Slow Cooker Balsamic Pot Roast is a melt-in-your-mouth tender beef roast, prepared in the slow cooker with potatoes and carrots. This hearty meal is easy enough for a weeknight, but fancy enough for a Sunday dinner!

 

An Easy, Elegant Roast Beef Dinner

There’s nothing like a juicy, fall-apart tender pot roast. It’s a nourishing, comforting meal that can be as simple or as elegant as you like. This one is prepared in the crockpot, with the most tender potatoes and carrots, plus rich balsamic gravy. 

Have you ever seen such beauty in a piece of meat?! Honestly, I think I may have officially found our favorite pot roast recipe. No, joke. It’s all in the marinade. The balsamic vinegar and seasonings are truly scrumptious – you’ll want to pick up the bowl and slurp it up.

I think this crockpot pot roast is the perfect Sunday dinner. You can put it together in the morning and come back to it at dinnertime.

What Ingredients Will I Need?

Just as in my Garlic and Rosemary Balsamic Roasted Pork (and for almost all my marinades) I start with my favorite balsamic marinade. In this recipe, the marinade is the base for a killer balsamic gravy. It starts with whisking together balsamic vinegar, olive oil, beef broth, dijon mustard, and a few other flavorful goodies… and it ends up with one mouthwatering meal!

• Potatoes: Cut the potatoes in half, if using small potatoes like I do, or into quarters if you are using larger potatoes.
• Carrots: Using baby carrots makes this recipe so easy! You can also peel and cut whole carrots.
• Salt and Pepper
• Beef Roast: Rump roast is perfect, or you could use another braising cut like chuck roast.
• Garlic: Peel a few garlic cloves, and cut them in half.
• Olive Oil: I used STAR extra virgin olive oil
• Balsamic Vinegar: I used STAR balsamic vinegar of Modena.
• Beef Broth: Low-sodium beef broth is my go-to, but you could use regular beef broth or even vegetable broth.
• Dijon Mustard: This is one of my secret weapons for adding flavor to a sauce or gravy! Dijon mustard is tangy and has a wine-like depth to it that works really well in this recipe.
• Brown Sugar: To balance the vinegar and mustard, and to bring out the flavor of the beef.
• Dried Herbs: A blend of oregano, thyme, and basil add flavor and fragrance.
• Nutmeg: You might associate nutmeg with desserts, but shaking a tiny bit of nutmeg into robust beef dishes is another secret weapon for adding depth and nuance. Don’t worry – it won’t taste like a dessert at all.
• Parsley: Chopped fresh, for an optional garnish.

How to Make Slow Cooker Pot Roast

If you’ve been with me for a while, you definitely know that I love using my crock pot. If I’m not mistaken, I’m pretty sure it all started with that Crock Pot Honey Lemon Chicken Recipe, then it was the Turkey Breast, and now this slow cooker balsamic pot roast. Slow cooker recipes are just so easy and so convenient. Just look at the steps for this one:

• Prep the Slow Cooker and Veggies. Spray a 6-quart slow cooker with cooking spray, and then place the carrots and potatoes in the bottom of the slow cooker. Sprinkle them with salt and pepper.

• Prep the Roast. Make a dozen or so small cuts into the roast, and stuff a slice of garlic into each cut. Season the meat all over with salt and pepper. Then heat some olive oil in a large skillet over high heat. Once the oil is hot, place the roast in the skillet and brown it in the oil for about 5 minutes per side. Place the browned roast on top of the veggies in the slow cooker.

• Make the Sauce. In a medium-sized mixing bowl, whisk together the remaining ingredients except the parsley (balsamic vinegar, oil, broth, mustard, brown sugar, herbs, and nutmeg). Slowly pour the balsamic mixture over and around the roast. If necessary, turn the roast and use your hands to coat the meat evenly in the slow cooker.

• Slow Cook the Beef and Veggies. Cover and cook the roast beef on LOW for 6 to 8 hours, or on HIGH for 4 to 6 hours. The roast is done when internal temperature reaches at least 145-degrees Fahrenheit, and the meat is very tender.
• Slice the Roast Beef. Remove the roast beef from the slow cooker, and let rest for at least 10 minutes before cutting. Then slice the meat thinly, and serve it with the vegetables and sauce.
• Enjoy!

Do You Have to Brown a Roast Before Putting It in the Crockpot?

Pot roast is a braised beef dish, meaning that it is slow cooked with liquid to tenderize it. This can be done in the oven, but I like to do this one in the slow cooker. So convenient! Browning a pot roast before braising it is traditionally part of the process. While it is possible to skip the browning step, I almost always recommend browning the meat, because browning the meat and deglazing the pan adds a ton of color and flavor to both the meat and the gravy.

Is It Better to Cook a Roast on High or Low in a Crock Pot?

Both are totally fine, but if you have time, go for cooking the pot roast on LOW instead of HIGH. The gentler cooking temperature will make your beef and vegetables that much more tender and juicy. However, if you are short on time, feel free to cook on HIGH. The dish will still taste amazing and have a great texture.

Recipe Notes

Want to know more about making the perfect slow cooker balsamic pot roast? I’ve got you covered! Here are my best tips and tricks for making an ultra-flavorful, juicy and tender roast.

• Avoid Tender Cuts: You might think that using a tender cut of beef would be even better than a chuck roast or rump roast in this recipe, but the low and slow cooking method will actually ruin more tender cuts. So skip the rib roasts and tenderloin, and stick with the more tough (and affordable) cuts that work well with slow cooking.
• Add Tomato Paste: Along with Dijon mustard, tomato paste is one of my go-to ingredients for adding depth to a beefy dish. Stir a couple of tablespoons into your sauce and enjoy!
• Thicken the Gravy: If you would like to thicken the sauce into a homestyle gravy, all you need is a simple cornstarch slurry. Just mix a tablespoon or so of cornstarch with an equal amount of water, and whisk or stir with a fork until smooth. Then stir that mixture into the sauce about 20 minutes before the pot roast is done cooking. The gravy will be thick and perfect for drizzling over the slices of beef.

Serving Suggestions

This one-pot meal is practically complete without adding any side dishes, but it shines even more with a great side dish or two on the table. These easy recipes are perfect for serving with pot roast:

• Salad: Every meal is better with a fresh salad, right? This Olives and Avocado Salad with Tomatoes and Feta Cheese is a powerhouse of flavor, texture, and healthy fats.
• Asparagus: This beloved green veggie can be prepared a lot of ways, but you can’t go wrong keeping it simple. This easy recipe for Asparagus with Lemon Butter Sauce does just that, letting the real flavor of the asparagus shine through.
• Dinner Rolls: A freshly-made dinner roll makes any meal more special, especially one of these buttery-sweet, citrus-scented Orange Glazed Dinner Rolls.

How to Store and Reheat Leftovers

Store your leftovers in a tightly-lidded container in the fridge. It will keep for 4 to 5 days. Reheat in the microwave, or in a covered skillet over low heat, until the sauce, meat, and vegetables are heated through. Don’t overheat or the roast may become tough.

Can I Freeze This?

Sure! Leftover slow cooker balsamic pot roast can be cooled, packed into freezer containers or freezer bags, and frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw the pot roast in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.

More Slow Cooker Favorites

• Slow Cooker Coq au Vin
• Crockpot Stuffed Peppers
• Slow Cooker Beef Chili