Slow Cooker Beef Pot Roast

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This slow cooker beef pot roast is the ultimate comfort-food classic - melt-in-the-mouth beef and a rich, savoury gravy that develops deep flavour as it gently simmers all day. It’s a low-effort, big-reward recipe ideal for busy weeknights or relaxed Sunday dinners. With minimal prep and the slow cooker doing all the work, it delivers a hearty and satisfying meal every time.

An alternative to traditional roast beef, this slow cooker beef pot roast is made using a piece of rolled brisket, that is finished off in the oven while you make the gravy from the cooking liquid and vegetables.  It'll also work well with chuck, blade and topside.

The end result is delicious super tender beef with a rich gravy. Prepare it in the morning, let it cook during the day and in the evening your Sunday dinner is super easy!

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How to make this Slow Cooker Beef Pot Roast

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• 2 large carrots (approx. 280g), peeled and diced
• 2 sticks celery, diced
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 tbsp tomato puree
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 250ml red wine
• 500ml beef stock (made using 1 stock cube or pot)
• 1.2 to 1.5kg rolled beef brisket
• 2 tbsp plain flour
• salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 2 tbsp cornflour mixed with 2 tbsp cold water (optional)
• 1 tsp redcurrant jelly (optional)

Instructions

1. In a large frying pan or skillet heat 1 tbsp of the vegetable oil over a medium heat. Add the carrot, celery and onion and cook for about 10 minutes, stirring frequently, until the onion is golden.   Transfer to the slow cooker and turn it on low.
2. Add the bay leaves, tomato puree, Worcestershire sauce and thyme to the slow cooker.  Stir well to combine with the vegetables, then pour over the red wine and beef stock.
3. Dust the brisket with the flour and season well with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
4. Heat the other tbsp of vegetable oil in the frying pan or skillet, used for the vegetables, over a high heat.  Sear the beef all over (1 minute on each side) in the hot pan then place it into the slow cooker.
5. Cover with the lid and cook for 7 hours.   After 6.5 hours, heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6.
6. Carefully take the beef out of the slow cooker and place it on a baking tray or in a small roasting tin and roast it in the oven for 20 minutes.

Make the gravy:

1. While the beef is in the oven, carefully transfer the cooking liquid and vegetables out of the slow cooker into a medium saucepan. Mash the vegetables with a potato masher and then strain the liquid into a large jug (I use a 2l jug).   Transfer the liquid back into the pan and discard the mashed vegetables.  Bring the cooking liquid to a rapid boil on a high heat for around 10 minutes to reduce to a rich gravy.  Taste, and if you like a bit of sweetness, add the tsp of redcurrant jelly. Season, to taste, with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
2. If you like your gravy a bit thicker, slowly add in some of the cornflour mixture (you might not need all of it) while the gravy is rapidly bubbling.
3. Serve the beef sliced with the gravy and your choice of side dishes.

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Slow Cooker Beef Pot Roast

By: Deborah

This slow cooker beef pot roast is tender, comforting and full of flavour. With rich gravy and fall-apart beef, it’s a perfect easy dinner for busy days. 

PREP: 20 minutes minutes

COOK: 7 hours hours 36 minutes minutes

TOTAL: 7 hours hours 56 minutes minutes

Course: Main

Cuisine: British

Servings: 6 people

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Equipment

• Frying pan
• Cast iron skillet
• 3.5L slow cooker
• 6.5L slow cooker
• Small roasting tin
• Medium roasting tin
• Baking tray
• Saucepan

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• 2 large carrots (approx 280g) peeled and diced
• 2 sticks celery diced
• 1 onion chopped
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 tbsp tomato puree
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 250 ml (1 cup) red wine
• 500 ml (2 cups) beef stock (made using 1 stock cube or pot)
• 1.2 to 1.5 kg (2.6 lb) rolled beef brisket
• 2 tbsp plain flour
• salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 2 tbsp cornflour mixed with 2 tbsp cold water (optional)
• 1 tsp redcurrant jelly (optional)

Instructions

• In a large frying pan or skillet heat 1 tbsp of the vegetable oil over a medium heat. Add the carrot, celery and onion and cook for about 10 minutes, stirring frequently, until the onion is golden.   Transfer to the slow cooker and turn it on low.
• Add the bay leaves, tomato puree, Worcestershire sauce and thyme to the slow cooker.  Stir well to combine with the vegetables, then pour over the red wine and beef stock.
• Dust the brisket with the flour and season well with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
• Heat the other tbsp of vegetable oil in the frying pan or skillet, used for the vegetables, over a high heat.  Sear the beef all over (1 minute on each side) in the hot pan then place it into the slow cooker.
• Cover with the lid and cook for 7 hours.   After 6.5 hours, heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6.
• Carefully take the beef out of the slow cooker and place it on a baking tray or in a small roasting tin and roast it in the oven for 20 minutes.

Make the gravy:

• While the beef is in the oven, carefully transfer the cooking liquid and vegetables out of the slow cooker into a medium saucepan. Mash the vegetables with a potato masher and then strain the liquid into a large jug (I use a 2l jug).   Transfer the liquid back into the pan and discard the mashed vegetables.  Bring the cooking liquid to a rapid boil on a high heat for around 10 minutes to reduce to a rich gravy.  Taste, and if you like a bit of sweetness, add the tsp of redcurrant jelly. Season, to taste, with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
• If you like your gravy a bit thicker, slowly add in some of the cornflour mixture (you might not need all of it) while the gravy is rapidly bubbling.
• Serve the beef sliced with the gravy and your choice of side dishes.

Notes

• Optional flavour variations:
  • If you like it herby, add fresh sprigs of thyme and rosemary.
  • For an Italian-style, add balsamic vinegar and oregano.
  • Add some Dijon mustard and mushrooms for French flavours.
  • For some spice, add a pinch of chilli flakes.
  • Give the gravy a mustard hit with some Dijon.
• Use up any leftover beef and gravy from this slow cooker beef pot roast to make a pot of stovies...or pop them in the freezer for another day!

 

You may also like to try:

• beef dishes
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Nutrition

Calories: 443kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 44g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 0.03g | Cholesterol: 124mg | Sodium: 391mg | Potassium: 1030mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 4073IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 43mg | Iron: 5mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

KEYWORDS comfort food, Easter Sunday, oven roasted beef, roast dinner, slow cooker beef recipe, slow cooker brisket recipe, Sunday roast, winter warmer

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