Description
A budget-friendly, tender slow cooker chuck roast with root vegetables, designed for easy weeknight dinners and meal prep.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3–4 lbs chuck roast
- 2 large yellow onions, chopped into large chunks
- 1 lb carrots, peeled and chopped into thick rounds
- 1.5 lbs potatoes (Russet or Yukon Gold), cut into large cubes
- 2 cups low-sodium beef broth
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp dried thyme
- 1 tbsp dried rosemary
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- Olive oil or vegetable oil for searing
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Pat the chuck roast dry and season generously with salt and pepper. Toss in flour to coat evenly, shaking off excess.
- Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the roast for 3-4 minutes per side until browned. Remove and set aside.
- In the same skillet, sauté onions for 2 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Scrape up browned bits.
- Stir in tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, and rosemary. Cook for 1 minute, then slowly pour in beef broth, stirring to combine.
- Place carrots and potatoes in the bottom of a 6-quart slow cooker. Place the seared roast on top. Pour the sauce mixture over everything.
- Cover and cook on Low for 8 hours or on High for 5 hours, until meat is fork-tender.
- Optional: Remove meat. Mix 2 tbsp cornstarch with 2 tbsp cold water. Stir into liquid in slow cooker and cook on High for 15-20 minutes to thicken gravy.
- Slice or shred beef and serve with gravy over mashed potatoes, rice, or bread.
Notes
Do not skip searing the meat for better flavor. Cut vegetables uniformly for even cooking. If using frozen vegetables, add them in the last hour of cooking. The gravy will thicken as it cools.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 hours
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: Approximately 1/6 of
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 6
- Sodium: 600
- Fat: 22
- Saturated Fat: 8
- Carbohydrates: 25
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 35
Keywords: slow cooker, chuck roast, budget meals, comfort food, beef stew, meal prep, easy dinner