Grandma's Pot Roast Recipe | Mantitlement (2024)

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Grandma’s Pot Roast Recipe tastes just like Grandma used to make! Tender, slow cooked beef with a thick and hearty gravy makes for a perfect Sunday dinner!

We love serving big Sunday dinners like this pot roast recipe and having leftovers for the week! Also check out our Dry Rub Pulled Pork that feeds a crowd and this popular !

Grandma's Pot Roast Recipe | Mantitlement (1)

An Easy and Comforting Pot Roast Recipe

Sunday dinner is one of the things that I really look forward to at the end of the week. And I’ll tell you, it’s more because of the idea of Sunday dinner that I remember, not the Sunday dinners we normally have these days.

It’s a shame that our schedules now are so busy, the kids included, but I know it’s really not an excuse. It’s one hour, one day a week that we should try and make time for.

So we do try. And it’s not always Grandma’s Pot Roast Recipe that we serve but it’s something. As long as we’re all together at the table eating a meal I call that a win. Although I have to tell you, this pot roast recipe is really so easy to make it’ll take a lot less time to get on the table than you think.

Grandma's Pot Roast Recipe | Mantitlement (2)

What Cut Of Beef Do You Use To Make Pot Roast?

Chuck roast is the best cut of meat for pot roast in my opinion, you can use a bottom roast, but it won’t be as tender. The reason why chuck roast is the best is because it’s marbled with a good amount of fat that melts away as it cooks leaving the meat tender and juicy, just like a pot roast should be.

A bottom roast will still make for a good pot roast, and will definitely be more sliceable so if that’s what you have – or maybe it was on sale at the store – there’s no reason not to use it.

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How Do You Make This Classic Pot Roast Recipe?

Grandmas’ Pot Roast Recipe is made in a dutch oven, cooked low and slow in the oven. This is a more traditional way to make pot roast since back in the day there weren’t such a thing as slow cookers or crock pots!

Not to say that we don’t love a good slow cooker pot roast recipe – because we sure do. Our Slow Cooker Italian Beef is one example of how you cook pot roast low and slow and there’s many more.

Start by searing the beef in a dutch oven, this is the same pot you will be braising the pot roast in. Searing the chuck roast really well is an important step to making a really flavorful pot roast so take the time and do it right!

Next add the vegetables, beef broth, wine and a few seasonings then get it in the oven. That’s it – that’s the prep time, the rest of the time is just cooking in the oven while you go about your day. When the pot roast comes out it will smell and look amazing, just like this…

Grandma's Pot Roast Recipe | Mantitlement (4)

One of the main things I love about this recipe is that the meat is still easily sliceable. Sometimes when you cook a pot roast it’s so tender that it just breaks apart into pieces, not a bad thing either, but sometimes you want a slice of beef.

French Bistro Beef Stew is a good example of a pot roast that you can break into tender pieces. That recipe cooks at a slightly higher temperature for about the same time, but the higher temperature breaks down the meat a bit more so the end result is a more fall apart type of pot roast.

After the beef comes out of the oven, remove the roast from the pot and place it onto a board. Take the vegetables out of the pot, place them in a bowl and cover to keep warm. Now it’s time to make the gravy thick and delicious!

Bring the beef broth to a boil and add cornstarch mixed with water to thicken it up. Bring the broth back to a boil so that the gravy thickens, test for seasonings and then remove from the heat.

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Slice the pot roast and add it to a serving platter, surrounded by the potatoes and carrots. Pour the gravy over the beef (and vegetables if desired) and serve extra gravy on the side.

This pot roast recipe is one of our favorite Sunday dinners ever! It has definitely become a family favorite recipe for us, and I hope it does for your family too!

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Looking For More Sunday Dinner Recipes?

  • Simple Roast Turkey Recipe
  • Brown Sugar Glazed Ham
  • Classic Beef Lasagna
  • BBQ Ribs For A Crowd
  • Slow Cooker Pasta fa*gioli
  • Brown Gravy Meatloaf

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Grandma's Pot Roast Recipe | Mantitlement (7)

Grandma’s Pot Roast Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.3 from 3 reviews
  • Author: Dan
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
  • Total Time: 2 hours 45 minutes
  • Yield: 8 Servings 1x

Print Recipe

This tender beef pot roast recipe is perfect for Sunday dinners and leftovers for the week!

Scale

Ingredients

  • 45 pound chuck roast
  • Kosher salt and pepper for seasoning the roast
  • 1/2 cup flour
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 2 cups sliced onions
  • 10 ounces mushrooms
  • 2 cups baby carrots, sliced in half lengthwise
  • 3/4 pound baby potatoes
  • 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary
  • 45 whole garlic cloves
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1/2 cup red wine
  • 2 cups beef broth
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 1 tablespoon of water

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Add the olive oil to a dutch oven over medium heat. you want a thin layer of oil at the bottom, so add as much as you need to coat the bottom of your dutch oven.
  3. Season the meat generously with salt and pepper, and then coat with the flour shaking off any excess.
  4. Once the oil is hot, add the roast to the pot and sear the meat on all sides until brown. Remove the roast from the pot and set on a board.
  5. Add the mushrooms to the same pot and brown for 5 minutes, adding more oil if needed. Next add the onions, carrots, potatoes, garlic and rosemary along with 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt and pepper to taste. Cook the vegetables for another 5-8 minutes.
  6. Stir the tomato paste into the vegetables and then deglaze the pot with the wine. Cook out the wine for 1 minute, then add the roast back to the pot (with any juices from the plate).
  7. Pour in beef broth, making sure the broth only comes about 1/2 up the roast. You might need more or less, depending on the size of your dutch oven.
  8. Add bay leaf, cover and cook in the oven for 2 1/2 hours.
  9. Remove the pot roast to a board and cover with foil. Scoop out the potatoes and carrots, add to a bowl and cover with foil. Bring the liquid in the pot to a boil, then add the cornstarch mixture and whisk until thickened.
  10. Let the gravy simmer for 5 minutes, then taste for seasonings and adjust if needed. Slice the pot roast and add to a serving platter along with the potatoes and carrots. Pour some of the gravy on top of the pot roast and serve with extra gravy on the side.
  • Category: Dinner
  • Method: Oven
  • Cuisine: American

You Might Also Like:

  • Slow Cooker Jersey Pot Roast

  • Crock Pot Applesauce Pork Roast

  • One Pot Beef Goulash

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Grandma's Pot Roast Recipe | Mantitlement (2024)

FAQs

Does pot roast get more tender the longer you cook it? ›

Yes, pot roast absolutely becomes more tender the longer it cooks. Roasts are generally made from tougher cuts of meat, such as chuck or brisket, which contain a lot of collagen, connective tissue, and fat. These tougher tissues require a long cooking time to break down and for the collagen to converts into gelatin.

How do you keep a pot roast moist and tender? ›

Low and Slow is the Way to Go

Whether you cook your pot roast using a stovetop, oven, slow cooker, or pressure cooker method, you'll always get the most tender and flavorful results if you use low temperatures over a long period of time.

What is the secret to a perfect roast? ›

The secret to making tender roast beef:

It's all about cooking low and slow. With a cut of meat like this, a longer cook time will give you better, more tender results. Ideally, all roasted meats would be seared on all sides in a hot skillet to develop a golden, delicious crust.

Should a pot roast be covered in liquid? ›

Traditionally, this means the meat is partially covered in liquid and cooked for hours until it becomes juicy and tender. In this case, the steam from the slow cooker creates moisture for the meat to braise in.

Why is my roast still tough after 7 hours? ›

Why is my pot roast still tough? It's because you haven't let the collagen break down. Extend the cook time, make sure there's enough liquid and keep an eye on the dish.

Is it better to cook a roast in the oven or crock pot? ›

It's delicious both ways. If you want to give your crock-pot a whirl, here's a slow cooker pot roast recipe for you. But pot roast is plenty easy to make in the oven! You do all the browning and roasting all in the same pot and it requires less time than in a slow cooker roast.

Is it better to cook a roast at 325 or 350? ›

When roasting meat and poultry, set the oven temperature to 325°F (163°C) or higher. Explore the charts below to learn how to get great results every time you cook.

What happens if you don't sear a roast before cooking? ›

The meat will cook just fine without searing. (And any surface bacteria will die during cooking anyway.) But I really believe that the depth and complexity of flavor we gain in this searing step is well-worth the extra effort.

What can I add to my roast for flavor? ›

Mix together oil, rosemary, garlic, basil, salt, thyme and pepper in small bowl. Set mixture aside 5 to 10 minutes. Place beef Bottom Round Roast on baking rack in tall-sided roasting pan. Rub oil mixture on roast, covering all sides.

Is it better to cook a roast covered or uncovered? ›

To give your meat a flavourful crispy exterior, cook uncovered on a rack set in a shallow roasting pan. Don't add water! Invest in a digital thermometer that lets you monitor the temperature of your roast – or even alert you when it's done – without opening the oven door.

When to add potatoes to pot roast? ›

Place the roast on top of the onions and season with the salt and pepper. Add 1/4 cup of the broth or water and bring to a simmer. Cover and simmer on low for 2 hours. Add the potatoes, carrots, and quartered onions and cover and slowly simmer for 1 hour longer.

Do you put vegetables on top or bottom of pot roast? ›

By placing the protein at the bottom (closest to the heating element), and vegetables at the top, you can keep your plant parts a little more toothsome, while ensuring your meat is fall-apart tender.

Do veggies go on top or bottom of roast in crock pot? ›

Place firm, slow-cooking root vegetables like potatoes and carrots at the bottom of the crock and pile the meat on top. Set the heat level: A general rule of thumb is that cooking on the low setting (170 degrees F for most models) takes about twice as long as cooking on high (280 degrees F on most models).

How long does it take for a pot roast to get tender? ›

Place in oven, be sure to turn the meat over every 30 minutes or so. Cook until fork tender, 2 1/2- 3 1/2 hours (meat needs to remain above 200 degrees F. for 30 minutes).

Is it better to cook roast longer? ›

It is only the temperature that counts. This in combination with the fact that the longer it roasts the more tender it will become. So you should roast at as low a temperature as you have the time for, and make sure that the internal temperature of the meat never gets above 60°C (140°F).

Why is my roast still tough after pressure cooking? ›

If it's still tough, you will need to cook it longer. The pressure cooking process breaks down tough meat, making it tender. Put the lid back on, seal the pressure cooker, and cook at high pressure for another 10 to 20 minutes.

Does pot roast get tough before it gets tender? ›

With lots of connective tissue (also known as collagen), these cuts can be tough if undercooked or hurried along in the cooking process. However, with slow-cooker pot roast, pressure cooker pot roast, or low-and-slow braised pot roast, the collagen breaks up for tender, succulent meat.

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