Slow Cooker Pot Roast Recipe

Name: Slow Cooker Pot Roast (Easy, No Browning)!
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 720 min
Total time: 725 min
Ingredients: 2 pounds boneless Chuck Roast*; 1 Tablespoons olive oil; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; ½ teaspoon onion powder; 1 teaspoon sea salt; ½ teaspoon black pepper; ½ cup balsamic vinegar; 2 Tablespoons honey; 1 Tablespoon honey mustard; 1 cup beef broth; 1 Tablespoon cornstarch

By Laura Sandford

Updated Sep 27, 2026

4.99 from 53 votes

131 Comments

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This slow cooker pot roast recipe is tender, flavorful and easy to make with just 5 minutes of prep – no browning required! This crock pot roast is my go-to dish for holiday entertaining.

shredded slow cooker pot roast on a white serving plate with two silver serving utensils. It's garnished with chopped fresh parsley. There's a bowl of cooked carrots to the left and a bottle of olive oil to the right of the serving dish.

This balsamic slow cooker pot roast is the most delicious crock pot roast I’ve ever had! It’s healthy (allergy-friendly), and can be prepared and cooked overnight in the slow cooker.

This is my go-to crock pot roast recipe for holidays or entertaining. I usually start cooking the roast just before I go to bed on Christmas Eve (or the night before any holiday or meal). Then, when it is finished cooking in the morning, I shred it, make the gravy, and then reheat everything when it’s dinner time – making the holiday meal very low-stress so I can enjoy every moment with my family instead of spending the entire day in the kitchen.

Why You’ll Love This Slow Cooker Pot Roast

5 minutes of prep. I cannot stress how easy this is.
No browning required. Another reason it’s so easy to make.
Irresistibly tender. Cooking the roast low and slow results in beef that’s so tender it practically falls apart.
The balsamic sauce. The cooking liquid is thickened into a rich, flavorful sauce that makes it so special.
Perfect for entertaining. You can cook the roast overnight or make it ahead of time and reheat it before serving.

If I could give this recipe 100 stars, I would! This is the BEST post roast I’ve ever had. Even my 3 year old gobbles it up and asks for more. This is a staple in our home!
– Melissa

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close up photo of slow cooker pot roast on a white serving plate garnished with chopped fresh parsley. There's a bowl of cooked carrots in the upper left corner

Slow Cooker Pot Roast Ingredients & Substitutions

There are only a few simple ingredients in this crock pot roast recipe, but here are some potential substitutions.

overhead photo of the ingredients in this slow cooker pot roast recipe in bowls and labeled like chuck roast, balsamic vinegar, beef broth, olive oil and more

Chuck Roast. I recommend boneless beef chuck roast for the most tender, flavorful slow cooker pot roast. Chuck roast has enough fat and connective tissue to become incredibly tender when cooked low and slow. You can use a 2 to 3-pound roast in this recipe.
Olive Oil. Any neutral oil can be used in place of olive oil – suggestions include avocado oil and canola oil.
Honey. Maple syrup is a great substitute for honey.
Honey Mustard. Sub your favorite mustard variety if desired: Dijon, regular yellow, spicy brown, etc.
Beef Broth. You can use chicken or vegetable broth but I highly recommend beef broth as it yields the best flavor! I keep this beef base on hand to make broth for this recipe.
Balsamic Vinegar is an ingredient I splurge on. A high-quality balsamic vinegar should be thick and naturally sweet. If your vinegar pours like water instead of syrup and tastes sour then you do not have a quality product and your recipe will not turn out as delicious.

crock pot roast on a white ceramic plate with cooked carrots and potatoes all garnished with fresh parsley. There's a silver fork on the plate

How to Make Slow Cooker Pot Roast

Let’s walk through the steps in making the best, easy slow cooker pot roast recipe and answer some commonly asked questions! Don’t forget to watch the video.

Make the Spice Rub

The flavorful spice rub takes this slow cooker pot roast to the next level. To make it, stir the rub ingredients together in a small bowl.

how to make slow cooker pot roast - the spice rub in a small bowl after mixing

Season the Chuck Roast

Next, place the pot roast in the low cooker and brush or rub olive oil all over it. Then use your hands to spread the rub over the roast, pressing it down so it sticks.

making slow cooker pot roast recipe - roast in a crock pot container

making slow cooker pot roast recipe - roast in a crock pot container covered in the spice rub and olive oil

Make the Sauce

Then, whisk the sauce ingredients together in a small bowl or glass measuring cup. I prefer a measuring cup because it’s easy to pour the sauce into the crock pot.

making slow cooker pot roast recipe - whisking the sauce together in a small pyrex measuring cup

making slow cooker pot roast recipe - Laura from joyfoodsunshine pouring the sauce over the seasoned roasted in the crock pot

Then pour the sauce over the crock pot roast.

two photos showing how to make slow cooker pot roast - - pouring sauce over roast in crockpot

Cook & Shred the Slow Cooker Pot Roast

Cook on low for 8-10 hours, occasionally spooning more sauce over the roast, until it is very easily shredded with a fork.

making slow cooker pot roast recipe - two forks shredding the crock pot roast recipe

making slow cooker pot roast recipe - shredded pot roast on a wooden cutting board

Once the meat is finished cooking, shred it with two forks and return to the sauce to cook on low for another hour. This helps the shredded meat absorb the flavor even more.

How to Know When The Pot Roast Is Done

The roast is finished cooking when it’s fork-tender and shreds easily. If the meat still feels tough or is difficult to pull apart, continue cooking it. Don’t rush this step – chuck roast becomes more tender as the connective tissue breaks down as it’s cooked low and slow.

making slow cooker pot roast recipe - shredded meat in the crock pot with the sauce.

Make the Pot Roast Gravy

I prefer to separate the sauce from the meat to strain and thicken it for serving. However you can simply add thickener to the slow cooker towards the end of cooking time if you prefer.

Remove the meat from the sauce and strain the sauce through a fine mesh strainer into a large bowl (do not pour it down the drain)!

making slow cooker pot roast recipe - roast and liquid being poured through a fine mesh metal strainer into a glass batter bowl

making slow cooker pot roast recipe - Laura from joyfoodsunshine holding up the fine mesh metal strainer to get out excess liquid over the glass batter bowl

Then, transfer sauce to a saucepan and whisk in the thickener. Cook on medium heat, stirring constantly. until sauce becomes thick.

making slow cooker pot roast recipe - Laura from joyfoodsunshine pouring the sauce from the glass batter bowl into a saucepan to cook and thicken it

How to Serve Slow Cooker Pot Roast

Pour one-fourth of the thickened sauce over the meat and transfer the rest to a serving dish (gravy boat, small pourer, etc.) for serving.

I love serving this slow cooker pot roast with mashed potatoes (or cream cheese mashed potatoes) because they’re perfect for soaking up the delicious gravy. You can also serve it with roasted potatoes, sweet potatoes or rice.

Then, add a vegetable like roasted carrots, green beans, Brussels sprouts or a simple salad.

And don’t forget the bread! Homemade dinner rolls, no-knead bread or French bread are all delicious served alongside this crock pot roast – especially for a holiday meal.

gravy being poured over slow cooker pot roast shredded on a white ceramic plate with mashed potatoes and green beans also on the plate.

How To Store Slow Cooker Pot Roast

Store leftover crock pot roast in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. You can store it with the gravy mixed in, or store the gravy separately in a glass jar.

Freeze

Transfer the cooled crock pot roast and gravy to an airtight container and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator.

Reheat

Warm the pot roast with some of the gravy in a covered baking dish in the oven or in a saucepan over low heat. Adding the gravy while reheating helps keep the meat moist.

close up photo of slow cooker pot roast on a white serving plate garnished with chopped fresh parsley. there's two silver serving utensils on the plate

How To Cook Slow Cooker Pot Roast Overnight

Prepare the roast according to the recipe instructions. Begin cooking on low in the slow cooker when you go to bed at night. In the morning, when the roast is fork-tender, shred it and transfer the meat to a 9×9″ baking dish or a casserole dish with a lid.

Add a little bit of the reserved liquid, and store the meat, covered, in the fridge until it’s almost time to eat. Then when you’re ready to eat simply warm the meat, covered, in the oven at about 325 degrees until it’s warmed through!

Keep the sauce covered in a small saucepan until you are close to ready to eat. Follow the recipe instructions to make/thicken the sauce, then use according to the recipe.

Slow Cooker Pot Roast FAQs

Do you have to brown a roast before putting it in the crockpot?

No! That’s another beautiful thing about this balsamic pot roast recipe, there is no need to brown it before putting it in the slow cooker!

Does pot roast get more tender the longer it cooks?

Yes, do not rush this pot roast. Let it cook low and slow for the most tender result.

Can I freeze pot roast?

Yes, leftovers of this recipe freeze very well. Put them in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 2 months.

What is the best cut of meat for this recipe?

Chuck roast is my favorite cut for slow cooker pot roast. You can also use top round, bottom round or shoulder roast. For leaner cuts, be careful not to overcook.

How long does pot roast take to cook in the crock pot?

It takes about 8 to 10 hours to cook it to be the most tender.

Is it better to cook on high or low?

Definitely low heat. The long, slow cooking time gives the chuck roast plenty of time to break down, resulting in more tender meat.

Why is my pot roast tough?

If your pot roast is still tough, it usually needs more time to cook. Continue cooking it on low until the meat easily pulls apart with a fork.

If you make and love my recipes, it would mean so much to me if you would leave a comment and rating! And don’t forget to follow along on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, TikTok and Youtube – be sure to tag @joyfoodsunshine and use the hashtag #joyfoodsunshine so I can see your creations!