Homemade Pot Roast Seasoning Recipe

The two most important elements needed to ensure your pot roast is a success are seasonings and cooking time. Seasonings bring out the vibrancy of the flavors of the food, and with a dish like pot roast, this means going beyond salt and pepper. Choosing a complementary mixture of spices and ingredients can turn your meat and vegetables from so-so to absolutely scrumptious.

Slow cooking at a low temperature is the key to a delectable pot roast that melts in your mouth. Allowing the meat to simmer for five to eight hours helps the connective tissues of the chuck roast to soften, which creates tender meat that easily breaks apart with the touch of a fork.

This recipe requires a little bit of prep, but after you put it in the Crock-Pot, it stays there for the duration of the cooking time. So your entire meal – meat, veggies and potatoes – will be ready to devour the minute you get home from work.

Total Time: 8 hours, 20 minutes | Prep Time: 20 minutes | Serves: 4 to 6

Ingredients:

• 3 pounds chuck roast
  
• 4 tablespoons olive oil
  
• 3 tablespoons kosher salt
  
• 2 teaspoons black pepper
  
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
  
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
  
• ½ teaspoon parsley flakes
  
• 2 onions
  
• 8 carrots
  
• 4 medium yellow potatoes
  
• 3 cups beef broth
  
• 2 bay leaves
  
• 2 to 3 sprigs fresh rosemary (or 1 teaspoon dried rosemary)
  
• 2 to 3 sprigs fresh thyme (or 1 teaspoon dried thyme)
  

Directions:

1. Use paper towels to pat the chuck roast dry. Place the roast on a clean paper towel and cover all sides of the meat with the salt and pepper.
2. Remove the skins from the onions, and cut each onion in half. Wash the carrots under cool running water. You can peel the carrots or leave them unpeeled, depending on your preference. Cut the carrots into 2-inch slices. Rinse the potatoes, removing all dirt and sand, and slice each one into quarters.
3. Heat a large pot or Dutch oven over medium to high heat. Pour 3 tablespoons olive oil into the pot once it is warm.
4. Place a small piece of onion into the pot to see if the oil is hot; when the onion sizzles immediately upon contact, the oil is ready.
5. Use metal tongs to place the onions into the oil, flat side down. Once the onions are brown, flip them over to cook the other side. Once cooked, place the onions on a plate.
6. In the same pot, brown the carrots and potatoes. Stir them around with a wooden spoon until they take on a nice brown color. Once seared, remove the carrots and potatoes to a plate.
7. Pour the final tablespoon of olive oil into the pan and allow it to heat. Place the chuck roast into the pan, and cook for 1 minute. Flip the roast over, and sear the other side. Transfer the chuck roast from the pan to the slow cooker.
8. Add the onions, carrots and potatoes to the Crock-Pot. Sprinkle the garlic powder, onion powder and parsley flakes evenly over the meat and vegetables.
9. Keep the pan hot as you pour in 1 cup of the beef broth. Use a wooden spoon to scrape the bottom to deglaze the pan. Transfer the liquid into the slow cooker. Pour the remaining 2 cups of beef broth into the Crock-Pot.
10. Place the bay leaves, rosemary and thyme into the cooker. Cover and set the cooker to low. Cook the chuck roast for 8 hours.
11. When you get home from work, turn off the cooker, and remove the roast to a plate or cutting board. Slice the pot roast with a knife, or use two forks to shred the meat. It should fall apart without much effort.