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.
Beef chuck roast becomes fall-apart tender and full of flavor when cooked low and slow in a slow cooker. But exactly how many hours do you need to cook a chuck roast? This guide provides timing so you can make the best slow cooker chuck roast ever.
Chuck roast comes from the shoulder area and is one of the most flavorful cuts of beef. It has marbling that keeps it moist and develops incredible taste. But it’s also a very tough cut requiring long cooking times to break down the collagen and yield tender, succulent meat.
Follow my tips on cook times, temperatures, preparation, and more for slow cooker chuck roast success. I’ll share how long per pound as well as tips to test for doneness. Your family will request this hearty, comforting meal again and again!
Picking the Right Chuck Roast
Look for a boneless chuck roast between 3 to 5 pounds to feed a family, Choose meat with nice marbling throughout for moisture and flavor, Trim off any excess fat before cooking but leave a bit for taste
Opt for a thicker roast over a thinner one if possible, as it holds up better during slow cooking. Thinner roasts run the risk of overcooking and drying out. Go for the thickest, most evenly shaped roast you can find.
Seasoning the Roast
I recommend keeping the seasoning simple for chuck roast. The meat has so much flavor on its own already. Use a basic blend of:
- 1 tbsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
Rub the seasonings all over the roast Let it sit 30 minutes to an hour at room temperature before cooking so the flavors are absorbed into the meat
Slow Cooker Time Per Pound
Use these general timelines depending on the weight of your chuck roast:
- 3 pounds: 8-10 hours on low
- 4 pounds: 10-12 hours on low
- 5 pounds: 12-14 hours on low
If short on time, cook on high for 6-8 hours but expect the meat to be slightly less tender Always check for doneness and cook until fork tender.
Checking Doneness of Chuck Roast
Cooking time alone doesn’t guarantee a perfect roast. Use two methods to test for doneness:
-
Temperature – Use a meat thermometer to check internal temp. Well done roasts should reach 195-205°F.
-
Tenderness – Stick a fork straight down into the thickest part. It should slide in and out with little resistance when done.
Keeping the Roast Moist
Chuck roast can dry out over long cooking times. Try these moisture-adding tricks:
- Place roast on a bed of root veggies like carrots, potatoes, onions.
- Add 1 cup beef broth or red wine to the slow cooker.
- Baste roast every few hours with pan juices.
- Use broth for deglazing the pan when making a sauce.
Letting Roast Rest
Once roast is cooked through, always let it rest 15-30 minutes before slicing. This allows juices to redistribute so they don’t run out when you cut into it. Tent roast with foil while resting.
Serving Tender Roast
Carve roast across the grain in 1/4-1/2 inch slices. Spoon pan juices over the top. Delicious sides include mashed potatoes, roasted veggies, egg noodles, and bread for soaking up the sauce.
With the proper timing and technique, slow cooker chuck roast delivers incredibly moist, fork-tender results full of rich meaty flavor. Now you know exactly how long to cook this satisfying roast. Enjoy!
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 okay! This tasty pot roast is the best way to make an easy dinner. 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 already 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. You get two for one from this easy recipe!.
- 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.
What Makes this Recipe So Simple?
- Only one veggie to chop. I chose baby carrots and small potatoes to cut down on the time it took to cut other vegetables. Simple ingredients, simple prep–that makes for the best meal!.
- No need to brown the meat. In many slow cooker recipes, the meat is browned before it is cooked. I leave this step out of my recipe and still get a tender and juicy pot roast.
- Literally toss everything in the slow cooker and walk away. This crockpot pot roast recipe is a true “toss and go” recipe. After putting everything in the slow cooker, all you have to do until it’s time to serve is enjoy the smell of the food.
- chuck roast: A chuck roast always works out well for me For slow cooking, this is the best cut of meat. When heated slowly, the meat gets so tender and juicy!
- Petite potatoes don’t need to be cut up for this crockpot chuck roast. For this recipe to be as simple as possible, it’s best to use babies potatoes. I usually use small white potatoes, but red potatoes will also work well.
- carrots: to avoid extra chopping, thick baby carrots are best. You can cut full sized carrots into chunks if preferred. Be careful not to use tiny baby carrots because they will cook too quickly and get mushy.
- The only thing you’ll need to chop is an onion. A sweet yellow onion works best in this recipe.
- broth: I like a beef broth that doesn’t have any added salt or less sodium for this recipe. Maybe you could go all out and make your own beef broth?! That would take a lot more work and time that I don’t have. Beef stock will work as well in this crockpot roast.
- garlic: freshly minced is ideal. To save time, use the jarred minced garlic if available. You can use garlic powder if needed. Start with one teaspoon and add more if you like before serving.
- seasoning: keeping this super simple. Salt, pepper and thyme is all that you need. For the most tender beef, make sure to salt it a lot. You can adjust as needed though. Sometimes I use dried thyme and sometimes I add a few sprigs of fresh thyme to this pot roast.
- If you want, you can add a splash of red wine to this recipe if you want to. I also like to add a little Worcestershire sauce or soy sauce to change the taste every once in a while.
How to Cook a Chuck Roast in the Slow Cooker~Easy Cooking
FAQ
Is 3 hours enough for slow cooking beef chuck?
How long does a roast stay in the crockpot?
Is it better to slow cook a roast on low or high?
How long does it take to cook 2 lb of meat in a slow cooker?