My Mom's Classic Pot Roast Recipe - On Sutton Place (2024)

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ByAnn Drake

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My mom’s classic pot roast recipe is easy, has simple ingredients, and it comes out perfect every time. It’s a from scratch recipe that makes a delicious Sunday Supper or a weeknight meal.

When I think back to my growing-up years, some of my best memories are of being in the kitchen with my mom. She was a very basic (but oh so good) cook. She made her own homemade noodles, pies from scratch, and the most amazing chocolate chip cookies you ever tasted. She fed our family of six, every day, and on one income. One of her specialties was pot roast. My mom’s pot roast recipe is a meal that will feed a crowd, but it’s so easy. All you need for this one pot meal is a good cut of meat, and some time.

What Kind Of Meat Works The Best?

A beef boneless chuck roast works the best. Other good choices are a beef rump roast or a top round roast. Make sure to pick out a roast that’s at least 2 inches thick, and one that has a good amount of marbling.

How To Make

  • Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.
  • In the bottom of a very large pan over medium-high heat (on the stovetop) generously drizzle olive oil. Let the pan heat up before going to the next step.
  • Lay the chuck roast in the pan.
  • Salt and pepper the top.
  • Let it brown for about 3 min. and then turn.
  • Salt and pepper the other side of the seared beef.
  • Cook again for 3 min.
  • Add enough water so only about 1/2 inch of the roast is showing.
  • Do not cover the roast with water.
  • Cover pan and cook in oven for 90 min.
  • Clean the red potatoes. Set aside.
  • At the 2 hour mark, remove the pan from the oven.
  • Add potatoes, baby carrots, and optional onion. Make sure your roast is still showing above the broth.
  • Cover and return the pan to the oven.
  • Cook for 90 minutes more.
  • Remove from oven and serve.

Ingredient Notes + Variations

  • For a richer flavor, substitute red wine or beef broth for some of the water.
  • Add fresh herbs on top of the roast during the last hour of cooking time. Fresh thyme, fresh rosemary, or bay leaves are good choices.
  • Any kind of potatoes can be used. Russet potatoes or Yukon Gold are very good.
  • Sprinkle some Worcestershire sauce on the meat after the water is added.

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Classic Pot Roast Recipe Tips

  • You can actually add as many carrots and potatoes as you want. If you don’t want them for leftovers, simply add what you think your family will eat.
  • The secret to tender and perfect pot roast is slow cooking. If you cook it low and slow, the meat absolutely melts in your mouth.
  • This pot roast is a complete meal, but it’s wonderful to serve it with hot dinner rolls or homemade rustic bread.

WHAT READERS ARE SAYING

“I made this tonight and the house smelled so good. It was delicious. I made mashed potatoes instead of putting them in the pot and then thickened the juices to make a gravy. Yum!!”

~Nanci

All About The Leftovers

  • On its own, the leftover meat is delicious when shredded and served on fresh hamburger buns. Drizzle a little of the juice over the meat for added flavor.
  • Speaking of leftovers, they are outstanding. My Dad says that my mom’s pot roast is actually better the second time around!
  • To store the leftover pot roast, place the meat and vegetables in a glass covered casserole dish or airtight container. Add the leftover juice so everything is covered. To reheat, just put the whole thing in the microwave.

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My Mom’s Classic Pot Roast Recipe

My mom's classic pot roast recipe is easy, has simple ingredients, and it comes out perfect every time. It's a from scratch recipe that makes a delicious Sunday Supper or a weeknight meal.

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Servings: 6 servings

Author: Ann Drake

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 3 hours hours 30 minutes minutes

Total Time 3 hours hours 45 minutes minutes

Ingredients

  • 3 lb. beef chuck roast
  • salt and pepper
  • olive oil
  • water
  • 1.5 lbs. baby red potatoes
  • 1 lb. baby carrots
  • 1 onion quartered (optional)

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.

  • In the bottom of a very large pan over medium heat (on the stove top) generously drizzle olive oil. Let the pan heat up before going to the next step.

  • Lay the chuck roast in the pan.

  • Salt and pepper the top.

  • Let it brown for about 3 min. and then turn.

  • Salt and pepper the other side.

  • Cook again for 3 min.

  • Add enough water so only about 1/2 inch of the roast is showing.

  • Do not cover the roast with water.

  • Cover pan and cook in oven for 90 min.

  • Clean the potatoes. Set aside.

  • At the 2 hour mark, remove the pan from the oven.

  • Add potatoes, carrots and optional onion. Make sure your roast is still showing above the broth.

  • Cover and return the pan to the oven.

  • Cook for 90 minutes more.

  • Remove from oven and serve.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 521kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 46g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 156mg | Sodium: 264mg | Potassium: 1475mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 10463IU | Vitamin C: 13mg | Calcium: 78mg | Iron: 6mg

Like this recipe?Follow me at @onsuttonplace

If you make this recipe, and love it, please come back to leave a comment and a 5-star review. I would really appreciate it, and it would help me so much. Thank you!

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My Mom's Classic Pot Roast Recipe - On Sutton Place (8)

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My Mom's Classic Pot Roast Recipe - On Sutton Place (2024)

FAQs

What makes pot roast better? ›

The best meat for pot roast is a beef cut with abundant connective tissue, like chuck roast, beef brisket or bottom round roast. This connective tissue called collagen is what makes pot roast melt-in-your-mouth tender.

How do you keep a pot roast from getting tough? ›

A surefire way to make a tender, juicy pot roast is through braising; that is, cooking the meat in a small amount of liquid in a tightly covered pot at low temperature. Stove top roast recipes can be customized with your choice of herbs, vegetables, potatoes, and liquid braising mixtures.

Why is my pot roast tough in the crock pot? ›

If your crock pot roast is tough, it is possible you didn't use a boneless chuck roast, in which cases some cuts of meat will never become fall-apart tender OR more likely, you did not cook your beef long enough. If your pot roast seems tough, cook on!

What part of a pot roast is the most tender? ›

Chuck roast: Chuck will turn out the softest and easiest to shred. The finished result is tender, juicy, and easily breaks apart. Beef brisket: Beef brisket is firm enough that it's sliceable yet tender. Round roast: Round roast is the firmest of these three cuts, but it's still easy to slice apart.

What can I add to pot roast for more flavor? ›

I opt for basil, thyme, paprika, dried bay leaves, and black pepper. These add a lovely, almost Italian-inspired flavor to this pot roast recipe. Veggies. Including onions, garlic, carrots, and potatoes (all of which are also in my beef stew!).

Does pot roast get more tender the longer you cook it? ›

Yes, pot roast absolutely becomes more tender the longer it cooks. Roasts are generally made from tougher cuts of meat, such as chuck or brisket, which contain a lot of collagen, connective tissue, and fat. These tougher tissues require a long cooking time to break down and for the collagen to converts into gelatin.

Why is my roast still tough after 7 hours? ›

There are several reasons why this could have happened even after so much cooking. First, your choice of a rump roast could be a factor since cuts from the hind quarter are very muscular and, since muscles are the most resistant to breaking, this cut is quite stubborn when it comes to becoming tender.

Is roast better in the oven or crockpot? ›

It's delicious both ways. If you want to give your crock-pot a whirl, here's a slow cooker pot roast recipe for you. But pot roast is plenty easy to make in the oven! You do all the browning and roasting all in the same pot and it requires less time than in a slow cooker roast.

Should pot roast be covered with liquid? ›

Some recipes call for liquid, some do not. It mainly comes down to the type of meat you use. Cuts like chuck roast will release more fat and moisture than leaner cuts, so they don't need any water. In addition, the slow cooker itself creates some moisture, which helps keep the meat juicy.

Why are my potatoes still hard in the crockpot? ›

Insufficient Liquid: If there wasn't enough liquid in the crockpot, it could have caused uneven cooking. Potatoes need to be fully submerged in liquid to cook evenly. Old Potatoes: Very old or stored potatoes can become starchy and may not soften as well during cooking. It's best to use fresh, firm potatoes.

Should I brown my pot roast before slow cooking? ›

1. Browning Is Better. Slow cooker recipes don't always instruct you to brown meat before adding it to the pot, but there are some advantages to doing so. If you sear meat to a crusty brown with a little oil in a hot skillet, the meat develops more complex flavors and improves the dish.

What meat is best for pot roast? ›

The best beef for pot roast is Beef Chuck Roast. It's an economical cut of beef that's marbled with fat that needs to be slow cooked to breakdown the tough connective tissues so it becomes ultra tender to eat. Chuck roast can be purchased in large pieces that are or aren't rolled.

Which beef roast falls apart when cooked? ›

A perfectly cooked beef joint makes a wonderful centrepiece for a Sunday roast or Christmas dinner. To cook it until it's so tender it falls apart, you'll need to choose a joint like chuck and blade or beef brisket and either braise, slow roast or slow cook it for at least a couple of hours.

How long does it take for a pot roast to get tender? ›

Place in oven, be sure to turn the meat over every 30 minutes or so. Cook until fork tender, 2 1/2- 3 1/2 hours (meat needs to remain above 200 degrees F. for 30 minutes).

How do you upgrade a pot roast? ›

5 Killer Ways To Jazz Up Your Pot Roast
  1. Slow Cook At Low Temperature. Cooking time is essential to produce a truly scrumptious pot roast. ...
  2. Add Some Extra Onions. Never hold back from adding extra onions to your pot roast. ...
  3. Try Brisket Roast Cut. ...
  4. Go Global. ...
  5. Enhance The Spice.
Jul 20, 2021

What herbs and spices go best with roast beef? ›

Dried Herbs for Beef. Rosemary, Thyme, Oregano, Sage, and Bay leaves are the best dried herbs to use when cooking beef. To use dried herbs with beef, you should consider which ones you want to include in your recipe and when you should add them.

What thickens a pot roast? ›

Some of the most common methods include: Flour: Mix flour with a little cold water to form a paste, and then slowly stir it into the stew or pot roast. Be sure to cook the stew or pot roast for an additional 5-10 minutes after adding the flour mixture to allow it to thicken.

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