What Is Pot Roast? (4 Mouth-Watering Recipe Guides To Try)

As an experienced chef with over 10 years of professional culinary training, I have spent countless hours perfecting the art of cooking a perfect pot roast.

Throughout this time, I’ve learned that the key to making a tender pot roast lies in selecting the right cut of meat and learning how to prepare it properly.

In this article, I will share my expertise and knowledge on this delicious recipe, how to make it, and the best techniques to ensure a succulent and flavorful meal.

Quick Summary

What Is a Pot Roast?

A pot roast is a slowly cooked beef roast typically made using a tougher cut of beef, such as chuck roast, rump roast, round roast, or blade roast.

The beef is seasoned and browned on all sides. It is then cooked slowly with beef broth and vegetables until it becomes fork-tender.

You can do this with various cooking methods - in a covered pot on the stove, in the oven, or in an electric pressure cooker.

This is a perfect comfort food, often served with potatoes, crusty bread, and delicious gravy.

The result is tender, flavorful meat that can be the main course of a meal or sliced thinly for sandwiches.

Nutritional Information

A 100 g serving contains the following nutrients:

• Energy: 179 calories
• Protein: 13.6 g
• Total Fat: 11.4 g
• Saturated Fat: 4.3 g
• Carbohydrates: 4.3 g
• Fiber: 0.7 g
• Cholesterol: 61 mg

The dish also contains essential vitamins and minerals such as iron, zinc, and vitamin B12 [1].

These nutrients are critical for maintaining healthy bones, muscles, and cells.

Depending on what vegetables are added, the dish can also provide a good source of vitamins and minerals such as vitamin A, vitamin C, and potassium.

Tips for Buying the Meat for Pot Roast

When purchasing meat, selecting the proper cut of beef is essential.

Chuck is most commonly used because it is more affordable than other cuts but still has a great flavor when cooked slowly.

When selecting a chuck roast, look for one with plenty of marbling, as this will help keep the meat moist during cooking.

It will also provide good flavor and a self-basting quality, as the fat will melt in the oven.

"Pot roasts are one of the best comfort foods out there; they fill your heart as much as your stomach!"
- Ina Garten, American Chef

The Best Pot Roast Recipe

There are several ways to cook this complete meal, including a crock pot or other slow cooking methods, instant pot or other electric pressure cooking, and oven roasting.

Oven slow cooking is the most traditional method, producing a delicious dinner. To use the oven version of the slow cooking process, follow this delicious pot roast recipe.

1. Ingredients

• 3-4 lb beef chuck, blade, or rump roast
• 2 tablespoons vegetable or olive oil
• 1 yellow onion, chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 cups beef broth
• 1 half cup red wine
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 2 teaspoons fresh thyme
• 2 teaspoons dried rosemary
• 1 bay leaf
• 2 cups cubed baby potatoes
• 4 large carrots, cut into 2-inch pieces
• 2 large stalks of celery, cut into 2-inch pieces
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch (optional)

2. Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F.
2. Season the meat with salt and pepper on all sides.
3. Heat oil over medium-high heat on the stovetop in a large Dutch oven or oven-safe pot. Once hot, brown roast on all sides, about 5 minutes each. Remove the beef and set aside.
4. Reduce the heat to medium and add the chopped onion to the Dutch oven or pot. Cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook for another minute.
5. Pour in the beef broth and red wine, and stir in the tomato paste, thyme, rosemary, and bay leaf. Bring to a simmer.
6. Add the beef roast back to the pot. Add potatoes and carrots. Arrange the vegetables and celery around the beef. Cover the pot with a tight-fitting lid.
7. Transfer to the oven and slow cook for 2-3 hours or until the beef is fork-tender.
8. Once oven roasted, remove the fall-apart tender meat and set it aside to rest for 10-15 minutes.
9. Meanwhile, remove the bay leaf and skim off any excess fat from the surface of the sauce. You can add more beef broth if necessary.
10. Or, for a thicker pot roast gravy, you can whisk together 2 tablespoons of starch and 2 tablespoons of cold water. Add the mixture to the cooking liquid and cook until the sauce thickens, about 5 minutes.
11. Slice the meat against the grain and serve with the vegetables and sauce. Season roast with salt and pepper to taste.

3. Recipe Notes

• If you find the red wine is too overpowering for your palate, you can use water in its place.
• For a richer, beefier flavor, use beef stock instead of broth.
• Use slow cooker instructions or Instant Pot instructions if you use one of those devices.
• Traditionally, you serve this meal with mashed potatoes and bread, along with green beans or other vegetables on the side. You can use russet potatoes or Yukon gold potatoes.

FAQs

Discover Why Pot Roast Is So Popular

This meal is delicious, savory, and excellent for Sunday dinner or special occasions. Using a slow cooker or Instant Pot is an easy way to get a flavorful meal with minimal fuss or mess.

And if you are interested in high-quality beef that you can use to make a Yankee or Mississippi pot roast, consider ButcherBox.

They deliver grass-fed beef right to your home, and you can customize your boxes to include anything from pork and beef to poultry and seafood.

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References:

1. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/1973052/nutrients