slow cooker beef roast

Here’s a simple recipe for slow cooker beef roast:

Ingredients:

• 3-4 pounds beef chuck roast
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 onions, sliced
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 carrots, peeled and chopped
• 2 stalks celery, chopped
• 1 cup beef broth
• 1/2 cup red wine (optional)
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
• 2 teaspoons dried thyme
• 2 teaspoons dried rosemary
• 2 bay leaves
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch (optional, for thickening gravy)
• 2 tablespoons water (optional, for cornstarch slurry)

Instructions:

1. Season the beef roast generously with salt and pepper on all sides.
2. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the beef roast on all sides until browned, about 3-4 minutes per side. This step helps to seal in the juices and adds flavor to the roast.
3. Place the sliced onions, minced garlic, chopped carrots, and celery in the bottom of the slow cooker.
4. Transfer the seared beef roast to the slow cooker and place it on top of the vegetables.
5. In a mixing bowl, whisk together the beef broth, red wine (if using), tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, dried thyme, dried rosemary, and bay leaves. Pour this mixture over the beef roast and vegetables in the slow cooker.
6. Cover the slow cooker and cook the beef roast on low heat for 8-10 hours, or on high heat for 4-6 hours, until the meat is tender and falls apart easily with a fork.
7. Once the beef roast is cooked, carefully remove it from the slow cooker and transfer it to a serving platter. Cover the roast loosely with foil and let it rest for 10-15 minutes before slicing.
8. While the roast is resting, you can optionally thicken the gravy. In a small bowl, mix together the cornstarch and water to create a slurry. Stir the slurry into the hot liquid in the slow cooker and cook on high heat for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until the gravy has thickened to your desired consistency.
9. Slice the beef roast against the grain into thick slices and serve with the vegetables and gravy from the slow cooker.

Enjoy this tender and flavorful slow cooker beef roast as a hearty and comforting meal, perfect for any occasion!