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Crock Pot 3-Packet Pot Roast (+Video)

This Crock Pot 3-Packet Pot Roast with gravy is incredibly easy but incredibly tender and flavorful. Set it and forget it!

A TENDER POT ROAST RECIPE

Slow cooking can take a rather boring and tough cut of meat and make it come out so tender and tasty. And, in my case, I save on electricity because this roast isn’t cooking in my oven for hours on end. So that’s just a bonus right there.

Slow Cooker Pot Roast on a white plate and topped with gravy served with carrots and potatoes with parsley in the background.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

What is the best type of roast to use for this?

A beef chuck roast works perfect. It’s an inexpensive cut of meat and the low and slow cooking process will make the meat so tender. But any type of beef roast will work. Just make sure you are getting a large enough size

Can I use low sodium options?

Of course. Wherever you can find low sodium options, please do so.

What are some good side dishes to use?

This meal is delicious when you serve it with Honey Glazed Sweet Potatoes, Million Dollar Mashed Potatoes or Ranch Roasted Potatoes.

Crock Pot 3-Packet Pot Roast recipe from The Country Cook, shown served on a white plate with baby carrots and potatoes.

INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (FULL RECIPE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST)

  • beef chuck roast
  • ranch dressing mix
  • brown gravy mix
  • Italian dressing mix
  • dried chopped onions
  • water
  • cornstarch
beef chuck roast, ranch dressing mix, brown gravy mix, Italian dressing mix, dried chopped onions, water.

HOW TO MAKE CROCK POT 3-PACKET POT ROAST:

I like to brown the roast before putting it in the crock pot. It really gives it a great color and adds to the overall flavor. Heat up a large skillet on high heat. You want to get it really hot. Add about a tbsp. of vegetable oil into the bottom of the pan. Take a paper towel and dry the meat really good. Season the roast with salt & pepper. When pan is really hot, add the roast. You aren’t going to cook it all the way through. You’re just browning both sides to give it some added flavor.

browning a beef chuck roast in a cast iron skillet

Once browned, put the roast into the bottom of your slow cooker.

browned beef pot roast added to the bottom of an oval slow cooker.

Mix together 2 cups of water with all the seasoning packets and chopped onion. Give it all a good stir.

mixing water with contents of ranch dressing, brown gravy and Italian dressing mix in a medium-sized clear bowl

Pour gravy mixture over the roast.

gravy mixture poured over chuck roast inside a crock pot

Cook on low for about 6 to 7 hours. Do not open the lid! You do not need to flip the roast over during cooking just leave it alone. The meat can end up tough if you open the lid while cooking. This next step is also optional (but I personally think is necessary) to make the gravy thicker. Whisk together cold water with cornstarch.

corn starch and water whisked together to make a slurry

Pour corn starch mixture into the slow cooker and turn the slow cooker up to the high setting. Cook for an additional 30 minutes on high to thicken the gravy. Then serve!  

Crock Pot Pot Roast, slices served on a round white plate and served with baby carrots and diced potatoes

CRAVING MORE RECIPES?

Originally published: February 2012
Updated & republished: September 2020

Crock Pot 3-Packet Pot Roast (+Video)

This Crock Pot 3-Packet Pot Roast with gravy is incredibly easy but incredibly tender and flavorful. Set it and forget it!
4.94 from 87 votes
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 7 hours 30 minutes
Total Time: 7 hours 40 minutes
Servings: 6

Ingredients

  • 3-4 pound beef chuck roast
  • 1 packet ranch dressing mix
  • 1 packet brown gravy mix
  • 1 packet Italian dressing mix
  • 1 tablespoon dried chopped onions (or half an onon, finely diced)
  • 2 cups water
  • 3 tablespoons cold water
  • 3 tablespoons cornstarch

Instructions

  • Heat up a large skillet on high heat. You want to get it really hot.
  • Add about a tablespoon of vegetable oil into the bottom of the pan.
  • Take a paper towel and dry the meat really well Season the roast with salt and pepper.
  • When pan is really hot, add the roast. You aren't going to cook it all the way through. You're just browning both sides to give it some added flavor and color.
  • Once browned, put it into the bottom of the slow cooker.
  • Mix together 2 cups of water with all the seasoning packets and chopped onion. Give it all a good stir.
  • Pour gravy mixture over the roast.
  • Cover and cook on low for about 6 to 7 hours. Do not open the lid! You do not need to flip the roast. If you open the lid, you may end up with a tough roast so just leave it alone.
  • When roast is fully cooked, whisk together cold water with cornstarch.
  • Pour corn starch mixture into the slow cooker and turn the slow cooker up to the high setting.
  • Cook for an additional 30 minutes on high to thicken the gravy.

Video

YouTube video
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Calories: 462kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 43g | Fat: 26g | Sodium: 1462mg

Nutritional Disclaimer

“The Country Cook” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.

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Recipe Rating




79 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    wondering how I would convert this to the oven using a covered cast iron braiser? I love this recipe as is! I could never manage to make good pot roast until my mother in law gave me this recipe! works great with pork loin or shoulder as well!

    1. Hey Kayce! That’s a great question! I’ve never tried it though & I really hate to guess when I haven’t tested it. I’d guess maybe 350f for 3-4 hours. You can brown it to give it some color. Let me know if you try it!

    2. 5 stars
      I have slow cooked this roast in the oven and it came out wonderful. I cooked it at 275 degrees for about 4 hours. Depending on the size of your roast how long it takes to get done. I seared each side first.

  2. 5 stars
    My husband is not a fan of roast beef…after trying this recipe, he is now converted! Thank you for sharing such an easy – and delicious – recipe!

  3. 5 stars
    I’ve tried many crockpot roast recipes, but this was the absolute best!! Glad I tried it, although I was a bit leery of the ingredients. I did thicken the beef broth with corn starch during the last 30 minutes which made a wonderful gravy. ❤

  4. 5 stars
    This was delicious. Had a beef shoulder roast. Marinated it over night and then made this recipe. It was so tender. Thanks for the recipe.

  5. 5 stars
    My husband said this was the best roast I have ever made- simple and easy. He loved the flavor. Don’t skip the browning, key to moist meat!
    -PS: I accidentally added the cornstarch beforehand, and it turned out fine.

  6. 5 stars
    Honeyyyy! This was a HIT!!! I followed the recipe to a T (except I left it in the crockpot longer, personal preference) & this roast was AMAZING!!! Thank you for an awesome recipe!!!

  7. 5 stars
    Hubby said BEST POT ROAST EVER!I I followed it to the letter. I realized I didn’t let roasts cook long enough in the past. This really fell apart and the gravy was delicious!

  8. 5 stars
    This is my ONLY pot roast recipe that I will use it is absolutely the best and easiest to prepare. I always use a chuck roast around 4 lbs and angus chuck when I can find it. Following the recipe exactly but adding tiny fresh dice carrots and parsley and fresh diced onions. I serve this with yukon gold mashed potatoes sweet baby buttered pes and bisquick biscuits. This is in my crock pot right now it’s 2 hours in on cooking high I cook it till it’s tender sometimes it could be 4 hours then other times it goes to 6 and the smell is driving us crazy it smells incredible it doesn’t have that boiled beef smell that you often get from cooking a pot roast ….. Anyway try it you will have the neighborhood going crazy.