Classic Pot Roast (with VIDEO)

Our classic Pot Roast Recipe makes fall-apart tender beef in a rich sauce cooked slow in the oven. It’s my family’s go-to pot roast recipe and it never disappoints. It’s easy enough for a weeknight meal but also gets rave reviews from anyone I serve it to.

Pot Roast Recipe 

My sister Anna taught me how to make this classic pot roast. She made it during our family cabin trip and everyone loved it. There were 19 people at the cabin and the pot roast disappeared so fast! The sauce in the pot makes a lovely gravy (it’s super easy to thicken it up, and I’ll show you that below).

Classic pot roast is the perfect way to turn a tough cut of meat into a tender and filling meal. Historically pot roast has gotten a bad reputation for being boring, tasteless or old-fashioned, but with this recipe, I look forward to pot roast night!

I love serving Pot Roast over Creamy Mashed Potatoes and then spooning the sauces from the pot over the shredded pieces of beef. The flavors remind me of an unforgettable short ribs dish that I had in a fancy restaurant – it’s so rich with flavor.

Ingredients for Classic Pot Roast

No need for those pot roast seasoning packets here. You’ll be amazed at how much flavor these few ingredients provide, and you’ll know exactly what’s in your food.

• Beef Chuck Roast – when buying chuck roast, look for marbling (white specs) spread throughout the meat. It may be labeled shoulder steak or chuck shoulder in some places. If there are large fat sections on your roast, you can trim them away if desired.
• Herbs/seasonings – olive oil, kosher salt, pepper, bay leaves, thyme, and parsley. I love fresh parsley and thyme here but you can substitute with dried herbs (see the recipe card for details).
• Veggies – onion, garlic, and carrots create an aromatic base
• Gravy – tomato paste, dry red wine, and beef stock create a rich broth that doubles as a gravy, which you can thicken with either cornstarch or flour (more on that below).

*This pot roast recipe can be Low-carb, Paleo, Gluten-free, and Keto, but be sure to read the labels on the wine, stock, cornstarch, and tomato paste to verify.

What is the best meat to use for pot roast?

Beef Chuck Roast is the best cut of meat to use for this pot roast recipe. It has marvelous marbling throughout the meat. The more marbling, the more tenderness and flavor potential. This is a tough cut of meat, so don’t be tempted to speed it along, since it needs to simmer to break down the collagen in the meat. But the wait is so worth it.

You may have success with other cuts of meat too, like brisket or even bottom round, but I find chuck roast to deliver the best results.

How to Make a Pot Roast

Pot roast takes several hours in the oven, but the recipe actually is quite simple. No need to babysit once the roast gets into the oven. Assemble the pot roast just after lunchtime so dinner is ready to go!

• Prep – Take the meat out of the fridge 1 hour before cooking to come to room temperature, season with some salt and pepper, and preheat the oven to 325°F with the rack in the bottom third of the oven.

2. Sear – add a Tablespoon of oil to a large Dutch oven over medium/high heat and sear for a few minutes on all sides of the roast, allowing the meat to form a crust on each side. Then remove and set aside.

3. Saute onions for 4-5 minutes in the pot over medium heat, and then add garlic, cooking until you can smell the garlic, about 30 seconds.

4. Stir the tomato paste into the onions and garlic for about 2 minutes or until well incorporated.

5. Add the wine, and then scrape the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon to release all the flavor stuck to the bottom. This is called deglazing the pan. Cook for about 2 minutes or until 1/4 of the wine has evaporated.

6. Add the remaining ingredients to the pot: beef stock, salt, pepper, bay leaves, thyme and parsley. Stir to combine then add the roast and carrots. Bring the pot back to a boil, then cover and bake until the meat is fork-tender or until the center of the meat reads between 200-210˚F on a thermometer. This takes about 3-4 hours, depending on the size of the roast.

7. Take the meat out of the pot and shred it with two forks, one in each hand, pulling the meat apart. See how to use that flavorful drippings to make a thicker sauce below.

How Long to Cook a Pot Roast in the Oven?

The timing can depend on several factors like the type of meat and the size of your roast. If it’s bone-in, add an extra 30 minutes for extra tenderness. The roast is done when you can pull it apart easily with 2 forks and when it reaches an internal temperature on a thermometer between 200˚F to 210˚F. Here are approximate cooking times:

• For a 3 lb roast, bake for 2 1/2 to 3 hours
• For a 4 lb roast, bake for 3 to 3 1/2 hours
• For a 5-6 lb roast, bake for 3 1/2 to 4 hours

How to Thicken Sauce for Pot Roast (2 Options)

To serve the sauce as gravy, you can easily thicken it. After removing the meat and veggies, use one of these two methods:

• Option 1: Cornstarch and water – Place the Dutch oven over medium heat and bring the stock to a boil. Make a slurry by whisking 2 Tbsp of cornstarch with 2 Tbsp of water in a small bowl, and then stir it into the boiling stock. Cook for 2 minutes (this method can keep the dish gluten-free). You can make and add more of the slurry if a thicker sauce is desired.
• Option 2: Flour and butter – Boil the stock over medium heat. Melt 2 Tbsp of butter in a small bowl, and then mash in 2 Tbsp of flour to make a paste (this is called ‘beurre main’). Add to the stock a little at a time until thick.

You’ll love this Classic Pot Roast recipe since it creates the most tender shredded beef with a tasty gravy using only a few ingredients. You’ll also love that leftovers can be repurposed for Beef Quesadillas, Beef Sandwiches, Beef Burritos, and Tacos. I love pot roast for meal prep options!

Side Dishes that Pair Perfectly with Pot Roast

These are classic pairings with a pot roast that complement both the meat and the sauce.

Classic Pot Roast Recipe

Fall-apart tender beef in a rich sauce – this is the ultimate pot roast recipe! It starts with searing the beef and then making the rich flavored broth on the stovetop and the oven does the rest. This is easy enough for a weekend dinner but is absolutely company-worthy. I’ve heard it said many times from friends and family that – “this is the best pot roast I’ve ever had!”

Prep Time: 30 minutes mins

Cook Time: 3 hours hrs 30 minutes mins

Resting Time: 1 hour hr

Total Time: 5 hours hrs

Servings: 8 servings

• 4-5 lb beef chuck roast
• 4 tsp coarse salt, such as kosher salt, divided. or added to taste
• 1 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper, divided, or added to taste
• 1 Tbsp light olive oil, or any high-heat cooking oil
• 1 large yellow onion, coarsely chopped
• 4 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped
• 3 Tbsp tomato paste
• 1 cup dry red wine, such as Cabernet Sauvignon or Pinot noir
• 6 cups beef stock
• 5-6 whole carrots, peeled and cut into 2-inch pieces
• 2 bay leaves
• 6 sprigs of fresh thyme or 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1/2 cup coarsely chopped fresh parsley, plus more to garnish

To Thicken the Sauce (optional)

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How to Make Pot Roast

• Prepare the Roast – Generously season the roast with 3 tsp salt and 1 tsp pepper on all sides and leave uncovered at room temperature for 1 hour to bring to room temperature for more even cooking. Set the rack in the lower third of the oven and preheat your oven to 325˚F.

• Sear the Roast – Add 1 Tbsp olive oil to the bottom of a large Dutch oven (I used 5 1/2 qt) and set over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot but not smoking, add the roast to the pot and sear until golden brown on all sides, or about 3 minutes per side. Transfer the roast to a plate.

• Sautee Veggies – Reduce the heat to medium and then add the onions and sauté until softened and golden, about 4-5 minutes. Add minced garlic and sauté another 30 seconds or until fragrant.

• Add tomato paste and stir for 2 minutes.

• Add the wine, scrape the bottom to deglaze, and cook until about 1/4 of the wine has evaporated, 2-3 minutes.

• Assemble and Bake – Add beef stock, thyme, parsley, bay leaves, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper, or season to taste. Add the roast back to the pot along with carrots and bring everything to a boil. Cover with the lid, transfer to the oven, and bake in the lower third of the oven at 325˚F for about 3-4 hours for a 4 lb roast (*see time chart), or until the roast is easy to pull apart with two forks.

• To serve, remove the meat and shred it. You can thicken the sauce (see below) or put it back in the broth to soak up all that flavor.

How to Thicken the Sauce

• Once the roast is done, remove the meat and vegetables from the pot, keeping them warm, then use one of the following 2 methods to thicken the sauce:

• Option 1: Cornstarch & Water – Whisk 2 tbsp cornstarch with 2 tbsp water. Bring the liquid in the pot to a boil and then stir into the pot over medium heat. Simmer for a few minutes until thickened and remove any raw cornstarch/flour taste.

• Option 2: Flour and butter – Make a ‘beurre manie’ by melting melt 2 Tbsp butter and mashing in 2 Tbsp flour to make a paste then add it to the boiling liquid a little at a time.

*How Long to Cook Pot Roast in the Oven: Bake until the roast is pull-apart tender. If it seems tough, return it to the oven for another 30 minutes. You can also check for doneness on an instant-read thermometer. The roast is done when it reaches 200-210˚F.

• For a 3 lb roast, bake for 2 1/2 to 3 hours
• For a 4 lb roast, bake for 3 to 3 1/2 hours
• For a 5-6 lb roast, bake for 3 1/2 to 4 hours

Storage – Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days or frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight then reheat on the stovetop.

7oz Serving511kcal Calories12g Carbs48g Protein28g Fat12g Saturated Fat2g Polyunsaturated Fat15g Monounsaturated Fat2g Trans Fat156mg Cholesterol1780mg Sodium1326mg Potassium2g Fiber4g Sugar6846IU Vitamin A11mg Vitamin C84mg Calcium6mg Iron

Nutrition Facts

Classic Pot Roast Recipe

Amount per Serving

% Daily Value*

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.