Scratch Cooking: Slow Cooker Chuck Roast Three Ways

I learned this very simple method of preparing inexpensive beef chuck roasts years ago and have embroidered on it since!

Basic Beef Pot Roast with Vegetables

• 2-3 lbs.  beef chuck roast trimmed of visible fat (dredged in a little flour salt and pepper and browned in a couple tablespoons of vegetable oil—or not—your choice)
• 1 envelope dry soup mix (Lipton, Knorr, or store brand onion, leek, or vegetable) or you can make your own by combining 2 tablespoons of beef broth powder with 3 tablespoons dried vegetables or minced dried onions.
• I medium onion sliced and separated into rings
• Three medium carrots and potatoes cut into equal-size pieces.

Place the onion rings in the bottom of a medium sized slow cooker and top with meat and sprinkle all with dry soup mix. Top with carrots and potatoes. Put lid on pot and cook on low for 6-8 hours. When done, meat falling apart and vegetables soft.  Remove meat, potatoes, and carrots and keep warm. Use one of the methods of making gravy from my December 16 blog “Scratch Cooking: Good Gravy.”

Beef Burrito Filling

Follow each of the steps for making pot roast except add

• 1 tablespoon of chili powder
•  ½ teaspoon ground cumin
• ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 small can of chopped green chilies or sliced Jalepeños
•  If you like some heat and a smoky flavor, add a few chopped ancho chiles in adobo sauce.
• Omit the carrots and potatoes.

Remove meat from crock pot and chop or shred with a couple of forks, removing any bone, gristle, or visible fat. Return shredded/chopped meat to slow cooker and mix with juices and soft vegetables. Serve with warm tortillas with sides of sour cream, salsa, shredded lettuce, and diced fresh tomatoes.

 Italian Beef Sandwich Filling

Follow each of the steps for making pot roast except add

•  ½ to ¾ cup chopped green bell pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 and ½ teaspoons dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried basil

Omit the carrots and potatoes.

Remove meat from crock pot and chop or shred with a couple of forks, removing any bone, gristle, or visible fat. Return shredded/chopped meat to slow cooker and mix with juices and soft vegetables. Serve on hamburger buns or dinner rolls and topped with chopped yellow peperoncini peppers.

These are all excellent recipes for a quick meal when you get home from a busy day. The pot roast is a one-pot meal; just set the table. Serve the burritos with rice and refried beans. The Italian beef only requires a green salad to a make a balanced meal. Enjoy! Begonia

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Beef Burrito Filling

Italian Beef

Beef Roast

The gravy was made in the slow cooker after the meat was finished and removed from the pot. (See my Dec. 16, Good Gravy blog.) I haven't shown the vegetables here. You'll just have to use your imagination!