Paleo Pot Roast Slow Cooker Recipe - My Natural Family (2024)

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I always use the same easy Paleo crock pot roast recipe because it is easy and delicious! I am a big fan of using my crock pot and it’s also a pretty inexpensive meal if you get your meat on sale. I got my roast for under $11 and will use it for 2 meals. I think that is a pretty good deal for a family of 4!

Paleo Pot Roast Slow Cooker Recipe - My Natural Family (1)

I say to use a 2-3 pound chuck roast, but you can use a butt roast also. A 2-3 lb roast will probably get you8-12 servingsand I always have too much so I always cut my roast in half and freeze the other half. This works best for us, but I included ingredients to use for a full roast.

The gravy is really easy to make and you can easily make a gluten-free pot roast by using a gluten-free flour * or "Clean" by using whole wheat flour, spelt flour * or einkorn flour *. To make this Paleo, just use turnips instead of white potatoes and tapioca flour * or arrowroot starch * for the gravy.

It is the middle of December and here in Utah where we live it is normally very cold and snowy. There is usually so much snow all the time for months on and on. Well, it has only snowed twice this year and the amount of snow was very small compared to a normal Utah snow. I mean it hasn't snowed enough to send the kiddos out to build a snowman (which they have been wanting to build Olaf) or throw snowballs and just play in the snow!

As Christmas gets closer we are all hoping it will start to snow! I don't know about you guys and depending on where you live, it doesn't really feel like the holiday season until there is snow everywhere!

Not only has there not been any snow but it has been abnormally warm! I have been walking around in sandals and no jacket! This unheard of in December here in Utah! Where do you live? What is your winter normally like? Has it been snowing where you are? Comment below!

Don't get me wrong. I love my mom so much and she was really good at getting dinner on the table every night and they were mostly good home-cooked meals. But several of the meals were far from Clean.

I think she used cream of something soup several times a week. (I can't even stand to smell the stuff now). One of the things she did her best with was roast. But I HATED it. My dad loved it and my mom would make it for Sunday dinner a lot like it was some special dinner.

But it was soooo dry. I think half the problem was probably the cut and quality of the meat, but I know part of it was because she cooked it dry in the oven. I must confess though that part of the problem was the potatoes. I never met a potato I liked. There are a few ways I can tolerate a potato.

My grandma made me new potatoes with fresh peas and carrots and white gravy and I remember liking those. Some scalloped potatoes are ok and every once in a long while I used to like potato chips. Anyway, the fact that it was a dry roast along with potatoes didn't help anything.

When I was growing up, crockpots were not even close to the crock pots they make today. They took forever to cook anything and they were just not the same. So my Mom never used one. The crockpot is the best way by far to cook a roast that I know of.

It comes out moist, tender and juicy when you use my recipe. I didn't always put a beef stock on my roast, but once I tried it, I won't ever go back. It makes it so tender and juicy and not dry. It's like you can eat it with a spoon. So good. . .

Tips and Tricks

This recipe is extremely easy and the gravy is delicious because you use the drippings that have been cooking all day with the roast in the crockpot. This recipe is totally customizable too. I used russet potatoes, but it is also good with any kind of potato, like red, sweet, fingerling, etc. or you can mix it up and use something like parsnips to make it Paleo. Cut the vegetables in big chunks to keep them from getting super mushy.

And I really do recommend you try the gravy. You can either do it like the recipe shows below or put equal parts fat and flour in a saucepan and stir until it's melted and the flour is incorporated into the fat. Then slowly add a little broth at a time until it's the desired consistency. I have the best luck with this method to prevent clumps. (Use gluten-free flour, if necessary)

How to store this after it is cooked

I often have lots of leftovers of roast and used to wonder how to best store it - but not anymore! I usually put enough for one meal in the refrigerator or what I know we will eat in three days. Then I freeze the rest.

I find it best to freeze each thing individually - so I will freeze just the roast in individual 8-ounce freezer containers *, just the potatoes, and so on. That way I can heat them up for different lengths of time, different people can choose different serving sizes or not choose certain items, etc. I find that if I freeze it on the day I make it and reheat it in the microwave the roast tastes almost as good as the day it was made.

The potatoes and carrots don't fare quite as well - but if nothing else, they can be used as ingredients in other dishes like an upcoming beef stew so they aren't wasted. I also tend to make more roast than I know we will eat on purpose so we will have plenty of leftover roast in the freezer because I know my children will devour it, but try to cook just enough vegetables for one or two meals.

When you try this recipe let me know how you liked it. I hope you enjoy this dinner that is great to make in the morning and it will be ready for dinner time! Just throw it in the crockpot and do whatever you want all day!

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Recipe

Paleo Pot Roast Slow Cooker Recipe - My Natural Family (2)

Beef Roast Crock Pot Recipe

★★★★★5 from 57 reviews

  • Author: Rebecca Baron
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 330 minutes
  • Total Time: 315 minutes
  • Yield: 12 servings 1x
  • Category: Main Course
  • Method: Slow Cooker
  • Cuisine: Paleo
  • Diet: Gluten Free
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Description

This is a simple meal; it is simply a chuck roast with potatoes and carrots with a sauce over it.

Ingredients

Scale

  • 3 lbs Chuck Roast
  • 5 Potatoes (cut into chunks (parsnips for Paleo)
  • 1 Onion (cut into chunks)
  • 4 Carrots (cut into chunks)
  • 2 cups Beef Stock or broth
  • 2 cups Water
  • ½ tsp Garlic Powder
  • ½ tsp Onion Powder
  • ½ tsp Italian Seasoning
  • ¼ tsp Real Salt *
  • ¼ tsp Pepper

Instructions

  1. Prep: Cut all of the potatoes and onions into large chunks. Using large chunks (about 2 inches square) helps to make sure they don’t turn to mush in the slow cooker.
  2. Add Ingredients: Add the roast to the crockpot, then the rest of the ingredients. The roast should be covered in liquid so, if necessary, add water until it is covered.
  3. Cooking: Depending on your slow cooker and how fast it cooks will depend on the time. Mine is pretty hot so it took about 5 hours on high/10 hours on low. You will know it is done when you put a fork in it and it just falls apart.
  4. Serving: Once it is done remove the roast, potatoes, onions, and carrots and enjoy.
  5. Gravy: You can use the juice over your roast or you can make a gravy by putting it on the stove and bringing it to a boil while whisking in arrowroot starch * or cornstarch to the desired texture.

Notes

  • The cooking time varies greatly depending on the cut of meat, the quality of meat, the size of the roast, the brand of the slow cooker, how dry you like your meat, etc.
  • I often leave mine on high for up to 8 hours. But I also generally buy roast when it's on a good sale and stock up and freeze it and I buy grass-fed or other high-quality meat and it doesn't get nearly as tough and has more fat and it takes longer to break down.
  • So, of course, a frozen solid roast is going to take quite a while just to unthaw. But it's a good way to save money and afford higher-quality cuts of meat.
  • My slow cooker is also on the older side and I've heard that newer slow cookers cook at a higher temperature than old ones.
  • Check the roast an hour or so before the suggested cooking time and see if it's done to your liking earlier.

Keywords: Simple, Healthy

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Paleo Pot Roast Slow Cooker Recipe - My Natural Family (2024)

FAQs

Why is my pot roast 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!

Should pot roast be covered in liquid in crock pot? ›

Traditionally, this means the meat is partially covered in liquid and cooked for hours until it becomes juicy and tender. In this case, the steam from the slow cooker creates moisture for the meat to braise in.

Do you have to brown pot roast before slow cooker? ›

1. Browning Is Better. Slow cooker recipes don't always instruct you to brown meat before adding it to the pot, but there are some advantages to doing so. If you sear meat to a crusty brown with a little oil in a hot skillet, the meat develops more complex flavors and improves the dish.

Can you overcook pot roast in a slow cooker? ›

Is it possible to overcook a roast or other dishes in a crock pot on low heat for several hours? - Quora. Yes, it is possible to overcook a roast or other dishes in a crockpot, even when using the low heat setting for an extended period.

Is it better to cook a roast on high or low in a crock pot? ›

PRO TIP: It's better to cook pot roast on the low setting rather than the high setting when it comes to pot roast. Your meat will be tender and delicious every time.

Does meat get more tender the longer it cooks in a slow cooker? ›

Your meat will be juicier and more tender

The longer cooking time and the low heat complement each other perfectly. As a result, even though the meat is cooked for far longer, it doesn't dry out because the temperature is low. As a result, this is the best way to retain all the natural juices of the meat.

Do potatoes go on top or bottom of meat in Crock Pot? ›

Place firm, slow-cooking root vegetables like potatoes and carrots at the bottom of the crock and pile the meat on top. Set the heat level: A general rule of thumb is that cooking on the low setting (170 degrees F for most models) takes about twice as long as cooking on high (280 degrees F on most models).

When should I add my potatoes to Crock Pot roast? ›

During the last 45 minutes of cooking, turn the slow cooker temperature to High and add carrots and potatoes submerging them in the cooking liquid as much as possible. Continue to cook until vegetables are tender, about 30-40 minutes.

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.

Should meat or vegetables go in crockpot first? ›

The USDA notes that vegetables take longer to cook in a crock-pot than meat does, so they suggest adding your veggies to the pot first. This is useful if you're worried about about dense vegetables like potatoes or carrots not coming out as tender as the meat in your recipe.

Why do you put flour on a roast? ›

Liberally seasoning your meat is a must. Place your meat in a zip top bag with flour, salt and pepper and shake to coat. The flour will create a crust on the top of the meat when you sear it and thicken the juices for a nice gravy-like consistency.

Do I need to cook onions before putting in slow cooker? ›

It can be nice to cook the onions beforehand, as the flavour is different to when you put them in raw, but experiment both ways as you may find you prefer one. It can also be good to brown meat to give it some colour, but again, this is not essential.

Is 4 hours on high the same as 8 hours on low in a slow cooker? ›

The difference between "High" and "Low" on slow cookers seems to differ with every brand and model. One thing that is consistent, though, is that food takes seven to eight hours to reach a simmer point (around 210°) on low; versus three to four hours on high.

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

Why is my roast still tough after 7 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.

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

How to make a tough pot roast tender? ›

Cook it low and slow with some liquid.

When it comes right down to it, it's the time spent simmering in that liquid that really matters. Simmering helps break down the connective tissue. Connective tissue breaks down to collagen. Collagen tenderizes, and adds flavor and juiciness to the roast.

How do you salvage a tough pot roast? ›

You may need some sweetness and acidity to bring up the tough meat. Simmer in liquid. Just like for burnt meat, if your meat gets tough and dry then you can simmer it in a little bit of broth for a couple minutes. Don't allow it to overcook again but just allow the liquid to penetrate the meat.

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