Grandma’s Sunday Oven Pot Roast

Nothing beats this recipe for a flavorful, fork-tender recipe that is in the oven in 15 minutes with pantry ingredients and a bottle of red wine.

I’ve included an adaptation for this recipe to go in your slow-cooker! It couldn’t be any easier.

If you love roast don’t miss my Slow Cooker Shredded Pork Roast for a Crowdthat is srsly the best ever, or Pot Roast with Onion Soup Mix Recipe: Slow Cooker / Crock Pot which is as easy as can be and perfect for roast newbies.

Enjoying a Pot Roast after a Sunday church service has been a staple in American homes since the tradition was brought over by British and Irish immigrants in the late 18th century. The meal was traditionally started in the oven before church, ensuring it would be ready by the time the family got home. Over time, the oven was replaced by the modern crock pot (don’t worry, I’ve included the adaption to this recipe for cooking in the slow cooker), but that is no replacement for a pot roast made “the old-fashioned way”.

This Pot Roast is a great stand-in for Grandma’s secret recipe and is sure to bring a kick of nostalgia when enjoyed on a relaxing Sunday afternoon.Cooking a Pot Roast in the oven may seem difficult, but it is a very simple process that only requires a little time in the oven. Since this Pot Roast does not require any active management, it is the perfect recipe to start before you spend the day picking up the house, playing with the kids, or watching a movie.

Looking for easy Sunday Family Meal recipes? They are a favorite around here. Here are some favorites:

• Ground Beef Wellingtons
• Guinness Beef Roast -perfect every time!
• the simplest CRISPY SKIN Baked Chicken Legs Drumsticks
• Homestyle Meat Pie
• Authentic Swedish Meatballs recipe
• and many more Family Meals perfect for Sunday dinners.

One of the best things about a Pot Roast is that it tastes even better with cheaper cuts of meat. The long and slow cooking methods allow for all of that tough connective tissue to break down into a tender meal with velvety smooth drippings.

Equipment used for this Oven Pot Roast:

• Dutch Oven or Cast Iron pan. You need a dutch oven or equally thick pan that can transfer from the stove to the oven. The thickness of a dutch oven is ideal for consistent cooking of the meat and to keep hot spots from forming below the roast.

Key ingredients:

• Red Wine. Red wine is both alcoholic and acidic, both of which assist with tenderizing the meat. The brighter acidity also helps to balance out all of the fatty richness from the roast. Plus you get a great excuse to drink the bottle of wine that you have been meaning to open.
• Beef Roast. Using a fatty piece of beef ensures that the roast is never tough or dry. Cheaper cuts of meat often contain more connective tissue, which will slowly break down, which thickens the drippings into a luscious broth. While I used an arm roast, you can use any fatty or cartilaginous cut of beef. Regardless of the cut of beef you choose, you will need about 3 pounds for this recipe.
• Russet Potatoes. You are welcome to use any number of potato varieties for this recipe, but the extra starch in a Russet is the perfect match for this rich and savory roast.
• Veggies. Traditional veggies for a red wine pot roast are potatoes, celery, carrots, and onion but this recipe shines with any root vegetable. Rutabagas, Turnips, and even Sweet Potatoes make excellent additions to this already wonderful recipe. If you choose to add more veggies, add some extra beef broth or water to help prevent the roast from drying out when the vegetables absorb moisture.

To Make (for slow-cooker method check the recipe notes):

• Season the roast well with seasoning salt. Add roast to hot dutch oven pan and sear on both sides.
• Remove the roast from pan and add onions and garlic. Saute until garlic is fragrant and browned.
• Place the roast back into the pan.
• Add the red wine to the pot.
• Cover pan and bake for half the cooking time.
• Remove pan from oven and add veggies and pour broth over the meat.
• Cover and bake for another 1-1.5 hours or until vegetables are tender and meat is cooked.

Tips for the easy Oven Pot Roast :

• How do I avoid having soggy vegetables?Don’t add the veggies at the same time as the Beef! Cooking the beef for about an hour and a half before adding the vegetables will ensure that everything is cooked to perfection, with no soggy veggies.
• Do you cover a beef roast in the oven?There are a couple thoughts on this, but generally it depends on the type of roast. For this traditional Pot Roast, it is necessary to cover it in order to allow the heat and steam to work their magic tenderizing the roast. I have cooked a roast uncovered before, and it can turn out delicious if you are diligent in basting the roast often. You can also add a round cut piece of parchment paper between the dutch oven and it’s lid in order to help create an even better seal.
• How long do you cook a beef roast in the oven?For a 325°F oven, you should plan on roughly an hour per pound of beef. This means that a 3 pound roast will take 3 hours, and a 5 pound roast will take closer to 5 hours.

Store/Freeze:

• In the unlikely event that you have leftovers, they can be stored in the refrigerator for around 3 days and used in any number of dishes from a Breakfast Hash to a Sandwich, or even in Soup!
• This recipe freezes beautifully. I recommend freezing the meat in a separate container from the veggies. Cut the meat into the size you’ll want it for future use prior to freezing it.