Onion Soup Mix Pot Roast (Printable Version)

Slow-cooked beef with onion soup mix and vegetables creates a flavorful and tender main dish.

# What You'll Need:

→ Beef

01 - 3 lbs chuck roast, trimmed

→ Seasoning & Soup Mix

02 - 1 packet onion soup mix, about 1 oz
03 - 1 teaspoon black pepper
04 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme

→ Vegetables

05 - 1 lb carrots, peeled and cut into 2-inch pieces
06 - 1 lb baby potatoes, halved
07 - 3 celery stalks, cut into 2-inch pieces
08 - 1 large onion, cut into wedges

→ Liquids

09 - 2 cups beef broth
10 - 2 tablespoons tomato paste
11 - 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

→ For Gravy

12 - 2 tablespoons cornstarch
13 - 2 tablespoons cold water

# How to Prepare:

01 - Pat the chuck roast dry with paper towels and season with black pepper and dried thyme
02 - Place carrots, potatoes, celery, and onion in the bottom of the slow cooker
03 - Lay the seasoned roast on top of the vegetables in the slow cooker
04 - Whisk together beef broth, onion soup mix, tomato paste, and Worcestershire sauce in a bowl
05 - Pour the braising liquid over the roast and vegetables, cover the slow cooker, and cook on LOW for 8 hours until the roast is fork-tender and vegetables are cooked through
06 - Transfer the roast and vegetables to a serving platter
07 - Mix cornstarch with cold water to create a slurry, stir into the cooking liquid in the slow cooker, cover and cook on HIGH for 5 to 10 minutes until thickened
08 - Slice or shred the roast, arrange with vegetables on serving plates, and spoon the rich gravy over the top

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It practically cooks itself while you go about your day, yet tastes like you spent hours tending a pot.
  • The onion soup mix does all the heavy lifting for seasoning, so there's no guessing or fussing with spice ratios.
  • You end up with tender, fall-apart beef and a rich gravy without any fancy technique or special skills.
02 -
  • Resist the urge to brown the roast first unless you really want to—the soup mix and slow cooking create plenty of flavor on their own, and skipping this step saves you 15 minutes of cleanup.
  • Don't use the HIGH setting unless you're truly short on time, because LOW heat renders the meat far more tender and allows flavors to meld properly over those 8 hours.
03 -
  • If you forget to make the gravy thickener and prefer a thicker sauce, you can scoop off some of the liquid into a small saucepan, bring it to a simmer on the stovetop, and reduce it down while everything else stays warm.
  • Pat the roast very dry before it goes in the slow cooker—any excess surface moisture prevents browning if you choose to sear it, and it also dilutes the braising liquid.
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