Seared chuck roast is slow cooked in savory broth and onion soup mix until fall-apart tender in this Slow Cooker French Onion Pot Roast recipe. An easy comfort food recipe for busy days!
This French onion pot roast is a variation on my classic slow cooker pot roast, swapping the traditional broth mixture for one infused with French onion soup mix. The end result is delightfully melt-in-your-mouth tender and uber flavorful. I love to serve it over mashed potatoes for an easy but hearty dinner.
If you love pot roast, be so check out my Mississippi pot roast recipe too!
Why This French Onion Pot Roast Recipe Is My Favorite
- SO much flavor. This is probably the most flavorful roast recipe I’ve ever tried. The onion soup mix infuses it with so much savory, oniony, beefy flavor. No boring, bland roast in this recipe!
- Set it & forget it. Since this roast needs to cook for a minimum of 8 hours, I find it perfect for those days I won’t have a chance to be in the kitchen during the day. I just sear the beef quickly before I start my day, toss everything in the slow cooker, and come back to dinner ready to go.
- Makes great leftovers. Not only does this recipe make a substantial amount of roast, the leftovers taste amazing! My family often fights over who gets to eat them and there’s no complaining about taking leftovers for lunch.
Recipe Ingredients
Here’s an overview of the ingredients needed for this slow cooker pot roast recipe. Scroll down to the recipe card below for the exact measurements.
- Chuck roast – I used a boneless chuck roast approximately 3.5 pounds. Larger or smaller roasts will need an adjusted cooking time.
- Salt & pepper
- Olive oil – For searing the roast.
- Onions & garlic – Sliced onions and minced garlic add earthy flavor to the roast.
- Beef broth – Use low-sodium if you can find it.
- Dry red wine – Any dry red wine works. No need for an expensive bottle.
- Onion soup mix – You can use a regular onion soup mix packet. I used beefy onion soup mix which I find more flavorful.
- Cornstarch – Thickens the sauce.
- Worcestershire sauce – Adds savory umami flavor.
- Herbs – Minced thyme leaves and bay leaves cook with the roast. I like to top the roast with fresh herbs before serving.
How To Make Slow Cooker French Onion Pot Roast
The hands-on time for this recipe is less than 10 minutes! The printable instructions can be found in the recipe card below.
- Sear the roast. Pat the roast with paper towels. Season with salt and pepper. Heat the oil over medium-high heat. Sear the roast until browned, about 4-6 minutes on each side.
- Add to crockpot. Transfer the seared roast to the crockpot. Top with the garlic and onions.
- Add the liquid. Whisk together the broth, wine, soup mix, cornstarch, Worcestershire sauce, and thyme until the cornstarch and soup mix dissolve. Pour over the roast. Top with bay leaves.
- Cook. Cook for 8-10 hours on low. It’s ready when it easily falls apart using two forks.
- Enjoy. Shred the meat into small chunks. Top with fresh herbs. Enjoy!
Recipe Tips & Variations
Here are a few things to keep in mind when making this French onion pot roast recipe.
- Sear first. Searing the pot roast is worth the extra 10 minutes. It adds so much flavor and really locks in the juices!
- Cook on low. Pot roast is not something I recommend ever cooking on high. It needs to cook low and slow to properly break down. Otherwise, you’ll just end up with a tough piece of beef!
- Try condensed soup. Instead of using the powdered packets of onion soup mix, you can choose to use 1-2 cans of condensed onion soup mix.
- Skip the red wine. If you don’t want to use red wine, you can sub more beef broth or use tart cherry juice. To add some acidity, you can also add 1-2 tablespoons of red wine vinegar.
Serving Suggestions
I typically serve this French onion post roast with a side of mashed potatoes and honey glazed carrots (or green beans). A classic comfort food dinner!
Another option is to add shredded gruyere cheese on top after shredding the roast. Let it melt for a few minutes then serve with sliced French bread. That’s also one of my favorite ways to serve leftovers!
How To Store & Reheat Leftovers
- Fridge. Store leftover French onion pot roast in an airtight container in the fridge. It’s best enjoyed within 3-4 days. Be sure to include any juices from the crockpot to keep it from drying out.
- Reheat. Reheat leftovers on the stovetop over medium heat until heated through. Take care to not overheat and dry out the meat.
Slow Cooker French Onion Pot Roast
Ingredients
- 3.5 pounds boneless chuck roast
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt
- ¾ teaspoon black pepper
- 2-3 Tablespoons olive oil to sear roast
- 4-5 onions sliced
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1 cup dry red wine
- 1 ounce packet beefy onion soup mix
- 3 Tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 2 Tablespoons minced thyme leaves
- 2 bay leaves
- Fresh herbs for topping
Instructions
- Pat the roast dry with paper towels and then season it all over with salt and pepper.
- Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the chuck roast for 4-6 minutes on both sides, until browned. Transfer seared roast to the crockpot.
- Top the roast with the sliced onions and minced garlic.
- In a large bowl, combine the beef broth, wine, beefy onion soup mix, cornstarch, Worcestershire sauce, and minced thyme leaves. Whisk well until cornstarch and onion soup mix is dissolved. Pour liquid over the roast and then top with bay leaves.
- Cover and cook for 8-10 hours on low, until fall-apart tender.
- Shred meat into smaller chunks and top with fresh herbs.
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