Crock Pot French Onion Pot Roast

why make this recipe

Crock Pot French Onion Pot Roast is a comforting and hearty dish that’s perfect for a family dinner or a gathering. This recipe combines the richness of slow-cooked pot roast with the sweet and savory flavors of French onion soup. The result is a tender, flavorful meal with minimal effort. Simply toss the ingredients into your crock pot, and let it do the work while you enjoy your day.

how to make Crock Pot French Onion Pot Roast

Ingredients:

• 3–4 lb chuck roast (well-marbled)
• 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 (about 4 cups)
• 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 white wine (or more broth)
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch + 3 tablespoons cold water (for thickening, optional)
• 1 cup shredded Gruyère or Swiss cheese (optional)
• Chopped fresh parsley (for garnish)

Directions:

1. Peel and slice yellow and sweet onions into thin rings. Mince garlic.
2. Set crock pot to high. Add butter, onions, garlic, brown sugar, and balsamic vinegar. Stir, cover, and cook for 20–30 minutes until onions soften and start to caramelize. (Alternatively, sauté onions in a skillet for 10 minutes and transfer.)
3. Pat chuck roast dry. Season with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high and sear roast for 2–3 minutes per side until deep brown (optional).
4. Once onions are caramelized, nestle the roast on top in the crock pot. Sprinkle thyme and bay leaves over everything.
5. Pour in beef broth, white wine, and Worcestershire sauce. Ensure roast is partially submerged; add more broth if needed.
6. Set crock pot to low and cook for 8–9 hours, or high for 5–6 hours, until roast is fork-tender and shreds easily. Check after 7 hours.
7. Remove roast and tent with foil. Skim excess fat from liquid. Mix cornstarch with cold water and stir into crock pot. Cook on high, uncovered, for 10–15 minutes until gravy thickens.
8. Let roast rest for 10 minutes before slicing or shredding. Return to crock pot and spoon onion gravy over the top.
9. Sprinkle with shredded cheese and chopped parsley. Serve hot, straight from the crock pot or on a serving platter.

how to serve Crock Pot French Onion Pot Roast

Serve this delicious pot roast with mashed potatoes, crusty bread, or over egg noodles to soak up the flavorful onion gravy. It also pairs well with a light salad for a refreshing touch.

how to store Crock Pot French Onion Pot Roast

Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. You can also freeze portions of the pot roast for longer storage. To reheat, thaw in the refrigerator overnight and warm in the microwave or on the stove.

tips to make Crock Pot French Onion Pot Roast

• For even more flavor, consider adding some fresh herbs like rosemary or oregano.
• If you prefer a thicker gravy, you can add more cornstarch mixed with cold water during the thickening step.
• Use a quality cut of beef for the best texture and flavor; chuck roast is ideal due to its marbling.

variation (if any)

Feel free to experiment with different types of onions. For a milder flavor, you can use all sweet onions, or for a sharper taste, use a mix of red onions. Additionally, you can swap the white wine for more beef broth if you prefer not to use wine.

FAQs

1. Can I make this pot roast without browning the meat?
Yes, you can skip the browning step if you prefer. The roast will still be flavorful, but browning adds an extra depth of flavor.

2. Is it necessary to use dry white wine?
No, you can replace the white wine with additional beef broth if you do not want to use alcohol.

3. Can I cook this on high heat?
Yes, you can cook it on high for 5–6 hours. Just ensure to check for tenderness around the 5-hour mark.

Crock Pot French Onion Pot Roast

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

A comforting and hearty dish, combining slow-cooked pot roast with the sweet and savory flavors of French onion soup.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 480 minutes
• Total Time: 495 minutes
• Yield: 8 servings 1x
• Category: Main Course
• Method: Slow Cooking
• Cuisine: French
• Diet: None

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 3–4 lb chuck roast (well-marbled)
• 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 (about 4 cups)
• 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 white wine (or more broth)
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch + 3 tablespoons cold water (for thickening, optional)
• 1 cup shredded Gruyère or Swiss cheese (optional)
• Chopped fresh parsley (for garnish)

Instructions

1. Peel and slice yellow and sweet onions into thin rings. Mince garlic.
2. Set crock pot to high. Add butter, onions, garlic, brown sugar, and balsamic vinegar. Stir, cover, and cook for 20–30 minutes until onions soften and start to caramelize.
3. Pat chuck roast dry. Season with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high and sear roast for 2–3 minutes per side until deep brown (optional).
4. Once onions are caramelized, nestle the roast on top in the crock pot. Sprinkle thyme and bay leaves over everything.
5. Pour in beef broth, white wine, and Worcestershire sauce. Ensure roast is partially submerged; add more broth if needed.
6. Set crock pot to low and cook for 8–9 hours, or high for 5–6 hours, until roast is fork-tender and shreds easily. Check after 7 hours.
7. Remove roast and tent with foil. Skim excess fat from liquid. Mix cornstarch with cold water and stir into crock pot. Cook on high, uncovered, for 10–15 minutes until gravy thickens.
8. Let roast rest for 10 minutes before slicing or shredding. Return to crock pot and spoon onion gravy over the top.
9. Sprinkle with shredded cheese and chopped parsley. Serve hot, straight from the crock pot or on a serving platter.

Notes

For even more flavor, consider adding fresh herbs like rosemary or oregano. You can also adjust the thickness of the gravy using cornstarch.

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1 serving
• Calories: 350
• Sugar: 5g
• Sodium: 600mg
• Fat: 14g
• Saturated Fat: 6g
• Unsaturated Fat: 8g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 25g
• Fiber: 3g
• Protein: 30g
• Cholesterol: 85mg

Keywords: crock pot, pot roast, French onion, comfort food, slow cooker