There are few things I love more than a good steak. Chocolate is one of them, and my husband and children I should mention, but tender juicy steak is right up there! My dad was in the meat industry so I grew up eating steak & beef most nights of the week… and I loved every bite of it! Fast forward to today and it remains a healthy cut of my diet (see what I did there?). The recipe I’m sharing with you today – my Tender slow cooker Roast and Veggies – was a regular part of the dinner lineup in my childhood home and is now a favorite of my family’s today!
How to Achieve a Perfectly Tender Roast
There is a science to creating the perfect roast. The key to achieving a perfectly tender and flavorful cut is in the slow and lengthy cooking process. This is also why smoking meat in a smoker at a low temperature for a long period of time produces such ideal results. Slow and steady wins the race when it comes to meat! The reason is in the anatomy.
The connective tissues that holds the muscle together in your cut of meat is made of a protein called collagen. When that collagen reaches a certain temperature, it melts and infuses the meat with a golden delicious liquid. This yields a “fall-apart” tenderness and punch of savory flavor that is lost when the collagen isn’t allowed the proper time to melt thoroughly. To ensure that you achieve this perfect texture each time, you’ll want to leave your roast in the crockpot for 9-10 hours at a minimum. More than that is great, in fact it’s my experience that there’s no amount of time that’s “too much”! But take it out too early and it will be tough, chewy, and not nearly as flavor-filled.
Slow Cooker Convenience Wins Weeknights!
If you’ve been with me a while, you know how well I believe this to be true! Convenience is always my goal and the key to maintaining a diverse and delicious weeknight recipe lineup. As a mom of two young kids, you can bet that all of my dinner recipes involve minimal prep and cleanup. My Tender Crockpot Roast and Veggies recipe is so simple that I would make it regularly an undergraduate living in an on-campus apartment. It was one of about three recipes I’d prepare for my roommates and it was always a hit!
What you Need for the Tender slow cooker Roast and Veggies
The recipe features just a handful of simple ingredients and next to no prep. Here’s what you need:
Chuck Roast (2-3 lbs)
Beef Broth
Pepperoncini’s
Onion
Potatoes
Carrots
Seasonings
These are the basics and all you need to prepare a delicious – fall-apart-tender – pot roast with savory veggies. In fact, the roast can be easily modified to compliment any season of the year! For example, around the Holiday season I use canned red peppers in lieu of pepperoncini’s and rosemary instead of bay leaf. In the summer I’ll add a hint of lime juice green peppers for a kick. In the fall I’ll use sweet potatoes and/or butternut squash. Because a roast is always in season!
Slow Cooker Roast and Veggies: A Meal in a Pot
One other major perk to this recipe I should mention – It’s a full meal in one pot! It’s the meat, potatoes, and vegetables! No need to prepare any sides, this recipe has it all on it’s own. That being said, sometimes I like to do it up for a special occasion! My favorite side to compliment this recipe is my mashed potato recipe – I call them “8-80-8” potatoes. When I choose to prepare a side of mashed potatoes, I simply leave the potatoes out of the pot. It’s my opinion that this meal tastes best when the roast is served over the top of a fluffy bed of mashed potatoes with the juice from the pot serving as a gravy.
Alright, I think I’ve shared enough ABOUT the recipe, now let’s get to the dEATails!
Tender Slow Cooker Roast and Veggies Recipe
Tender Crockpot Pot Roast
Equipment
- Slow Cooker
Ingredients
- 2-3 lb Chuck Roast (I prefer un-trimmed)
- 4-6 Golden Yukon Potatoes
- 2 C Baby carrots
- 1/2 C Onion
- 2 C Beef broth
- 1 T Worcestershire
- 2 T Soy sauce
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 4-6 Pickled Pepperoncini's
- 1 Bay leaf
Instructions
- Season your roast on all sides with garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Optional (but recommended) step: quick sear the outside of your roast in the skillet with a Tablespoon butter for about 3-5 minutes each side. Browning the outside of your roast will help to trap the juices inside the meat and will add a savory smokiness to your finished roast!
- Place your roast in the crockpot and add quartered potatoes, chopped onion, whole baby carrots, and broth. Add sauces and bay leaf or preferred extra seasonings/herbs of choice. Finish with whole pepperoncini's and add a tablespoon of the juice from the pepperoncini jar. Toss lightly to ensure all contents have been covered.
- Cover and cook on low for 10+ hours. I've found the sweet spot to be between 11-12. You'll know it's ready when it easily falls to shreds when poked with a fork!
Nutrition
I hope you’ll give this crockpot roast a try this week! I guarantee it will be a hit with everyone at your table (also makes the perfect date night meal)! And for more delicious and simple weeknight dinner recipes, check out the recipes tab! A few of my favorites for my meat-lovers out there are my Lazy Shepherd’s Pie, and Skillet Turkey Pot Pie! And don’t forget to cap the night with one of my many dessert recipes (like my skillet cookie cake)! And as always, I’d love to see your creations! Don’t forget to tag me on instagram :).
For dessert: Skillet Cookie
With Love,
Kelsie
