Craving comfort food but short on time? This single serving pot roast recipe is perfect for your mini slow cooker. Simple prep work and enjoy tender beef, veggies, and rich gravy – all in one crock pot!
Prep Time15 minutesmins
Cook Time4 hourshrs
Total Time4 hourshrs15 minutesmins
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: American
Diet: Gluten Free, Low Lactose
Keyword: beef, chuck roast, crockpot pot roast, pot roast, slow cooker pot roast
Place the sliced onions, carrots, celery, and potatoes in the bowl of a 1.5 or 2-quart slow cooker.
In a small bowl, combine pepper, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt. Set this seasoning mix aside.
Dry the beef with paper towels and season all sides with the prepared seasoning mix.
Heat oil in a 10-inch skillet over medium heat.
Place the roast in the skillet and sear until golden brown on all sides, about 2 minutes per side. Remove the roast and transfer it to a plate.
Make small slits, about 1 inch deep each, all over the top of the roast using the tip of a sharp knife. Use your fingers to widen the slits, then insert the garlic cloves as far into the meat as possible.Pro Tip: This method infuses the meat with the delightful flavor of garlic. As the roast cooks, the garlic gradually seeps into the meat, imparting a savory richness that will delight garlic enthusiasts. The cloves themselves soften and mellow during cooking, providing a pleasing surprise in each bite. Studding the roast with garlic not only enhances the taste of the pot roast but also amplifies its appealing aroma.
Place the beef in the slow cooker on top of the vegetables.
Pour the broth over the roast and vegetables, then cover with the lid. Cook on low for 8 hours or on high for 4 hours.
In a small bowl, mix together cornstarch and water until smooth.
Remove the beef from the slow cooker and place it on a plate.
Add the cornstarch slurry to the slow cooker, mixing it with the beef broth until blended.
Return the beef to the slow cooker and spoon some gravy over the beef. Replace the lid and continue cooking on high for 15 more minutes. This will thicken the gravy and allow the flavors to blend.
Tear the meat apart with two forks and stir it into the gravy. Taste and add additional salt if you feel it is necessary.
Transfer to a bowl and enjoy your slow cooker pot roast!
Notes
Expert Tips
Read through the entire recipe and the Ingredient Notes section of the post and gather your ingredients. We provide a lot of information within the body of this recipe post to ensure that your pot roast comes out perfectly every time. It's a good idea to fully understand the recipe and have everything ready before beginning.
Searing: Don't skip this step. Searing the roast before slow cooking helps to lock in the flavors and gives the meat a delicious crust.
Seasoning: Allow the seasoning to sit on the meat for a few minutes before searing. This helps to enhance the flavors of the beef.
Garlic: Insert whole cloves of garlic into the roast as described above. This infuses the roast with a delightful, deep garlic flavor.