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    Home » What We're Eating » Balsamic Slow Cooker Roast Beef

    Balsamic Slow Cooker Roast Beef

    Published: Nov 19, 2018 by Blair Lonergan

    Jump to Recipe
    Long collage of easy moist slow cooker roast beef recipe
    Easy Slow Cooker Roast Beef on a cutting board with text overlay

    Looking for an easy chuck roast recipe? This Balsamic Slow Cooker Roast Beef only requires about 5 minutes of hands-on time, and then the Crock Pot does the work!

    Tender and moist slow cooker roast beef sliced on a cutting board

    This moist slow cooker roast beef is a versatile, family-friendly dinner that you can serve year-round. For a cozy winter night, try adding a side of Make-Ahead Garlic Mashed Potatoes or a 3-Ingredient Cheesy Potato Casserole. In the summer, my boys love this tender meat piled high on sandwich buns with German Potato Salad or chips on the side.

    No matter how you serve it or what the weather's like outside, this easy slow cooker roast beef recipe is sure to become a staple at your family's table. It just makes everyone happy!

    Slow Cooker Roast Beef Sandwich on a white plate

    HOW TO MAKE THE BEST SLOW COOKER ROAST BEEF:

    The slow cooker was made for chuck roast recipes! It's a cut of beef that does well with the low-and-slow method, so you can turn on the Crock Pot at the beginning of the day and come home to moist, tender, juicy roast beef in time for supper. It's so darn easy!

    First, season the chuck roast liberally with salt and pepper on both sides. Don't be shy -- a large piece of meat needs a lot of seasoning.

    Do you have to brown a roast before putting it in the Crock Pot?

    No, you don't! I know that a lot of home cooks are busy and rushing out the door in the morning. You need meals that you can literally just dump-and-go!

    This chuck roast for this slow cooker roast beef does NOT need to be browned in a skillet before you place it in the slow cooker. That said, browning the roast first is an added bonus!

    If you have the time, that extra step will add some nice color and flavor to the dish. But again -- it's certainly not necessary. You choose!

    Raw chuck roast in a slow cooker

    Next, let's make the delicious sweet-tangy-savory Balsamic Sauce that will marinate and flavor your roast beef all day while it cooks.

    This sauce requires just a handful of pantry staples that can be whisked together in about 3 minutes: beef broth, balsamic vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, honey, and garlic. YUM.

    I'm telling you -- there is no boring roast beef allowed around here...

    Balsamic sauce for slow cooker roast beef

    How long do you have to cook roast beef in a slow cooker?

    As I mentioned, the chuck roast does well cooked on low for a long period of time. I recommend at least 6-8 hours on the LOW Crock Pot setting. If you want it done sooner, you can cook the roast beef on HIGH for about 3-4 hours.

    The end result is this moist slow cooker roast beef that practically falls apart with a fork. You can slice it, shred it, or pull it -- however you like it best!

    Balsamic Slow Cooker Roast Beef on a cutting board

    Return the meat to the pot to stay warm, baste it with the balsamic sauce, or pile it on top of a roll. Remember -- Slow Cooker Roast Beef Sandwiches are a delicious option!

    Slow Cooker Roast Beef Sandwich with melted Swiss cheese, lettuce and tomato

    Serving Suggestions:

    • Enjoy the roast beef with mashed potatoes, rice, egg noodles, oven-roasted potatoes or vegetables, salad, or potato salad.
    • Make roast beef sandwiches by serving the meat on buns with mayonnaise, lettuce, tomato, and melted Swiss cheese.
    • Use shredded roast beef in tacos or tucked inside Steak and Cheese Quesadillas.
    • Have the shredded beef on top of a salad with plenty of fresh vegetables and your favorite dressing.
    • Turn it into brunch! Steak and eggs are delicious with toasted thick, crusty bread.

    Looking for other easy chuck roast recipes? Try these favorites:

    • Amish Chuck Roast Recipe (for the slow cooker, Instant Pot, or oven)
    • Classic Pot Roast (for the slow cooker or oven)
    • Slow Cooker Italian Pot Roast
    Print Pin
    5 from 5 votes

    Balsamic Slow Cooker Roast Beef

    Looking for an easy chuck roast recipe? This Balsamic Slow Cooker Roast Beef only requires about 5 minutes of hands-on time, and then the Crock Pot does the work!
    Course Dinner
    Cuisine American
    Keyword chuck roast recipe, slow cooker pot roast, slow cooker roast beef
    Prep Time 5 minutes
    Cook Time 8 hours
    Total Time 8 hours 5 minutes
    Servings 8 people
    Calories 189kcal
    Author Blair Lonergan

    Ingredients

    • 1 ½ - 2 lb. boneless chuck roast
    • 1 cup beef broth
    • ½ cup balsamic vinegar
    • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
    • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
    • 2 tablespoons honey
    • 3 teaspoons minced garlic

    Instructions

    • Season both sides of the chuck roast liberally with salt and pepper.
    • Place roast directly into the slow cooker; OR you can brown the roast in a skillet for added color and flavor before it goes into the slow cooker. If you choose to brown the roast first, heat about 2 T olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add roast to the hot oil and sear until dark brown on each side (about 2-5 minutes per side). Then transfer the roast to the slow cooker.
    • In a 2-cup measuring cup, mix together all remaining ingredients. Pour over beef.
    • Cook on LOW for 6-8 hours, or on HIGH for 3-4 hours.
    • Remove beef from slow cooker and place on cutting board. Slice against the grain, or use two forks to pull apart beef. Return meat to slow cooker and toss with sauce in the pot.
    • Spoon meat and sauce onto sandwich rolls, serve over mashed potatoes, or just enjoy on a plate with your favorite roasted vegetables!

    Notes

    Have leftovers? This beef freezes well! To reheat, thaw beef and sauce in the refrigerator overnight. Place the meat and sauce in a saucepan and simmer over low heat until warm.
    Serving Suggestions:
    • Enjoy the roast beef with mashed potatoes, rice, egg noodles, oven-roasted potatoes or vegetables, salad, or potato salad.
    • Make roast beef sandwiches by serving the meat on buns with mayonnaise, lettuce, tomato, and melted Swiss cheese.
    • Use shredded roast beef in tacos or tucked inside Steak and Cheese Quesadillas.
    • Have the shredded beef on top of a salad with plenty of fresh vegetables and your favorite dressing.
    • Turn it into brunch! Steak and eggs are delicious with toasted thick, crusty bread.
     

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1/8 of the beef and sauce | Calories: 189kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 58mg | Sodium: 331mg | Potassium: 342mg | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 10IU | Vitamin C: 0.7mg | Calcium: 25mg | Iron: 2.1mg

    This post was originally published in June, 2014. It was updated in November, 2018.

    Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. I may earn a small commission for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial, and/or link to any products or services from this website.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Norma

      September 30, 2018 at 2:05 pm

      5 stars
      Blair, this is such an easy and quick to prep meal! I love that all the ingredients are always in my pantry. The flavors are really delicious and unique! I added some flour to thicken up the sauce just a bit. I decided to try the slow cook function on my Instant Pot and loved how it seems to give me better control over the cooking temperature over my crock style slow cooker. Thanks for a yummy, easy and inexpensive recipe!

      Reply
      • Blair

        September 30, 2018 at 3:31 pm

        Thank you SO much, Norma! I need to use my Instant Pot's slow cooker function next time. That's a great suggestion!

        Reply
    2. Jana

      April 21, 2019 at 11:52 am

      5 stars
      Delicious, family loved it, even better next day!

      Reply
      • Blair

        April 21, 2019 at 3:58 pm

        Wonderful! Thanks, Jana!

        Reply
        • Willie Kitching

          December 14, 2021 at 8:49 am

          Can I put potatoes, carrots and onions in with the roast? Thanks

          Reply
          • Blair Lonergan

            December 14, 2021 at 9:42 am

            Hi, Willie! Absolutely! 🙂

            Reply
    3. Debra

      August 18, 2019 at 11:35 am

      Can this recipe be done in an IP? Does it require any changes?

      Reply
      • Blair

        August 18, 2019 at 12:23 pm

        Yes! It should work really well in the Instant Pot, Debra! I have never tested this exact recipe, but I've made other pot roast recipes in the pressure cooker and they work really well. Depending on the size of your roast, it will need to cook on high pressure for 60-80 minutes. I normally do 70 minutes for this smaller size roast, but if you're using a 3 or 4 lb roast, you will probably want to increase the time to 80 minutes. Do a natural release for 10 minutes, and then quick release. Enjoy!

        Reply
    4. Betty Greeley

      September 25, 2019 at 10:10 am

      If I made a smaller roast what changes should I make?

      Reply
      • Blair

        September 25, 2019 at 10:29 am

        Hi, Betty! This is a small roast at just 1 1/2 - 2 lbs., so you probably won't find one much smaller. That said, if you want to make a roast that's just 1 lb., you probably won't need to change anything. The meat requires the low and slow cooking time to get really nice and tender, so I wouldn't shorten it to less than 6-8 hours on LOW or 3-4 hours on HIGH. Enjoy!

        Reply
    5. Shannon

      October 01, 2019 at 11:14 am

      I have 5 different balsamic vinegars in my pantry ranging from tart to sweet. Any recommendations of the type that you use in this recipe? I’m making this today- can’t wait to try it!

      Reply
      • Blair

        October 01, 2019 at 12:23 pm

        Hi, Shannon! It honestly doesn't matter too much -- I would just go with a high-quality vinegar that you enjoy the most. If you like a slightly sweet taste with your beef, go that route. If you prefer more tart, go with that one. You can't go wrong, so it's really just a matter of personal taste. Enjoy!

        Reply
        • Shannon

          October 13, 2019 at 2:55 am

          Thanks!

          Reply
    6. Shannon

      October 13, 2019 at 2:52 am

      5 stars
      Just wanted to comment that this recipe is fantastic! I made this for a work dinner the other night at my house and needed something that I could make hours ahead, but that would still be a dinner party type dinner. This was perfect! I served this on a platter with mini brioche rolls (from Whole Foods) with arugula, thinly sliced red onions, sliced tomatoes, cheddar cheese and horseradish mayonnaise for a make your own sandwich bar- everyone loved it! Ive since sent this link to several friends and it was so good I’m making it for a party tomorrow. It will stay in heavy rotation on my list!

      Reply
      • Blair

        October 13, 2019 at 5:19 am

        That makes me so happy to hear, Shannon! I'm glad that it's made hosting easier (I agree -- you can't beat the convenience of the slow cooker). Thanks for sharing the recipe with your friends, too! 🙂

        Reply
    7. Leanne

      February 07, 2020 at 9:34 pm

      5 stars
      Delicious and so easy! The flavour is amazing and the roast was super tender. I didn’t brown the roast and the flavour was still fantastic!

      Reply
      • Blair

        February 08, 2020 at 5:17 am

        Thanks, Leanne! So glad that you liked it! 🙂

        Reply
    8. Scott

      April 19, 2020 at 5:09 pm

      5 stars
      This recipe was awesome and easy. I substituted maple syrup for the honey, turned out great.

      Reply
      • Blair

        April 19, 2020 at 6:06 pm

        Thanks, Scott! The maple syrup is a perfect substitute. Glad you enjoyed it, and I appreciate you taking the time to come back here and leave a note!

        Reply
    9. Holly

      October 11, 2020 at 12:32 pm

      I’m going to make this recipe tomorrow. My roast is 3-4 lbs.
      what changes should I make?

      Reply
      • Blair

        October 11, 2020 at 2:50 pm

        Hi, Holly! I would use 1.5 cups of beef broth, double the vinegar, Worcestershire, soy sauce, honey and garlic. That way your meat will have plenty of flavor and seasoning. Cook the meat for 8-10 hours on LOW and it should be perfect!

        Reply
    10. Jai

      February 01, 2021 at 5:21 pm

      Planning to make this tomorrow. Would you recommend making the sauce a head of time and marinating the roast or will sauce penetrate the roast enough in the slow cooker?

      Reply
      • Blair

        February 01, 2021 at 5:31 pm

        Hi, Jai! I would just wait and let it "marinate" as it cooks in the Crock Pot. There's a good amount of acid in that sauce (thanks to all of the vinegar), and marinating meat in an acidic marinade for too long can cause the meat to become mushy when cooked. It should be plenty flavorful after cooking for so long in the sauce in the slow cooker. Hope you enjoy!

        Reply

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