Perfect Pot Roast and Potatoes

5 from 5 votes

Sep 18, 2024

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Perfect Pot Roast and Potatoes – tender, delicious pot roast with potatoes, carrots, and tons of garlic and fresh herb flavor!

I love making this easy, delicious dish in fall – it is super simple and the sides cook right along with the roast for a truly one-pot dinner that my family and friends can’t get enough of! This is an excellent neighbor gift or new baby meal since it reheats perfectly!

pot roast in a dutch oven with vegetables and rosemary on top

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At Sweet C’s, I add lots of tips in all of my recipes – because I am a home cook without any formal training, and I find I am more confident making dishes when I understand why it works, and what each ingredient means to the flavor of a recipe – my goal is for even the most beginner home cook to feel empowered in the kitchen.

I want each reader to walk away with a solid knowledge of each recipe, with all of the tips I’ve gathered from extensive testing of each recipe. I also answer questions my friends and family have asked about my recipes, to help everyone better understand the processes we use – and why!

One Pot Pot Roast and Potatoes Dinner
Tips and Tricks to Perfect Pot Roast
- When should I add potatoes to pot roast?
What To Serve With Pot Roast

shredded pot roast, potatoes, carrots, and fresh thyme on a plate

One Pot Pot Roast and Potatoes Dinner

Perfect tender pot roast is a Sunday tradition – its one of those classic homestyle dinners that is warm, comforting, and makes you feel cozy. It’s also incredibly easy, super versatile, adaptable to change up with herbs and vegetables you like, and the potatoes, carrots, and vegetables that cook down with the roast are buttery, rich, and heavenly!

This is truly a one pot meal – with a main dish and side all in one pot – so you can feed your family a nourishing meal, without tons of work and prep.

For this recipe, we’re making a shredded pot roast – unlike my Tender Pot Roast Recipe which is sliced, not shredded, and made without potatoes and includes a red wine jus. Be sure to check out the recipe for a different take on this delicious dinner – and check out our other pot roast recipes like our Easy Instant Pot Pot Roast, Instant Pot Dr Pepper Pot Roast, 38 Minute Ranch Pot Roast!

I’m going to show you how to:

tell when pot roast is done
keep your roast from drying out
add tons of flavor to a roast
know what to cook a pot roast in
what to serve with pot roast

How To Make Perfect Pot Roast and Potatoes

To make this recipe, you will need the following ingredients:

2 tbsp Olive Oil: Olive oil serves as the cooking fat for searing the chuck roast and provides flavor to the dish.
3-5 pound Boneless Chuck Roast: The chuck roast is the star of the dish. It’s a tough cut of meat that becomes incredibly tender when slow-cooked. It brings rich, beefy flavor and a hearty, satisfying texture.
1 Large Onion, Cut into Fourths: Onions add a sweet and savory flavor to the dish. They also help create a flavorful base for the gravy.
4 Large Carrots, Chopped into 1″ Circles: Carrots contribute natural sweetness and a pop of color to the dish. They become tender during cooking and add texture to the meal.
4 Stalks Celery, Rough Chopped: Celery provides a mild, earthy flavor and adds depth to the overall taste. It’s often used in traditional pot roast recipes for its aromatic qualities.
1 Head Garlic, Peeled (Chop or Toss in Whole – up to you!): Garlic is a flavor powerhouse that adds a strong, savory element to the dish. You can either chop it for a more intense garlic flavor or leave it whole for a milder aroma.
3 Russet Potatoes, Cut into 2-3″ Chunks: Potatoes add substance to the dish and become creamy and flavorful as they absorb the juices from the roast. They provide a comforting starch element.
1 tsp Fresh Cracked Black Pepper: Black pepper adds a mild, spicy heat and depth of flavor to the dish. Freshly cracked pepper has a more vibrant taste than pre-ground pepper.
1 tsp Celtic Sea Salt: Salt is essential for enhancing the natural flavors of the ingredients and seasoning the dish to taste.
1 tbsp Italian Herbs Seasoning: Italian herbs seasoning typically includes a blend of herbs like basil, oregano, thyme, and rosemary. It adds an Italian-inspired flavor profile with herbal notes, enhancing the overall taste.
1-2 Sprigs Rosemary: Rosemary is an aromatic herb that infuses the dish with a piney, earthy flavor. It pairs exceptionally well with beef and complements the other herbs.
2 Cups Beef Stock: Beef stock serves as the braising liquid, adding moisture and intensifying the meaty flavor. It also helps create a delicious gravy as the dish cooks.

picture of chuck roast, beef stock, carrots, thyme, onion, garlic, celery, thyme, potatoes on a table

picture of a chuck roast seasoned in a pan

picture of browned pot roast in a pan with potatoes carrots and thyme

picture of browned pot roast in dutch oven with stock and vegetables

Once you’ve gathered your ingredients, we will use the following process:

Prep. Preheat oven to 275 degrees Fahrenheit. In large, heavy skillet, heat olive oil until light and shimmery.
Brown roast. Add roast to pan and brown on all sides. When roast has been browned, after about 6 minutes, remove from pan and add to large dutch oven or roaster pan that has a lid. Add 1/2 stock. Roast, covered, for two hours.
Add vegetables and roast. Add vegetables and potatoes to pan and arrange around roast. Season well with salt, pepper, and herbs. Add rest of stock. Place rosemary and thyme sprigs in pan and add lid. Roast additional 2 hours, until roast is tender with light pressure from a fork.
Rest. Remove roast and tent with foil on cutting board. Let roast rest at least 15 minutes before slicing.
Make gravy. As roast rests, braising liquid can be boiled down and blended to thicken and serve as gravy, or left as-is as a jus to pour over roast.
Shred. Shred roast with forks, and serve with potatoes and vegetables. We like to pour jus or gravy over roast after shredding.
Enjoy!

Tips and Tricks to Perfect Pot Roast

Pot roast is one of our favorite family style meals because it is so easy to make. Simply brown your meat, add to a pan, add vegetables, seasonings, and let the dutch oven and your oven do all the work – and of course, work out your patience as your house fills up with the most amazing smell!

Brown meat. For the best flavor, and to keep meat from looking grey, we recommend browning meat in a pan before adding to dutch oven with other ingredients. Browning your meat before cooking helps to add flavor without adding additional calories or sodium – it brings a rich, caramelized meat intensity you can’t get by just placing a roast in a dutch oven cold.

Add vegetables. If you’d like to add even more flavor, you can also brown vegetables before cooking your roast as well. If you do, we recommend chopping a bit more roughly, as larger vegetables will hold up better to longer cooking times we use for a roast.

Use chuck roast. For this pot roast, we will be using a chuck roast. Chuck roast is marbled with fat and surrounded by connective tissue, making it a cut of meat better prone to cooking at low temperature for a long time, so that fat can render and break down – leaving you with rich, meaty flavor.

What to Cook a Pot Roast in. I prefer to cook a pot roast in a dutch oven, preferably enameled as it is easy to clean. Dutch ovens are fabulous to use for their ability to provide high, even heat so you can slowly roast your pot roast to tender, juicy, melt in your mouth perfection! While some are expensive, there is a wide variety in. I’m using affiliate links and linking three I own and use often – one for each budget – below:

If you don’t have a dutch oven, you can use a pan with a lid that is oven safe, like a roasting pan.

Pot roast is simple to make, but we have a few tips to make sure yours is perfect, every time.

Cook slow and low. Don’t rush your pot roast – cook it at 275, so the fat and connective tissue can slowly break down without drying out. Pot roast dries out when it quickly gives up it’s moisture and the fat and tissue isn’t given enough time to break down.

Don’t skip browning. Browning chuck roast before roasting in oven adds tons of flavor and color (nobody wants grey meat!) without additional calories or sodium.

Add flavors and vegetables you love. If you want to add other flavors – like blackening seasoning, ranch dressing powder, pepperoncini peppers, bell peppers, sundried tomatoes, curry powder, radishes, turnips – they are all amazing with pot roasts. This recipe is meant as a base – so you can build upon it and find the flavors you love.

Make it keto – swap out potatoes for chunks of cauliflower. To prevent them from falling apart, we suggest using a whole head of cauliflower, and chopping into large chunks (think size of a fist), if you want any bite to the cauliflower.

When should I add potatoes to pot roast?

Potatoes cut into Larger Pieces: If you’re using larger potatoes (halved or quartered), add them about 60 to 90 minutes before the pot roast is done. This will give them time to cook through without becoming too mushy.

Potatoes Cut into Smaller Pieces: If you cut the potatoes into smaller chunks, add them about 45 to 60 minutes before the roast finishes. Smaller pieces will cook more quickly and still absorb the flavors from the roast and broth.

Oven or Slow Cooker: If you’re slow-cooking the roast for several hours, add potatoes in the last hour or two.

Stovetop: If simmering the roast, you can add the potatoes when the roast is about halfway done.

FAQs

How long can I keep pot roast?

Leftover roast can be stored in refrigerator for up to four days in airtight container. Frozen roast can be stored four months. Always reheat to piping hot when serving leftovers to prevent food-borne illness.

How much pot roast should I make per person?

Plan on about ½ lb or 8 oz per person when meat is your main dish.

Do you have to brown pot roast before cooking?

For the best flavor, and to keep meat from looking grey, we reccomend browning meat in a pan before adding to dutch oven with other ingredients.

When is pot roast done?

Your roast will be done after 4 hours, when meat pulls back slightly with light pressure from a fork. It will be soft and will shred easily.

What is the best type of meat for pot roast?

The best cut for pot roast is typically a tough, well-marbled cut like chuck roast, bottom round, or brisket. These cuts become tender and flavorful when slow-cooked.

How long should I cook a pot roast?

The cooking time for a pot roast depends on the size of the roast and the cooking method. Generally, it’s slow-cooked at a low temperature for several hours, typically 3-4 hours for a 3-5 pound roast.

Can I use a slow cooker for this recipe?

Yes, you can use a slow cooker for pot roast. Follow the same steps for searing the meat and sautéing the onions and garlic, then transfer everything to the slow cooker. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or until the meat is tender.

Can I make this recipe in an instant pot or slow cooker?

Yes, you can adapt this recipe for an Instant Pot or pressure cooker. Sear the meat using the sauté function, then pressure cook it with the other ingredients for about 60-90 minutes, depending on the size of the roast.

Do I need rosemary, or can I use other herbs?

While rosemary complements pot roast well, you can use other herbs like thyme, oregano, or bay leaves for variation. Choose herbs that match your flavor preferences.

Can I use chicken stock or vegetable stock for pot roast?

Beef stock is traditionally used for pot roast, but you can use chicken or vegetable stock if you prefer or have dietary restrictions. The flavor will be slightly different but still delicious.

Can I add other vegetables for pot roast?

Yes, you can add other vegetables like parsnips, turnips, or mushrooms to the pot roast for extra flavor and variety. Just be mindful of the cooking time for these vegetables.

How do I make gravy from the cooking liquid?

To make gravy, remove the meat and vegetables from the cooking liquid. Skim off excess fat, then transfer the liquid to a saucepan. Bring it to a simmer, whisk in a cornstarch or flour slurry (mixing cornstarch or flour with water), and cook until thickened.

Can I make this recipe ahead of time?

Pot roast often tastes even better the next day. You can make it ahead of time and refrigerate it, then reheat it gently before serving.

Whats the best way to store leftover pot roast?

Store leftover pot roast and potatoes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop.

What are some dishes that pair well with pot roast?

Common side dishes include mashed potatoes, green beans, roasted vegetables, and a fresh garden salad. Choose sides that complement the hearty flavors of the pot roast.

Do I have to sear the meat before cooking it?

Searing the meat before slow-cooking is optional, but it’s recommended. Searing helps develop a rich flavor and caramelized crust on the meat, which adds depth to the dish.

What To Serve With Pot Roast

Pot roast is great alongside lots of delicious side dishes – but we love it with buttery soft rolls, delicious no knead bread, sour cream cornbread, scalloped corn, roasted asparagus, and air fryer french fries!

Roasted Vegetables: Roasted carrots, parsnips, Brussels sprouts, or asparagus make excellent sides. Roasting vegetables enhances their natural sweetness and adds a nice contrast to the savory pot roast.

Green Beans: Steamed or sautéed green beans, often seasoned with garlic or almonds, offer a fresh and crunchy side that balances the richness of the meat. We also love our Garlic Chinese Style Green Beans.

Creamed Spinach: Creamed spinach or another leafy green side dish adds a creamy and nutritious component to the meal.

Yorkshire Pudding: This British classic, a type of popover made from batter, is a popular accompaniment to pot roast. It’s light and crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.

Coleslaw: A refreshing coleslaw with a tangy dressing provides a nice contrast to the savory pot roast. It’s also great for adding a bit of crunch.

Biscuits or Dinner Rolls: Freshly baked biscuits or dinner rolls are perfect for sopping up the delicious juices from the pot roast.

Cranberry Sauce: If you enjoy a sweet and tangy element with your savory dishes, cranberry sauce or relish can be a delightful addition.

Braised Cabbage: Braised cabbage, often cooked with butter and onions, offers a sweet and savory side that complements the flavors of the meat.

Macaroni and Cheese: Creamy mac and cheese is a comforting side that can be especially appealing to kids and adults alike.

You can find more of our favorite recent side dishes here:

And click here to see our entire side dish recipe archives.