Description
Indulge in the heartwarming flavors of our Crock Pot French Onion Pot Roast, a perfect dish for cozy family meals. This easy slow cooker recipe combines tender beef with the sweetness of caramelized onions, creating a rich and savory gravy that envelops each bite. With minimal prep time, simply set your crock pot and let it work its magic, providing you with a delicious dinner that keeps well for meal prep. Whether served over creamy mashed potatoes or nestled in a warm sandwich, this pot roast is sure to become a family favorite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3–4 lb chuck roast
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (for browning, optional)
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme (or 2 teaspoons fresh thyme)
- 2 bay leaves
- 3 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
- 1 large sweet onion, thinly sliced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 1/2 cups beef broth (low-sodium preferred)
- 1/2 cup dry apple vinegar (or more broth)
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch + 3 tablespoons cold water (for thickening, optional)
- 1 cup shredded Gruyère or Swiss cheese (optional)
- Chopped fresh parsley (for garnish)
Instructions
- Slice the yellow and sweet onions thinly; mince the garlic.
- In the crock pot on high, combine butter, onions, garlic, brown sugar, and balsamic vinegar. Cook for 20–30 minutes until softened and caramelized.
- Season the chuck roast with salt and pepper; sear in a skillet if desired.
- Place the roast over the caramelized onions in the crock pot; add thyme and bay leaves.
- Pour in beef broth and apple vinegar until half-submerged; add more broth if needed.
- Cook on low for 8–9 hours or high for 5–6 hours until fork-tender.
- For gravy, remove roast and skim fat; mix cornstarch with cold water then stir into cooking liquid and thicken on high heat for 10–15 minutes.
- Let the roast rest before slicing; serve with onion gravy and optional cheese.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 8–9 hours
- Category: Main
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (approximately 150g)
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 480mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 12g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 100mg