Slow Cooker Three Envelope Pot Roast - hands down the BEST pot roast EVER! Super easy to make in the crockpot and everyone LOVES it! Chuck roast, salsa, onion soup mix, au jus gravy mix, and Italian dressing mix. Serve the leftovers on sliders with a super delicious Creamy Chipotle Sauce. Leftovers never tasted so good!
Whisk together water, salsa and seasoning packets. Place roast in slow cooker. Pour seasoning mixture over roast.
Cook on low for 8-10 hours, or high for 4-5 hours.
Creamy Chipotle Sauce
Mix together and spread on sliders or use as a dip for wings or chicken fingers.
Notes:
I used a packet of Good Seasons Italian Dressing Mix. Do NOT make the dressing. You are only going to use the contents of the packet in the recipe.
Can substitute brown gravy mix for au jus gravy mix.
Our favorite store-bought salsas are Mateo’s, Kylito’s, Pace Picante Sauce, and Pace Restaurant Style Salsa.
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.
Is this pot roast spicy? We did not think this roast was spicy. If you are worried about the heat, use mild salsa.
To thicken the sauce, add a quick cornstarch slurry. Stir together 1 tablespoon of cornstarch and 2 tablespoons of cold water. Add it to the crockpot and cook on HIGH for a few minutes until the gravy has thickened.
You can freeze leftover pot roast for a quick meal later.
Feel free to add vegetables to the slow cooker – potatoes, carrots, onions, and green peas are good.