This Gluten Free Pot Roast In A Crock Pot is a hearty, no-fuss dinner that makes a comforting Sunday night meal. Tender beef simmers in a rich red wine gravy and pairs easily with mashed potatoes or rice. This recipe is simple and made without much effort.
Do You Want to Save This Recipe?
Enter your email & I'll send it to your inbox. Plus, get great new recipes from me every week!
By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from A Sweet Thyme
This slow cooker pot roast is one of my favorite comfort meals. The chuck roast becomes melt-in-your-mouth tender, and the rich flavor of the red wine gravy complements it perfectly. It's easy to make, fills the house with the best aroma, and always feels like a warm hug on a chilly day.
Jump to:
- Ingredients
- Additions & Substitutions
- How To Make This Recipe For Gluten Free Pot Roast: Step-By-Step
- Recipe Tips
- Why Searing And Deglazing Is Important
- Can I make this dish in an Instant Pot?
- Can I use a gremolata on this dish?
- Recipe Frequently Asked Questions
- Side Dishes To Compliment This Recipe
- Gluten Free Pot Roast In A Crock Pot
This dish was inspired by my Smashed Fingerling Potatoes, and pair with many amazing side dishes like my Mushroom and Cauliflower Skillet, Maple Balsamic Brussels Sprouts, or the Roasted Honeynut Squash.
Ingredients
You will need the following ingredients to make this chuck roast slow cooker recipe:
Ingredient Notes:
- Beef broth - I always prefer to use bone broth when a recipe calls for broth or stock. This brand is my favorite shelf-stable one but I also love to make my own Keto Bone Broth Recipe.
- Potatoes - I am omitting the potatoes in this recipe and serving this recipe with mashed potatoes instead. If you prefer to cook the potatoes with the chuck roast just add them to the crock pot.
See the recipe card for quantities.
Additions & Substitutions
Though this healthy pot roast recipe is simple, it is also easy to vary if you want to switch it up.
Additions:
- Potatoes - you can cook them alongside the pot roast in the slow cooker. Or, you can omit the potatoes altogether and opt to make mashed potatoes instead.
- Vegetables - any root vegetables will work in the slow cooker with the pot roast. Large chunks of celery, cauliflower, or even mushrooms can be added or used in place of the potatoes or carrots.
- Carrots - you can use baby carrots if you wish.
Substitutions
- Seasonings - you can switch up the flavor of the beef pot roast by adding onion powder, parsley, or switching the thyme to rosemary.
- Worcestershire sauce - if you love savory umami flavor, add a dash of Worcestershire sauce to the gravy mixture.
How To Make This Recipe For Gluten Free Pot Roast: Step-By-Step
Here are some quick visual instructions. Remember that full instructions with the exact ingredients are in the printable recipe card:
Step 1: Sprinkle the chuck roast with salt and pepper.
Heat a non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil and then brown the pot roast on all sides before placing it into the slow cooker.
Step 2: Spray the skillet with cooking spray.
Saute the onions in the heated pan until tender before adding the broth and all of the ingredients except the vegetables.
Simmer for a few minutes.
Step 3: Add the mixture to the slow cooker along with the vegetables.
Step 4: Cover and cook on HIGH for 2 hours before reducing the heat to low for 4 hours. Or, cook on low for 8 hours until fork tender.
Remove the bay leaves and thyme sprigs from the slow cooker and shred the meat.
Recipe Tips
- You'll end up with lots of delicious gravy once the beef pot roast has finished cooking. You can use this to serve with your shredded beef. If you prefer a thicker type of gravy, you can whisk in a tablespoon of cornstarch while re-heating it.
- If you are worried about your vegetables becoming mushy in the slow cooker, add them instead about two hours before your roast is done.
- Taste the cooking liquid before serving and adjust the seasoning with salt, pepper, or any other desired herbs or spices.
Why Searing And Deglazing Is Important
Searing the chuck roast before it goes in the slow cooker adds a deep flavor that you can't get from slow cooking. The golden crust from the hot pan gives the meat extra richness and locks in the juices.
After searing, you will deglaze the pan with the onions by scrapping up all of the "fond" which are the flavorful browned bits stuck to the bottom of the pan. It's an extra step but makes a noticeable difference in depth of the dish.
Can I make this dish in an Instant Pot?
The short answer is yes. An Instant Pot has a slow cooker setting on it. With this recipe I have found that using a conventional crock pot makes this pot roast without fail, and using a pressure cooker (Instant Pot) requires less liquid and I love the gravy that this recipe makes.
It's especially delicious when served over a cauliflower mash for a low-carb meal! The slow cooker that I use is this Cuisinart brand.
Can I use a gremolata on this dish?
Yes. This dish is delicious without it and all of the pictures I am showing do not show this step. However, the lemon/garlic/parsley brightens up this dish and adds a nice finishing flavor. I have added the step in the recipe for you to enjoy!
Recipe Frequently Asked Questions
Though you can use different cuts, the chuck roast will be the one that comes out the most tender and flavorful.
Tender beef comes from cooking the pot roast low and slow, long enough for the proteins to break down. To do this, you need to cook the beef in enough liquid and only cook it briefly at a high temperature.
You can thicken this gravy. Once the pot roast is done, strain out the liquid. In a pan on the stove, heat a teaspoon of oil, add a tablespoon of 1:1 gluten free flour. Stir and cook for a minute. Add the broth to the pan and simmer until it thickens.
Side Dishes To Compliment This Recipe
This pot roast comes together with simple ingredients. It's a favorite meal and one of the best pot roast recipes I have tried. Our family loves this easy recipe even more the next day.
Let me know your thoughts on this Gluten Free Pot Roast In A Crock Pot by leaving a star rating below or by sharing it on Facebook, Instagram, Flipboard, or Pinterest!
Thank you!
Gwen
Gluten Free Pot Roast In A Crock Pot
Do You Want to Save This Recipe?
Enter your email & I'll send it to your inbox. Plus, get great new recipes from me every week!
By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from A Sweet Thyme
Equipment
Ingredients
Pot Roast
- 1 boneless chuck roast 2.5 pounds, trimmed
- 1 ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground pepper
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- cooking spray
- 2 cups onion chopped, about 1 large onion
- 1 cup beef broth I use bone broth
- ¾ cup dry red wine
- ¼ cup oil-packed sun dried tomato halves chopped
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper
- 4 thyme sprigs
- 4 garlic cloves crushed
- 2 bay leaves
- 3 large carrots or more to taste, peeled, cut into 1 inch pieces
- 2 lbs small red potatoes
Gremolata (optional)
- 2 tablespoon flat leaf parsley chopped
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme chopped
- ½ teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 garlic clove minced
Instructions
Pot Roast
- Sprinkle the meat with salt and pepper on all sides.
- Heat oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium high heat.
- Coat the pan with cooking spray.
- Add the roast to the pan. Cook 5 minutes, turning to brown the meat on all sides.
- Transfer to the slow cooker.
- Re-coat the pan with cooking spray.
- Add the onion to the pan and saute for about 8 minutes, scrapping up the brown bits and cooking until tender.
- Add the next 6 ingredients (through the bay leaves) to the skillet.
- Bring to a simmer.
- Add the broth mixture to the slow cooker.
- Add the vegetables to the slow cooker.
- Cover and cook either on High for 2 hours and then Low for 4 hours, or on Low for 8 hours. Make sure to turn over the meat about half way through the cooking time.
- When finished, remove the bay leaves and thyme stems from the slow cooker and discard.
- Remove the roast and shred with forks.
Gremolata
- Combine the parsley, lemon zest, and garlic in a small bowl. Serve with the roast.
Wendie says
So easy and the whole family devoured it!
Michelle says
Turned out great! Good and tender.
Allison says
The pot roast was very tender
Vladka says
I just made it with green salad and it was delicious.
Gigi says
OMG Gwen, this recipe was a lifesaver! So easy to prep and my place smelled incredible while I worked.
Gwen says
I am so glad you liked it!
Anna says
This pot roast turned out so well! The whole family loved it.
Anonymous says
This was delicious!