Description
A comforting and flavorful Slow Cooker French Onion Pot Roast featuring a tender chuck roast cooked low and slow with rich French onion soup, aromatic herbs, and caramelized onions. Perfect for an effortless family dinner, this recipe delivers melt-in-your-mouth beef with a savory onion sauce that can be thickened to your preference.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 3-4 lb chuck roast
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 packet (1 oz) dry onion soup mix
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1 cup French onion soup (canned or homemade)
- 2 large onions, thinly sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
Optional Ingredients for Thickening
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons water
Garnish
- Fresh parsley, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Sear the Roast: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the chuck roast on all sides until well browned, about 3-4 minutes per side, to develop flavor and lock in juices.
- Transfer to Slow Cooker: Place the seared roast in the slow cooker to prepare for slow cooking.
- Prepare the Sauce: Sprinkle the dry onion soup mix evenly over the roast. In a separate bowl, whisk together beef broth, French onion soup, Worcestershire sauce, dried thyme, and black pepper. Pour this mixture over the roast in the slow cooker.
- Add Onions and Garlic: Arrange the thinly sliced onions and minced garlic around and on top of the roast, distributing evenly for full flavor infusion.
- Slow Cook: Cover the slow cooker and cook on LOW for 8-10 hours or HIGH for 4-5 hours, until the meat is fork-tender and easily shredded.
- Enhance the Flavor: Stir in the unsalted butter at the end of cooking to add richness and a silky texture to the sauce.
- Thicken the Sauce (Optional): For a thicker gravy, mix cornstarch and water in a small bowl until smooth, then stir this slurry into the slow cooker. Cook on HIGH for an additional 10-15 minutes until the sauce thickens to your liking.
- Serve & Garnish: Serve the tender pot roast with the flavorful onion sauce over mashed potatoes, rice, or crusty bread. Garnish with fresh parsley for a pop of color and freshness, if desired.
Notes
- To achieve the best flavor, searing the roast before slow cooking is essential.
- Cooking times may vary depending on your slow cooker model; check for fork-tender meat as an indicator.
- If using homemade French onion soup, ensure it has a rich beef broth base for optimal taste.
- Leftover pot roast can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
- For a gluten-free version, verify the dry onion soup mix and Worcestershire sauce are gluten-free or substitute accordingly.
- Thickening the sauce with cornstarch is optional but recommended if you prefer a gravy-like consistency.
