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Home » Blog » Course » Main Dish » Dutch Oven Pot Roast

Dutch Oven Pot Roast

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Published: Jan 13, 2021 · Modified: Aug 21, 2022 by Andrea + Stef ·

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Rich, melt in your mouth pot roast slow cooked with sweet carrots.
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overhead view of cooked pot roast and carrots in white dutch oven

This classic American comfort food recipe is not as easy as throwing some meat in a pot. You can make bad pot roast. But you won’t be disappointed with the flavors and tenderness of this dutch oven pot roast recipe.

Table of Contents

  • Make it a Meal!
  • What is Pot Roast?
  • How to Choose Your Cut of Meat
  • Ways to Use Pot Roast
  • Ingredients:
  • Possible Pot Roast Variations
  • How to Make Pot Roast Gluten Free
  • How to Make Pot Roast Dairy Free
  • Equipment Needed for Pot Roast
  • How to Make Dutch Oven:
  • Cook Pot Roast in a Slow Cooker Instead
  • Cook Pot Roast in an Instant Pot Instead
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Dutch Oven Pot Roast

Follow our instructions to create the most tender, fall apart in your mouth, pot roast your whole family will enjoy. If you have any leftovers we’ve got some suggestions for you!

pot roast progression from flouring meat to cooking in dutch oven

❤️ WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS POT ROAST RECIPE

✔️ We explain what all the different cuts of meat are and which are best to use in this recipe.

✔️ Tender meat that falls apart, everytime you make this recipe!

✔️ Dairy free with instructions on how to make it gluten free.

✔️ 33 grams of protein per serving.

✔️ No fancy equipment needed! Just a pot that can go from your stove to the oven at 300°F.

Make it a Meal!

Turn this recipe into a whole meal! It pairs well with:

  • Side Dish: Mashed Potatoes– This classic side dish is the perfect complement to roast!
  • Veggie Side: Roasted Brussels Sprouts – If you’ve never eaten brussels sprouts this way you’re missing out!
  • Bread: Garlic French Bread – Crunchy and perfect with this roast!
  • Drink: Red Wine Sangria – This is one of my all time favorite sangria recipes.
  • Dessert: Chocolate Lasagna – This needs no introduction!
pot roast on a bed of mashed potatoes, carrots and brussels sprouts

What is Pot Roast?

Pot roast is usually a tough beef cut (it’s usually a cheap cut, perfect for slow cooking). Chuck roast and round roast are the most common cuts used for pot roast. You can also use brisket. It’s then seared and cooked slow with veggies in broth.

The slow cooking transforms the tough cut of beef into a tender, fall apart in your mouth, pot roast.

How to Choose Your Cut of Meat

Not all meat is equal. In a pinch, any chuck roast, brisket or round roast will do. They all cook up a little differently so choose the one you prefer.

  • Chuck Roast: This is a more tender meat. It falls apart and is easy to shred.
  • Brisket: This has a lot of connective tissue which makes it a fattier cut that gets tender while cooking slow, but can still be sliced for serving. This is great if you’re making sandwiches with leftovers.
  • Top Round or Bottom Round: These a leaner cut and easy to slice for roast beef sandwiches.
juicy pot roast recipe in a white dutch oven

Ways to Use Pot Roast

  • French dip: Slice your leftover pot roast. Place roast beef slices on toasted french rolls, melt a little provolone over your beef and dip in the leftover juice from the pot roast.
  • Add to noodles: Use the beef in a beef and noodle dish.
  • Shredded beef tacos: Grab some tortillas, cheese, fresh salsa and some cabbage and make a tasty taco.
  • Burritos: Whip up some of these super easy burritos.
pot roast in a white dutch oven

Ingredients:

  • Stock: Use homemade or store bought beef stock.
  • Vegetables: Carrots and onions are classically paired with pot roast.
  • Oil: Use a good olive oil or a vegetable oil.
  • Flour: All purpose flour is the best for this purpose.
  • Spices: Salt and pepper!
  • Beef: We feel that the best cut of meat for pot roast recipes is the beef chuck roast. Often people like to make pot roast because you don’t have to buy the best meat (or most expensive) and it still tastes wonderful.
pot roast ingredients

Possible Pot Roast Variations

  • Add bacon and garlic cloves: Before cooking your onions, cook up 4-5 pieces of bacon. Once it’s cooked, remove from the dutch oven and set aside. Once your roast is browned, crumble the bacon and put it on top of the roast. Add the garlic when you are browning the vegetables.
  • Give it some zing: Add a 6 oz jar of horseradish to the pot before cooking. Decrease the beef broth by that amount. You could also add some worcestershire sauce.
  • A Mediterranean twist: Add olives, mushrooms and a can of fire roasted diced tomatoes to your pot under your pot roast. Sprinkle with oregano and rosemary.
  • Just plum good: Omit the beef broth and add 1 cup hoisin sauce and 3 halved and pitted plums.
  • Potatoes, of course: Peel and quarter some potatoes or sweet potatoes and place them in the bottom of the slow cooker with the carrots before cooking.
pot roast on a bed of mashed potatoes, carrots and roasted brussels sprouts

How to Make Pot Roast Gluten Free

Pot roast can easily be made gluten free. I prefer to substitute the all purpose flour for an all purpose gluten free flour mix. Alternatively, you may omit the flour all together. Make sure your beef broth is gluten free.

How to Make Pot Roast Dairy Free

While not all roast beef recipes or pot roast recipes are dairy free, this dutch oven pot roast recipe is naturally dairy free.

up close pot roast in a white pot

Equipment Needed for Pot Roast

One of these is needed for this pot roast, not all.

  • Dutch Oven: We love a good enamel covered cast iron dutch oven. They’re heavy and heat evenly while not burning things to the bottom. You can use them on the stove top or in the oven.
  • Stock Pot: You could also use any stock pot.
  • Electric Pressure Cooker: If you have an electric pressure cooker like an Instant Pot you can use our instructions above to cook the roast in it instead of the dutch oven or stock pot.
  • Slow Cooker: A Crock Pot and other slow cookers are a great way to start a meal in the morning and have it ready for you when you’re done with work for the day.
white dutch oven full of pot roast and carrots

How to Make Dutch Oven:

Step 1: Preheat oven to 300°F. Pot roasts are cooked best low and slow.

Step 2: Remove the beef chuck roast from its packaging, leaving any twine around the roast intact. Use a paper towel to pat dry.

floured pot roast

Step 3: Combine the flour, salt, and pepper on a sheet of parchment paper or large plate. Dip each side of the roast into the flour mixture to coat all sides.

Step 4: Heat the oil in a large stockpot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat.

pot roast onions and carrots in pot

Step 5: Add the flour-coated roast to the Dutch oven and sear to brown well on each side. Don’t skip this step!

Step 6: Remove the roast from the pot and reduce heat to medium. Add the carrots and onions. Add a bit more oil if needed.

dutch oven with carrots, onions and broth pouring in

Step 7: Cook the vegetables over medium heat until onions just begin to brown. Remove from heat. Optional: Add a bay leaf or sprigs of thyme or other fresh herbs like parsley if you’d like.

Step 8: Pour the beef broth and the browned roast into the pan over the vegetables. Deglaze by scraping the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon or spatula to get those great flavors and brown bits into the liquid. Cover with a lid and place in the oven to cook for about 3 hours. The roast is done when it easily falls apart if you pull at it with a fork. Keep shredding until you have about 2-inch pieces.

Preserve the gravy if you love to pour it over your potatoes.

pot roast in white dutch oven

Serve in the pot while warm or put on a platter with mashed potatoes or baby red potatoes, roasted brussels sprouts, this super easy broccoli grape salad and some crusty garlic french bread!

piece of pot roast on a fork

Cook Pot Roast in a Slow Cooker Instead

Prefer to use a slow cooker instead of a dutch oven? No problem! The best pot roast recipes won’t skip the searing step so make sure you still complete steps 1 through 7 on the stove. Then transfer everything to your slow cooker. Make sure you scrap the bottom of the pan for all the good stuff! Cook on low for 8-10 hours.

Cook Pot Roast in an Instant Pot Instead

I love using my instant pot for pot roast as well. You’ll want to use the sauté function to start. Turn it on to sauté then wait for it to heat up. About 8 minutes. Complete steps 1 through 7.

After you’ve added everything to your instant pot for step 8 make sure your venting knob is in the in venting position. Close the lid and then turn venting knob to the sealing position. You’ll pressure cook at high pressure for 45 minutes then allow the full natural release for about 25 minutes. Open the lid carefully. When budgeting time, remember that initial pressurizing will take time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How long can you store pot roast in the refrigerator?

A. Like most cooked beef, you can store leftover pot roast in the refrigerator in an airtight container for 3-4 days. You can also wrap tightly in aluminum foil or plastic wrap.

Q. How long can you store cooked pot roast in the freezer?

A. You can freeze cooked pot roast in the freezer for up to 3 months. Store in a freezer safe airtight container. When you’re ready to eat it, defrost in the refrigerator then throw it in the slow cooker on low for 8 hours to heat.

Q. Is pot roast better in a crock pot or Dutch oven?

A. As long as you flour and sear your roast on the stove (follow steps 1-7) you should have good results using either method.

Q. Does pot roast get softer the longer you cook it?

A. Generally the pot roast will continue to get more tender when you cook it on low heat for longer times. Make sure you have enough cooking liquid in the pot. Add more if much has boiled off.

Q. Why is y pot roast still tough?

Undercooked pot roast can be tough and chewy. Avoid this by making sure you have enough cooking liquid in your pot and you cook it as long as the recipe requires. Cooking longer at low temperatures is more ideal than shorter at higher temperatures.

overhead view of cooked pot roast and carrots in white dutch oven
5 from 104 votes

Dutch Oven Pot Roast

Author Andrea + Stef

Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Prep Time 5 minutes minutes
Cook Time 3 hours hours 10 minutes minutes
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6
Rich, melt in your mouth pot roast slow cooked with sweet carrots.
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Ingredients
  

  • 2 pound chuck roast
  • 2 tablespoons canola oil
  • 4-5 medium carrots peeled and cut into chunks
  • 1 large yellow onion cut into chunks
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups beef broth
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 300°F.
  • Remove the chuck roast from its packaging, leaving any twine around the roast intact.
  • Combine the flour, salt, and pepper on a sheet of parchment paper or large plate. Dip each side of the roast into the flour mixture to coat all sides.
    floured pot roast
  • Heat the oil in a large stockpot or Dutch oven over medium heat.
  • Add the flour-coated roast to the Dutch oven and brown well on each side.
    pot roast onions and carrots in pot
  • Remove the roast from the pot and add the carrots and onions. Add a bit more oil if needed.
    dutch oven with carrots, onions and broth pouring in
  • Cook the vegetables over medium heat until onions just begin to brown. Remove from heat.
  • Add the beef broth and the browned roast into the pan over the vegetables. Cover with a lid and place in the oven to cook for about 3 hours. The roast is done when it easily falls apart if you pull at it with a fork.
    pot roast in white dutch oven

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 384kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 104mg | Sodium: 840mg | Potassium: 729mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 7663IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 50mg | Iron: 4mg

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    Comments & Reviews

  1. Doris O’Donnell says

    September 14, 2021

    September 14, 2021 at 4:37 pm

    Easy recipe to follow. Used baby carrots. Just stuck it into the oven. I’ll let you know how it turns out and how my family liked it.

    Reply
    • Andrea + Stef says

      October 5, 2021

      October 05, 2021 at 10:00 pm

      Wonderful! We’d love to hear what they thought!

      Reply
    • Andrea + Stef says

      November 1, 2021

      November 01, 2021 at 10:41 pm

      Baby carrots are a great time saver!

      Reply
  2. Robin says

    October 30, 2021

    October 30, 2021 at 10:36 pm

    So easy to make. It came out great! I made mashed potatoes for the side.

    Reply
    • Andrea + Stef says

      November 1, 2021

      November 01, 2021 at 10:39 pm

      Thank you for the feedback! We’re glad you loved it!

      Reply
  3. Susan says

    October 31, 2021

    October 31, 2021 at 9:38 pm

    First time in a dutch oven. I loved it. Added slivers of fresh garlic into slits cut in the roast. Made the gravy in the dutch oven…sooooo good.

    Reply
    • Andrea + Stef says

      November 1, 2021

      November 01, 2021 at 10:40 pm

      Yum! Thank you for the feedback!

      Reply
  4. Manik Balaam says

    February 27, 2022

    February 27, 2022 at 1:54 pm

    Hello!

    I like & enjoy the ”Dutch Oven Pot Roast” I love Roast! Hope for the best.

    May God bless!

    Reply
  5. Peter says

    May 9, 2022

    May 09, 2022 at 2:14 pm

    A classic recipe, perfect for those cold winter nights. I served this with garlic mashed potatoes, delicious comfort food dinner that everyone loved!

    Reply
  6. Savita says

    May 9, 2022

    May 09, 2022 at 3:26 pm

    The use of carrots and the tenderness of the chuck roast makes it perfect for weeknight dinners. Loved the recipe.

    Reply
  7. Sean says

    May 9, 2022

    May 09, 2022 at 5:15 pm

    I really love recipes where I can use my Dutch oven and this recipe was no exception. It was very tasty.

    Reply
  8. Gloria says

    May 9, 2022

    May 09, 2022 at 6:40 pm

    Dutch ovens are like magic pots….everything turns out delicious. What a great family meal. Always a hit with the family any night of the week.

    Reply
  9. Bernice says

    May 9, 2022

    May 09, 2022 at 8:22 pm

    Ah, the trusty old pot roast. There’s a reason it’s a classic. Your version is delicious too. A real winning recipe.

    Reply
  10. Natalie says

    May 10, 2022

    May 10, 2022 at 9:01 am

    Just made this for my family and it’s so tender and super tasty. Definitely a win with too small kids.

    Reply
  11. Mandy Applegate says

    May 10, 2022

    May 10, 2022 at 4:59 pm

    Can you believe I’ve never had a pot roast before? I’m a convert now as this tasted amazing!

    Reply
  12. Scarlet says

    May 10, 2022

    May 10, 2022 at 9:38 pm

    Mmmmmm. This dutch oven pot roast was so delicious. Great comfort food for cold evenings.

    Reply
  13. Jenny says

    May 12, 2022

    May 12, 2022 at 11:30 am

    This is a thoughtful delicious recipe! I enjoyed the descriptions of the cuts of meat for use in the Dutch oven. Will make this dish soon with a side of cauliflower mash. Thank you.

    Reply
  14. Dennis says

    May 12, 2022

    May 12, 2022 at 12:35 pm

    WOW! I got so many compliments on your pot roast at dinner last night, every one raved about how tender and delicious the beef was.

    Reply
  15. Kathryn says

    May 13, 2022

    May 13, 2022 at 1:54 pm

    This pot roast made the most amazing dinner and we all loved it. Your recipe was easy to follow and this was the most tender roast! Loved all the flavors too. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  16. Veronika says

    May 14, 2022

    May 14, 2022 at 10:52 am

    I ended up making this pot roast in my slow cooker and it turned out delicious! We enjoyed the leftovers the next day too.

    Reply
  17. kushigalu says

    May 20, 2022

    May 20, 2022 at 6:33 am

    This dutch oven pot roast looks fantastic. Great recipe. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  18. Ieva says

    May 20, 2022

    May 20, 2022 at 6:46 am

    The easiest most delicious pot of comfort food! Everyone here asked for seconds. Thanks for a great recipe 🙂

    Reply
  19. Jacqueline says

    May 20, 2022

    May 20, 2022 at 7:05 am

    I love that you added all that veg to it.

    Reply
  20. Amanda Wren-Grimwood says

    May 20, 2022

    May 20, 2022 at 7:29 am

    Such an easy recipe to follow and perfect when you are busy to be able to let the oven do most of the work. Delicious!

    Reply
  21. Tavo says

    May 20, 2022

    May 20, 2022 at 9:45 am

    The roast was super easy to make! We have made it now a couple of times, and our family loves it.

    Reply
  22. Jere Cassidy says

    May 21, 2022

    May 21, 2022 at 8:44 pm

    I haven’t made a roast in a long time but this is an easy recipe that comes out perfect. Will be making again, great for Sunday supper.

    Reply
  23. Laura says

    May 23, 2022

    May 23, 2022 at 5:39 pm

    Mmmmm this is a great pot roast recipe.

    Reply
  24. Linda says

    June 5, 2023

    June 05, 2023 at 9:51 pm

    This we absolutely dellicous. My son who went to the CIA (chef school) must have said “this is really good”! 10 times!

    Reply
  25. Maria Psyhogios says

    January 23, 2024

    January 23, 2024 at 5:28 pm

    This is the BEST recipe. Simple & so good. Making it again today because it’s the best comfort food.

    Reply
  26. Laura Burge says

    March 12, 2024

    March 12, 2024 at 2:59 am

    Amazing and soooo easy

    Reply

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