none are this quick and flavorful. I didn't have any potatoes so I just used onions and carrots and followed the rest as directed. Amazing how it's so tender and moist without adding any liquid.

    Reply
  5. Lisa Nally

    October 31, 2021 at 2:19 pm

    Can you cook this on the stove instead of the oven?

    Reply
    • Karrie

      November 01, 2021 at 9:29 pm

      Hi Lisa, I haven't tried this recipe on the stove, but I'm sure it will cook just fine. One change to the recipe is you’ll have to add liquid to cook the roast on the stovetop. Follow the recipe the same way, but add around 2 cups of beef broth, bring to a boil, then cover and simmer for 2 hours. If you try it this way, please let me know how it turns out for you!

      Reply
  6. Jamie Collins

    March 29, 2021 at 11:31 am

    Is a 3.5lb bottom round roast suitable to use? Will I need to modify anything in the recipe if I use that cut?

    Reply
    • Karrie

      March 29, 2021 at 4:12 pm

      Yes, you can use a bottom round roast, but it's much leaner than chuck, so you'll have to add some beef or chicken broth to the pot. Since it's so lean, you'll have to slow braise it, so it will take longer to cook. Still brown the roast on all sides then add 2-3 cups of broth (make sure it covers at least half of the roast) and bring the broth to a boil over high heat. Cover and bake in the oven for 3 1/2 to 4 hours for a 3.5 pound roast. Please let me know how the bottom round roast turns out for you!

      Reply
  7. Lin

    November 10, 2020 at 8:58 am

    5 stars
    I made this pot roast recipe last evening for dinner.
    It was easy and delivious! In addition to the onions and carrots, I added parsnips. Turned out perfectly! Thanks for this recipe!

    Reply
  8. Lisa Sementa

    September 28, 2020 at 7:20 am

    Hi! I have a 4.5 pound chuck roast. How long should I cook it in the oven? Thank you!

    Reply
    • Karrie

      September 28, 2020 at 11:52 am

      Hi Lisa, check the roast every 30 minutes after the initial 2 hours cook time to check for the desired tenderness. Please let me know how it turns out!

      Reply
      • Lisa Sementa

        September 28, 2020 at 12:25 pm

        Thank you so much for responding! I will be cooking it in a few so I will let you know how it turns out. 😊

        Reply
  9. Mary

    September 21, 2020 at 4:20 pm

    5 stars
    I make this all the time. We are only two people so I use a smaller roast about 1.5 lbs. I cook it at 325 for 30 minutes and reduce to 300 for an hour.

    Reply
  10. Jennifer

    May 15, 2020 at 9:42 am

    5 stars
    Made this exactly as directed (for a 2.5 lb roast) and turned out perfectly! So good I already ordered (since all online now) another one for next week! Thank you 🙂

    Reply
    • Karrie

      May 15, 2020 at 9:16 pm

      Thank you Jennifer and I'm super thrilled you like the recipe so much! Have you tried making beef roast hash with the leftovers? OMG, so good for breakfast or dinner. You might want to order 2 roasts for next week. lol!

      Reply
      • Jennifer

        May 17, 2020 at 11:44 am

        Leftovers?? 😂 If we ever have any, I'll let you know!

        Reply
        • Karrie

          May 20, 2020 at 11:26 am

          😂😂

          Reply
  11. Teresa O

    April 29, 2020 at 7:42 pm

    5 stars
    Hello & thank you for this recipe! This is the second time making it & we absolutely love the flavor, the tender pull apart with a fork eating & overall ease of throwing it altogether! It had been awhile since I had made a chuck roast not by my doing but picky eaters in the family.
    I decided I’ll try it again & I’m glad I did - they loved it!

    Reply
    • Karrie

      April 29, 2020 at 8:58 pm

      Hello Teresa! I'm so happy you decided to make pot roast roast again too! Thank you so much for your sweet review and very glad your family loved the recipe. Hope you are hanging in there during this crazy time cooking for your picky eaters (haha!) and please let me know if you need any suggestions or have any food/cooking questions. 🙂

      Reply
  12. Ed Hamel

    March 30, 2020 at 4:44 pm

    How long should you cook a 2 lb roast

    Reply
    • Karrie

      March 30, 2020 at 8:55 pm

      Cook it for 30 minutes at 325F, then reduce the heat to 300F and check the roast to see if it's tender after 45 minutes. If it needs longer, check it every 15 minutes until it's fork tender.

      Reply
  13. Mima B

    March 19, 2020 at 9:03 pm

    5 stars
    I did this..came out delish! To bad I can't post a picture of it.

    Reply
  14. Judy

    January 10, 2020 at 4:09 pm

    Can I broil it in oven enstead of baking?
    Wat is the difference?

    Reply
    • Karrie

      January 10, 2020 at 10:20 pm

      Hi Judy, chuck roast is a less tender cut of beef that benefits from a slow and low method of dry and moist heat, such as braising (baking). Broiling is a quick, direct dry heat method that's better suited for flat tender beef steaks.

      Reply
      • Rina

        February 15, 2020 at 4:01 pm

        How about a pressure cooker? Same as braising recipe?

        Reply
        • Karrie

          February 17, 2020 at 2:07 pm

          Hi Rina, braising is a low and slow cooking method and is very different from pressure cooking. I haven't tried my pot roast recipe in a pressure cooker, but I did a little research and found some information. For a 3 pound chuck roast, brown on all sides and remove. Lightly brown the onions, then add 1 1/2 cups of beef broth, seal the lid, and cook at high pressure for 30 minutes. After pressure is released, remove lid and add potatoes and/or carrots. Cook at high pressure for another 15 minutes. Good luck and please let me know if these instructions work for you!

          Reply
  15. Patty

    December 09, 2019 at 3:52 pm

    5 stars
    I've been making this the past few months, usually once a month. I also add a little celery & mushrooms. It's delicious. Thank you!

    Reply
  16. Nellie Laboy

    December 07, 2019 at 2:58 pm

    Great delicious recipe.

    Reply
  17. Savannah Brown

    July 16, 2019 at 11:42 am

    Hi! Would it take longer to cook in a crock pot?? I don't have a deep pot to cook it in

    Reply
    • karrie @ Tasty Ever After

      July 16, 2019 at 3:50 pm

      Hi Savannah! Yes, it will take much longer in a crock pot (8-10 hours at high or 5-6 hours on low). If you still want to oven bake it and you have a deep enough baking dish to hold the roast, just tightly cover the top with foil and bake as directed. Hope you enjoy it!

      Reply
  18. Lisa Lee

    June 24, 2019 at 9:23 pm

    5 stars
    Back around '91 I was a HUGE Food and Wine (and Epicurious) fan. I believe I had this recipe then but lost it over the years. It is FANTASTIC! I only had onions so that's all I used but what a great flavor! Note: I DO "dry age" my beef in the fridge for a few days before cooking to concentrate the beefy flavor. This 3 pound chuck I had on a rack over a pan in the bottom back of the fridge for 5 days.
    BUT! Twenty thumbs up for this recipe.

    Reply
    • Karrie

      June 27, 2019 at 11:05 am

      LOVE that you were a 91 F & W fan too Lisa!!!! Dry aged is a great idea on the beef too. I do it with steaks, but going to try it with chuck roast next time. Thank you so much for taking the time to comment and leave a 20 thumbs up review!!

      Reply
  19. Marilyn

    February 22, 2019 at 4:59 pm

    5 stars
    Omg
    The BEST ever!
    Can not describe to you how impressed we were with this recipe - l didn’t want all those liquid ideas.
    Used my blue oval Rachael Ray heavy cast iron baker & roast was Amazing
    Thank u soooo much

    Reply
    • Karrie

      February 22, 2019 at 5:19 pm

      You are welcome Marilyn and it's the only pot roast recipe I've used since 1991, when I first saw it in a F&W magazine. So happy you all enjoyed it!

      Reply
  20. sheri

    January 29, 2019 at 3:02 pm

    Do I need to add any liquid?

    Reply
    • Karrie

      January 29, 2019 at 3:07 pm

      No liquid is needed in the recipe Sheri. Hope you enjoy! I just made it last night for dinner and turning leftovers into beef hash for tonight.

      Reply
      • Emily

        July 27, 2019 at 12:20 pm

        Hi this sounds good can I cook it on top the stove as well

        Reply
        • Karrie

          July 27, 2019 at 2:20 pm

          Hi Emily, I haven't tried this recipe on the stove-top yet, but it should work. You’ll have to add liquid to cook it on the stovetop. Make it exactly the same way, but add around 2 cups of beef broth, bring to a boil, cover and simmer for 2 hours. If you try it this way, please let me know how it turns out for you!

          Reply

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Thank you for visiting Tasty Ever After and I'm Karrie! I hope you enjoy spending some time here finding easy scratch made recipes for the home cook.

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