Crock Pot Cranberry Pot Roast – Tender chuck roast meets the irresistible tang of cranberry sauce, au jus, chili sauce, and beef broth, creating a savory-sweet symphony of flavors. Let your slow cooker work its magic while you savor the anticipation of a mouthwatering meal that’s perfect for any occasion. It’s comfort food at its finest, and the perfect recipe to impress your family and friends.
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This Slow Cooker Cranberry Pot Roast is a mouthwatering delight that blends the savory and slightly tangy notes of cranberry sauce with the rich, tender goodness of a chuck roast. As it simmers in your slow cooker, the chuck roast becomes incredibly tender, practically melting in your mouth with each forkful. The cranberry sauce adds a touch of fruity sweetness that beautifully complements the savory flavors. Au jus and beef broth deepen the richness of the sauce, creating a luscious gravy that drapes over the roast and infuses every bite with flavor. This dish is a culinary masterpiece, perfect for a hearty family dinner, a special occasion or a holiday meal. It’s comfort food at its finest!
How to Make Slow Cooker Cranberry Pot Roast
This roast is effortless to make in the slow cooker with only a few simple ingredients. Season a beef chuck roast with garlic salt, onion powder, and black pepper. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add roast and sear on all sides. Place roast in a crock pot. Whisk together au jus gravy mix, chili sauce, cranberry sauce, and beef broth in a medium bowl. Pour the sauce mixture over the roast. Cover the crockpot and cook on LOW heat until the beef roast is fall apart tender. Use two forks to break the roast into chunks. Garnish with fresh whole cranberries and sprigs of fresh thyme.
Helpful Tips & Frequently Asked Questions
- What kind of beef roast do you use for pot roast? The most popular cut to use is a Chuck roast. You can also use brisket or round roast.
- Do I need to pan-sear the meat before adding it to the slow cooker? Searing or browning the meat is not necessary. To brown the roast, heat vegetable oil or olive oil in a large skillet. Sear the roast for a few minutes on each side. Place meat in the crockpot. Use a little beef broth to deglaze the skillet and scrape up the brown bits from the pan and add to the slow cooker. Those browned bits are flavor gold!
- Does pot roast get more tender the longer it cooks? Yes! Chuck roast, brisket, or round roast all contain connective tissues that will slowly break down into rich collagen as they cook in the crockpot. Collagen takes time to break down. Using the slow cooker method to cook pot roast results in a tender, melt-in-your-mouth, fall-apart beef.
- I use Heinz Chili Sauce. Look for it near the ketchup at the grocery store.
- Do not make the gravy. You are only using the dry mix.
- Feel free to add your favorite vegetables to the slow cooker:
- onions
- mushrooms
- potatoes
- carrots
- garlic cloves
- Can I make Cranberry Pot Roast on the stovetop? Yes. Sear the roast in a Dutch Oven. Add the remaining ingredients, scraping up any browned bit from the bottom of the pot. Bring to a boil. Reduce to medium heat and simmer until the roast is tender, about 3 hours.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
- Reheat in the microwave.
What to Serve with Cranberry Pot Roast
When serving this pot roast, the possibilities are endless. First up, creamy mashed potatoes are a classic choice, their smooth texture providing a delightful contrast to the tender roast and rich gravy. This is equally delicious served over egg noodles or hot rice.
Roasted or steamed vegetables, such as green beans or carrots, add freshness and a pop of color to the plate. A crisp garden salad with homemade dressing can provide a refreshing balance to the richness of the roast. Don’t forget the warm dinner rolls or crusty bread. They are perfect for sopping up the flavorful gravy. Whether you’re serving cranberry pot roast for a holiday feast or a cozy family dinner, these side dishes will complete the meal and leave everyone at the table satisfied and smiling.
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Cranberry Pot Roast
Ingredients:
- 1 (3 to 4-lb) chuck roast
- ½ tsp garlic salt
- ¼ tsp onion powder
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 1 (14-oz) can whole cranberry sauce
- 1 cup chili sauce
- 1 (1-oz) envelope Au Jus mix
- ½ cup beef broth
Instructions:
- Season roast with garlic salt, onion powder, and pepper.
- Heat oil in a large skillet. Sear roast on all sides. Place roast in the crock pot.
- Whisk together cranberry sauce, chili sauce, au jus gravy mix, and beef broth. Pour sauce over roast.
- Cook on low for 8-10 hours, or high for 4-5 hours.
Notes:
- What kind of beef roast do you use for pot roast? The most popular cut to use is a Chuck roast. You can also use brisket or round roast.
- Do I need to pan-sear the meat before adding it to the slow cooker? Searing or browning the meat is not necessary. To brown the roast, heat vegetable oil or olive oil in a large skillet. Sear the roast for a few minutes on each side. Place meat in the crockpot. Use a little beef broth to deglaze the skillet and scrape up the brown bits from the pan and add to the slow cooker. Those browned bits are flavor gold!
- Does pot roast get more tender the longer it cooks? Yes! Chuck roast, brisket, or round roast all contain connective tissues that will slowly break down into rich collagen as they cook in the crockpot. Collagen takes time to break down. Using the slow cooker method to cook pot roast results in a tender, melt-in-your-mouth, fall-apart beef.
- I use Heinz Chili Sauce. Look for it near the ketchup at the grocery store.
- Do not make the gravy. You are only using the dry mix.
- Feel free to add your favorite vegetables to the slow cooker:
- onions
- mushrooms
- potatoes
- carrots
- garlic cloves
- green peas
- Can I make Cranberry Pot Roast on the stovetop? Yes. Sear the roast in a Dutch Oven. Add the remaining ingredients, scraping up any browned bit from the bottom of the pot. Bring to a boil. Reduce to medium heat and simmer until the roast is tender, about 3 hours.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
- Reheat in the microwave.
Steph
Remember this recipe.
Pin this recipe to your favorite board now to remember it later!
Pin This Recipe
From the picture, it looks like you’ve added thyme and whole cranberries. Is this just garnish or did you add these late in the cooking process?
garnish