Some dinners smell like someone’s been cooking all day, but take minutes to prepare. This is one of those recipes. A slow cooker savory chuck roast dinner. Chuck roast is a tender cut of meat that is slow cooked with simple vegetables and a rich savory gravy to make the type of hearty comfort food that is at home on a Sunday table.The best part of this recipe is how little work it is. Instead of hours spent checking on a roast in the oven, you season the beef, throw everything in the slow cooker and let the low, gentle heat do the rest. The chuck roast becomes tender and flavorful while the vegetables soak up the savory juices around them.I love to do this kind of meal especially when the day is busy. You can prepare all the ingredients in the morning, put them in the slow cooker, and return to a dinner ready to finish and serve. There’s no tricky sauce to make and no need for a long list of special ingredients.Serve the finished roast with mashed potatoes, egg noodles, rice or crusty bread for a delicious meal. This is a one-pot family dinner with carrots and potatoes cooking in the same pan as the beef for convenience. If you want something a little fresh on the side, add some green beans or a simple salad.Why Chuck Roast Works So WellChuck roast contains enough connective tissue and marbling to handle a long cooking time beautifully.The slow cooker gives the meat plenty of time to become tender while the vegetables cook alongside it.The result feels much more complicated than the preparation actually is.You don’t need to stand over a pan.You don’t need to keep stirring.Once everything goes into the slow cooker, you can get on with your day.Ingredients3 to 4 lbs beef chuck roast1 pound baby potatoes, halved 4 large carrots, peeled and cut into chunks1 packet dried onion soup mix2 cups of beef brothDirections:Spray the inside of a 6-quart slow cooker with cooking spray. Place the chuck roast in the middle.Arrange potatoes and carrots around roast.Evenly sprinkle the dry onion soup mix over the beef and vegetables. Pour the beef broth over the roast.Cover and cook on LOW for 8 to 9 hours or until beef is very tender and shreds easily with a fork.Transfer roast to a cutting board, being careful not to spill juices, and let rest about 10 minutes. Stir gently in vegetables and cooking juices in slow cooker.Slice or shred the beef and serve with the potatoes, carrots, and plenty of the savory cooking juices spooned over the top.Variations and TipsSear the Roast First: Brown the chuck roast on all sides in a hot skillet, before transferring to the slow cooker, to develop a deeper roasted flavor. This step is optional but adds extra richness.Use Baby Potatoes: Baby potatoes are great because they don’t require much prep. If your potatoes are larger, cut into similar sized pieces so they cook evenly.Add Mushrooms: Sliced mushrooms are a great addition to a savory chuck roast. Add them in at the start of cooking so they’ll have plenty of time to soften.Add Other Vegetables: Add celery, onions, parsnips, or turnips to the carrots and potatoes. Cut everything into fairly large pieces so that the vegetables don’t go too soft.Don’t add too much liquid: the chuck roast will release its own juices as it cooks. The broth should be sufficient to moisten the gravy and vegetables but not enough to cover the roast completely.Cook on LOW: The LOW setting is a better choice for Chuck Roast with the longer cooking time. This gives the connective tissue time to break down and helps make tender pull-apart beef.Test for Tenderness in the Roast: Cooking time will vary depending on the size and shape of the roast. The best sign it’s ready is tenderness; the meat should fall apart easily with a fork.You can make a thicker gravy by pouring some of the cooking liquid into a saucepan and simmering for a short time, or thickening with a suitable thickener before serving.Serve With Bread: Crusty bread or warm dinner rolls are perfect for soaking up the tasty juices. This makes for an even more comforting meal without too much extra work.Save the Leftovers You can shred leftover chuck roast and use it in sandwiches, wraps, tacos, beef bowls or another easy dinner. Store the beef and vegetables in an airtight container in the fridge.Make It Ahead: This roast makes a great make ahead dinner. As the beef rests the flavors develop nicely and leftovers can be reheated gently with some of the cooking juices.This Slow Cooker Savory Chuck Roast Dinner is the kind of easy slow cooker beef recipe that makes a busy day just a little bit easier. A classic comfort food dinner without the complicated prep: Tender chuck roast, hearty potatoes, sweet carrots and savory onion-seasoned broth.If you want to make a Sunday roast dinner, an easy family meal, or just want a good beef recipe that cooks while you go on with your day, this chuck roast won’t let you down. Serve it with mashed potatoes, vegetables or warm bread for a comforting homemade dinner with little effort.
Slow Cooker Savory Chuck Roast Dinner
