The Best Whole30 Pot Roast - The Defined Dish Recipes (2024)

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Okay, so I have had a Whole30 Pot Roast on the blog for quite some time. It was really good, don’t get me wrong, but I’ve tweaked that recipe and HOLY YUM. It’s officially perfect.

The Best Whole30 Pot Roast - The Defined Dish Recipes (1)

With a few tweaks and touches, the old classic Whole30 pot roast just got even better. It’s still got a classic taste (nothing too crazy fancy) but the depth of flavor is so much deeper and just oh-so-lovely and perfect to cozy up to during the fall and winter seasons. It’s definitely a dish that the whole family will gobble up!

The Best Whole30 Pot Roast - The Defined Dish Recipes (2)

My favorite way of cooking this is low and slow in the oven all afternoon in a dutch oven. It just really makes the flavor absolutely perfect; however, you can certainly do this in your crockpot if that’s your preferred method of cooking or if you want to throw it in before work and come home to dinner ready-to-eat!

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The Best Whole30 Pot Roast - The Defined Dish Recipes (3)

The Best Whole30 Pot Roast - The Defined Dish Recipes (4)

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Ingredients

  • 3.5 lbs Boneless Beef Chuck Roast
  • 2 tsp kosher salt, or more to taste
  • 1 tsp freshly cracked black pepper, or more to taste
  • 2 tbsp arrowroot flour can sub tapioca flour or regular flour here
  • 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 large yellow onion, cut into 1/4 inch slices
  • 3 large carrots, cut into 2 inch pieces
  • 4 stalks of celery, cut into 2 inch pieces
  • 2 cloves of garlic, thinly sliced
  • 2 tsp dijon mustard
  • 1 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1/4 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves (from 5-6 sprigs, or sub 1/2 tsp dried thyme)
  • 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 cup beef broth
  • 1.5 lbs medium sized yellow potatoes, quartered

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 275 degrees F.

  • Using paper towels, pat dry meat. Season generously with kosher salt and pepper. Sprinkle and rub the arrowroot into the meat so that the roast is evenly coated.

  • Heat oil in a dutch oven over medium-high heat. When hot, brown the beef until golden-brown on all sides, about 4 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate and set aside.

  • Reduce the heat to medium and add the onions, carrots, celery, garlic and cook, stirring, until the onions are tender, about 4 minutes.

  • Add the dijon, tomato paste, smoked paprika, bay leaves, and thyme and stir until well combined. Pour in the apple cider vinegar and cook, stirring, until the apple cider vinegar is well combined and reduced by half (leaving only a small amount of liquid in the pot).

  • Pour in 3/4 cup of the beef broth and stir until well combined and the contents come to a boil. Reduce heat to a very subtle simmer. Nestle the roast (and any of its juices) back into the center of the skillet and into the veggies. Add the potatoes all around the roast, and pour the remaining 1/4 beef broth around the roast.

  • Cover with a secure lid, transfer to the oven and roast until the beef is fall apart tender, about 4 hours for a 3-pound roast and about 5 hours for a 4 to 5-pound roast.

  • Remove from oven and let cool for 10 minutes prior to serving to allow the sauce to settle. Add more salt, if needed. Serve and enjoy!

Notes

Crockpot Method: You can also cook this in a crockpot. After browning your meat, place all ingredients in a crockpot and cook on low for 8 hours.

Nutrition

Calories: 623kcal, Carbohydrates: 23g, Protein: 54g, Fat: 35g, Saturated Fat: 14g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g, Monounsaturated Fat: 19g, Trans Fat: 2g, Cholesterol: 183mg, Sodium: 1185mg, Potassium: 1420mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 139IU, Vitamin C: 23mg, Calcium: 68mg, Iron: 7mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Author: Alex Snodgrass

Servings: 6 people

Calories: 623

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Photography byEat Love Eats.

Crockpot Crockpot Dinner Dinner Gluten-Free Paleo Recipes Whole30

Welcome! I’m Alex.

I’m a food lover sharing healthy, simple, delicious, recipes from my kitchen to yours. Here you’ll find lots of Whole30, lots of healthy, and a little indulgence here and there because…it’s all about balance y’all!

Get to know Alex

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The Best Whole30 Pot Roast - The Defined Dish Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Does a pot roast get more tender the longer it cooks? ›

Yes, pot roast absolutely becomes more tender the longer it cooks. Roasts are generally made from tougher cuts of meat, such as chuck or brisket, which contain a lot of collagen, connective tissue, and fat. These tougher tissues require a long cooking time to break down and for the collagen to converts into gelatin.

What is the healthiest cut of pot roast? ›

Look for rump roast or bottom round roast. The leanest of the three most common pot roast cuts, it has a fine grain which makes it great for slicing, but it lacks the big, beefy flavor of the other two cuts.

Is pot roast better in oven or crockpot? ›

For the most appealing tenderness and and juiciness that's coveted in the best pot roasts, the pot roast is either cooked in a slow cooker for 4 hours on High or 7-8 hours on Low or for better and more even temperature control, slow-cooked in the oven at 200F/100C for 4 hours for firm, knife-ready meat and 8 hours for ...

What cut makes the most tender pot roast? ›

The best meat for pot roast is a beef cut with abundant connective tissue, like chuck roast, beef brisket or bottom round roast. This connective tissue called collagen is what makes pot roast melt-in-your-mouth tender.

Should a pot roast be covered in liquid? ›

Some recipes call for liquid, some do not. It mainly comes down to the type of meat you use. Cuts like chuck roast will release more fat and moisture than leaner cuts, so they don't need any water. In addition, the slow cooker itself creates some moisture, which helps keep the meat juicy.

What not to do to pot roast? ›

5 Mistakes to Avoid When Cooking Pot Roast
  1. Using the wrong roast.
  2. Not browning the roast.
  3. Deglazing with just broth.
  4. Cooking the vegetables too long.
  5. Not thickening the gravy.
Mar 29, 2017

Is pot roast healthy to lose weight? ›

Pot roast doesn't typically get a nutritional nod, but that's likely because of the marbling (striations of fat not found in top round or loin). But for just 176 calories, 3 ounces of chuck roast (the cut that makes the best pot roast) boasts 22 grams of protein and almost half of the recommended daily intake for iron.

What is the most flavorful roast? ›

The boneless chuck roast is among the most popular roasts on the market due to its incredible beefy taste, fat content (it's well marbled), and effortless cooking process. It comes from the shoulder primal (like the pot roast), just in front of the rib section.

What is best meat for pot roast? ›

Braising a boneless roast with a good balance of fat and muscle will result in a juicy Pot Roast that you enjoy eating even without gravy on top. For most people, the best meat for Pot Roast is the beef Chuck Roast.

When should I add potatoes to pot roast? ›

Cover and cook for 3 hours, or until the roast is very tender. Add the carrots and potatoes to the pot when there's about an hour of cooking time left, turning the roast over when you do. To serve, spoon any excess fat off the surface and slice or shred the beef to serve with the veggies, drizzled with sauce.

Why is my pot roast still tough in the crock pot? ›

If your crock pot roast is tough, it is possible you didn't use a boneless chuck roast, in which cases some cuts of meat will never become fall-apart tender OR more likely, you did not cook your beef long enough. If your pot roast seems tough, cook on!

Is it better to cook a roast at 325 or 350? ›

When roasting meat and poultry, set the oven temperature to 325°F (163°C) or higher. Explore the charts below to learn how to get great results every time you cook.

What kind of onion is good in pot roast? ›

Though you can use white onions, sweet onions, or red onions, we recommend using yellow ones because of their unique flavor profile. Yellow onions are a widely used onion type in the US and is great with meat dishes such as pot roast, roasted chicken, lamb rack, stew, and more.

Why is my roast still tough after 6 hours? ›

So if you cut the pot roast into chunks and stew it, or if you cook the roast in beef stock (flipping halfway through), and you cook it long enough, it will eventually fall apart. If your pot roast is still tough after cooking for 6 hours in a crock pot, it's possible that it simply needs more time to cook.

Why is my pot roast not falling apart? ›

There are several reasons why this could have happened even after so much cooking. First, your choice of a rump roast could be a factor since cuts from the hind quarter are very muscular and, since muscles are the most resistant to breaking, this cut is quite stubborn when it comes to becoming tender.

Why is my roast still tough after 8 hours? ›

There are several reasons why this could have happened even after so much cooking. First, your choice of a rump roast could be a factor since cuts from the hind quarter are very muscular and, since muscles are the most resistant to breaking, this cut is quite stubborn when it comes to becoming tender.

How long does it take for a pot roast to get tender? ›

Add water until liquid comes halfway up sides of the meat. Bring to a simmer, cover with a large piece of foil and the pan lid (to assure seal). Place in oven, be sure to turn the meat over every 30 minutes or so. Cook until fork tender, 2 1/2- 3 1/2 hours (meat needs to remain above 200 degrees F.

Why is my pot roast still tough after 6 hours? ›

Here are some possible explanations:
  • Lean Cut of Meat: The cut of meat you used may have been too lean. ...
  • Insufficient Cooking Time: Six hours may not have been enough time to fully tenderize the meat. ...
  • Low Crock Pot Temperature: The temperature of your crock pot may have been too low.
Jan 19, 2024

Does roast beef get tougher the longer you cook it? ›

High temperatures cause the meat fibres to contract, thus squeezing moisture out of the meat. So, the best way to avoid tough, dry, chewy roast beef is to watch the cooking temperature. Why does meat become tougher the longer it is cooked? Because after a point you have eliminated all moisture.

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