A slow-cooked wonder. This pot roast is so simple; fork-tender, flavorful beef, soft and creamy carrots, caramelized onions and rich potatoes, the perfect Sunday dinner...or for any weeknight.
3-5poundsChuck roastwell marbled with fat, will yield a more tender pot roast
2-4Tablespoonsolive oilor 2 TBL olive oil and 2 TBL butter
2onionspeeled and cut in half
6-8carrotswashed, cut into 2 in pieces (peeling is optional)
4-8potatoesif using russet, just 2-4 small medium ones, if using baby potatoes or fingerlings as many as you think your family will eat, cut potatoes that are larger in half or thirds
Salt and Pepper to taste
1cupred wineoptional, beef broth or stock may be used instead
Preheat oven to 275° F, moving racks to make sure your pot (with the lid) will fit in the oven.
Heat oil (and butter if desired) in a large dutch oven or pot, medium to medium high heat, until hot but not smoking. Salt and pepper your chuck roast well, it's a large piece of meat, don't be shy about salting it. Set aside.
Cut onions in half and carefully place cut side down in hot oil, brown for 1-2 minutes per side, remove to plate.
While pot still hot, toss in cut carrots (2 inches or so) and stir around hot pan until lightly browned, about a minute. Remove to plate.
Turn up the heat a bit, so that the pan is screaming hot, but still not smoking. Carefully, using tongs add your meat to the pot, searing well on each side for about 1-2 minutes per side. Once all sides are seared, remove to plate.
Next keeping the temp up on the pot, deglaze your pan by pouring in 1 cup of wine or broth, using a wooden spoon scrape the bottom of the pan releasing the flavor in the brown bits.
Return meat to the pot, tucking in the carrots, potatoes and onions all around. Pour in additional beef broth until about halfway up the side of the meat. Add sprigs (or dried) of rosemary, parsley, thyme, and bay leaf tucking around the veggies and meat.
Cover and don't peek, cook for 3 hours (for a smaller roast) and 4-6 hours for a larger roast. If necessary, check the liquid levels about hour 4 or 6 if cooking longer adding a cup or so of additional broth. Serve with warm Russian Black Bread and a crisp green salad.
Notes
This is so delicious on top of a baked potato as well, or use leftovers and bake potatoes for a completely different meal idea!