Author: The best pot roast recipe you’ve ever tried! Learn how to make the perfect pot roast in the oven! No slow cooker needed, this has been a family favorite for 3 generations!
Say goodbye to dry pot roast with the EASY secret to a perfect pot roast that is blow-you-away delicious!
Pot roast and veggies is a super easy meal, right? It can be! But what about when your roast is really dry and your veggies are overcooked? That was always my issue… dry pot roast.
My mom, on the other hand, makes the best pot roast you’ve ever had. Hands. Down. It’s been my requested birthday meal since I was 8, and when I was 14 I started making it myself!
But even though I had watched my mom make the meal for many, many years… I had missed a few crucial pieces of information! And those little bits of info made the difference between a tough, dry pot roast, and a fall-apart tender pot roast!
Best Ever Homemade Mashed Potatoes
180 Easy Vegetable Side Dishes
Easy Pot Roast Recipe in the Oven
I originally shared this recipe three years ago when I finally asked my mom to get me her step by step instructions for making pot roast.
Since then, I have made this pot roast recipe more times than I can count! It’s a standing family favorite here, and I know it will be for your family too!
Step One:
Though this step is technically optional, it really is a big key to keeping your roast nice and tender. So, do it if you can!
Find a pan or skillet large enough to hold your roast, then put 2 tablespoons of butter in the pan and melt it over medium heat.
As soon as the butter is melted, place your roast in the pan and sear all the sides of your roast. This helps lock in the juices!
You’re not trying to cook the roast, just make sure all the sides are nicely browned before moving on.
Step Two:
Wash, peel, and chunk your vegetables. We use carrots, potatoes, and onions, but you can also add mushrooms, green beans, or anything else you’d like.
Place the root vegetables in the roasting pan and mix them well. Create a little valley for the roast to sit in, so that the root vegetables are under and surrounding the roast.
From there, place the roast on top of the vegetables, in the center of the roasting pan.
At this point, any other non-root vegetables that you have can go in the pan. In our case, that’s just onions. You’ll also season your meat and vegetables.
A generous covering of salt, pepper, and garlic are all we do. But you could also add onion powder, parsley, or any other seasonings you like!
Pour broth over the meat and vegetables. Water can also be used if desired.
Step Three:
Now that everything is in the pan, you’ll want to grab some aluminum foil. Yes, you can use the lid that comes with the pan, but I’ve found (thanks to my mom) that the foil really does something special during the cooking process!
Tear off a piece large enough to cover your pan, and place it SHINY SIDE DOWN. This matters – hence the caps. Secure it well around the pan to lock in the steam!
Step Four:
Bake at 350° for 4 hours and check the meat. Depending on the size of your roast, you may need extra time. I usually try to cook mine for 5-6 hours for the size meat we usually get (about 5 pounds).
Remove from the oven and enjoy! Serve with a side of crusty bread for a complete experience!
Homemade Pot Roast FAQ
I’ve gotten a LOT of questions about this pot roast recipe since putting it out three years ago, so I wanted to address a few of those questions now.
If you put the vegetables in at the beginning, won’t they get soggy?
This is something so many people are concerned about. No, they don’t. They are perfect and delicious! The reason being that you don’t add any water to the roast, so the vegetables are getting boiled to a mash. Instead, they are steaming to perfection.
We’ve been making pot roast and vegetables like this in my family for now three generations. Trust me, the vegetables are amazing!
Note: if you are using all mushrooms and green beans, then you may have different results. But with root vegetables and onions, and even a few additional non-root vegetables, this recipe works perfectly!
I love ranch packet roast, can I still do that with this method?
Absolutely!! The seasonings are completely up to you, but if you are wanting to avoid store-bought mixes, then the spices given here are a great option!
Have another question? Let me know in the comments!
Mama’s Slow Roasted Pot Roast
Ingredients
- 2-5 lbs Chuck Roast
- 4 cups broth or water
- 3 lbs Potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks.
- 2 lbs Carrots, peeled and cut into chunks.
- 2 large Yellow onions, cut into chunks
- Salt, Pepper, Garlic to taste
- 2 tbsp Butter
Instructions
- In a skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Sear all sides of the roast. Remove from heat.
- Add chunked potatoes and carrots (or any root vegetables you want) to the roasting pan. Create a well for the roast to sit in, so the vegetables are under and surrounding the roast.
- Put the roast on top of vegetables in a roaster pan.
- Add non-root vegetables around the roast. Season with Salt, Pepper, and Garlic powder.
- Pour broth over the roast and vegetables and cover with a lid or foil.
- Bake in a 350° oven for 4 hours.
- Check meat for tenderness, if it needs more time, cook for an additional 1-2 hours.
PIN THIS RECIPE FOR LATER
Just curious if this could be done in a crockpot instead of the oven?
Hi Kristen! Yes, the “high” temperature setting on most crockpot units is about 300 degrees. So, it would probably take a bit longer to get that really tender roast, about 8 hours I would guess.
Hope that helps, enjoy!!
Thank u for the recipe, Im trying it tonight with my daughter! I am just wondering what the difference is with putting the foil shiny side down though? I cannot wait to eat. My roasts usually turn out tasting like one of my dad’s old work boots! Thanks again for the recipe!
Hi Patti! The shiny side helps trap heat better, I believe. My engineer dad was explaining to me years ago and I think that was the reason! Whatever the reason, it works! Enjoy and let me know how it goes!
Thank you for sharing your Mom’s recipe! It will become my families favorite! My roast was so tender and moist even though I may have cooked it a little too long….still delish!
Whoo hoo, Tracy! I’m so glad to hear that! We love this recipe and make it a lot! Enjoy! :-)
Yikes I put it in a Dutch oven into the oven before I read that it should be in a roasting pan. The photo pot looks like a Dutch oven.
Hi Jann! You can also do it in a Dutch oven with great results!
That’s how my grandfather did it for years and his roasts were delicious too!
I followed recipe exactly & the vegetables stuck to bottom of Dutch Oven and meat was very dry. I think next time I’ll do in the crockpot or add liquid to pan if cooking in oven.
Hi Wendie, I’m sorry to hear that! I haven’t made this recipe in a dutch oven, so I’m not sure what the problem might be.
My grandfather did his in a DO, but he might have added liquid and I just didn’t realize it :-(