Crockpot chuck roast is a classic comfort food that the whole family loves. And it’s terrific to make in a slow cooker! Tender roast beef is seasoned and nestled in the crock with potatoes, onions, and carrots. There’s no searing or stovetop cooking needed to make this easy crock pot chuck roast recipe – add the ingredients to the slow cooker, set it, and forget it!
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Why We Love This Recipe
- It features fork-tender beef, carrots, potatoes, and onions – just like grandma used to make. But this version includes tangy ranch dressing seasoning for an extra kick of delicious flavor!
- From start to finish, this crock pot recipe is ready in 3-4 hours on high or 6-8 hours on low, including just 5 quick minutes of prep time.
- This crockpot chuck roast recipe features an economical and easily found cut of beef. It’s a foolproof, set-and-forget-type recipe with meat and veggies for a complete one-pot meal.
We love easy slow cooker meals that don’t require pre-cooking before being added to the crock like our best crock pot beef recipe. It includes only a handful of wholesome ingredients and requires just 5 minutes to prep.
I recommend starting this chuck roast crock pot recipe early in the morning before you head out the door or after lunch. By dinnertime, your home smells amazing, and dinner will be ready to enjoy!
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
Slow-cooker roast beef with veggies has a great depth of savory, salty, earthy, and meaty flavors—but it has only 6 ingredients!
- Beef chuck roast – look for one with plenty of marbeling throughout.
- Low sodium beef broth – or use water with bouillon cubes or see my tip below for using Better than Bouillon which I keep in my fridge to use in place of beef broth.
- Dry ranch seasoning mix – see the recipe for how to make your own dry ranch seasoning if you don’t have a package of it on hand.
- Onion – layered on top of the beef, these give amazing flavor! Sliced shallots or thinly sliced leeks (use the tender white parts) are suitable substitutions.
- Red or russet potato – any potato will work well.
- Carrots – substitute carrots with your favorite stew type vegetable like celery, peas, or green beans.
What other cuts of meat can I use to make slow cooker roast beef?
You can substitute chuck roast for round or rump roast. However, these cuts can be slightly less predictable.
🎯 TFN Pro Tip
Make your beef recipe extra flavorful by using Better Than Bouillon beef paste instead of packaged beef broth. Double the strength by using 2 teaspoons for every 1 cup of water. Alternatively, you can use beef bouillon cubes.
How to Cook a Chuck Roast in a Crock Pot
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Follow these 4 easy steps to prepare a fabulous, no-fail one-pot dinner:
- Slice the onions and season the beef chuck with the ranch seasoning. If you have the time, I recommend adding the seasoning one hour before you put the beef in the crockpot.
- Place the beef roast with ranch dressing in the slow cooker. Make the beef broth if using bouillon. Pour in the broth and add the onion slices on top. Cover and cook in the crock pot for 3-4 hours on High or 6-8 hours on low.
- Scrub and chop the potatoes and carrots. When there are about 2 hours left to cook, add the chopped veggies and cover again.
- Transfer the crock pot chuck roast and the cooked vegetables to a large platter. Loosely cover with foil and rest for 10-15 minutes. Then slice, serve, and enjoy this beef dinner.
Recipe Tips
🎯 TFN Pro Tip
If your pot roast isn’t fork-tender, it needs more time to cook. You can continue cooking it for another 30-60 minutes. Or, speed up the cooking by removing the roast and cutting it into four pieces, then returning it to the slow cooker and checking again after 30 minutes.
Recipe FAQs
Yes! Make your own homemade ranch dressing mix: 2 Tablespoons buttermilk powder (optional), 1 Tablespoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon dried parsley, 1 teaspoon dried chives, 2 teaspoons onion powder, 1 teaspoon dried dill.
No, you don’t have to sear the roast first. However, we highly recommend it if you have the time or equipment (a heavy pan like a Dutch Oven or use the searing setting on the crock pot). Searing the meat caramelizes the surface of the meat giving you a deeper flavor.
The beauty of this dish is that it has your meat, starch, and veg all in a single one-pot recipe. But a yummy biscuit or roll is always great to serve with a hearty comfort food meal! Pair a warm plate of pot roast with Bisquick drop biscuits, easy 3 ingredient biscuits, or a fluffy yeast rolls recipe.
Store the beef and vegetables in a sealed container, and keep them in the fridge for up to 4 days. To freeze, transfer to an airtight zipper bag or other freezer-safe containers, and store for up to 3 months.
Yes, a chuck roast is a tougher cut of meat that needs time for the cartilage and connective tissue to break down. So generally the longer it cooks, the more tender it gets. But, keep an eye on your cooking times because it is possible to overcook it. The roast is done when it’s fork tender and at least 145ºF.
Consider These Slow Cooker recipes…
- Beef Cube Steak In Crock Pot
- 15 Bean Soup Recipe Slow Cooker
- Cooking Sirloin Tip Roast In Slow Cooker
- Recipe for Swiss Steak in Crock Pot
If you tried making our chuck roast in crock pot recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!
Chuck Roast in a Crock Pot
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3-4 pounds beef chuck roast (see notes for other beef cuts)
- 1½ cups beef broth, low sodium
- 1 packet dry ranch seasoning mix (see notes for homemade ranch seasoning mix)
- 1 small onion, sliced
- 6 potatoes (russett or red), scrubbed and quartered
- 2 carrots, cut into 2" pieces
Instructions
- If time permits, season the meat with dry ranch seasoning mix and rest for one hour before placing it into slow cooker.
- Place the beef in the pot of your slow cooker, add broth and seasoning. Cover with sliced onions. Cook in slow cooker for 3-4 hours on High setting or 6-8 hours on Low.
- Add potatoes and carrots the last 2 hours of cooking.
- After cooking, remove the meat from slow cooker and to a platter. Cover with foil and let rest 10-15 minutes before slicing. Add the vegetables to the sides before serving.
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Donalyn says
This is a great recipe that I have made time and time again – really good flavor and super easy!
Sky says
So yummy and easy to make! Loved the ranch seasoning on it!
Sonia says
Thank you for this recipe – my friends loved it!