Description
A comforting French Onion-inspired pot roast made with tender chuck roast, caramelized onions, beef broth, flavorful meal.
Ingredients
3–4 lb chuck roast
Salt and freshly cracked black pepper
2 tbsp olive oil
3–4 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves (or 1 tsp dried)
4 cups low-sodium beef broth
1 cup beef broth with 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar (adds depth and acidity without alcohol)
2 bay leaves
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tbsp Dijon mustard
Optional: 2 tbsp cornstarch + 2 tbsp cold water (for thickening)
Optional garnishes: fresh parsley, toasted bread, grated Gruyere or provolone cheese
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 300°F (150°C).
2. Pat chuck roast dry, season with salt and pepper.
3. Heat olive oil in a Dutch oven and sear roast on all sides, 3-4 minutes per side. Remove and set aside.
4. Add sliced onions to pot and cook over medium-low heat until caramelized, 15-20 minutes.
5. Stir in garlic and thyme, cook 1 minute.
6. Deglaze: Now for the fun part! Pour in the beef broth mixed with balsamic vinegar, scraping up any delicious browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Let it simmer for 2-3 minutes to infuse the flavors.
7. Add beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, and bay leaves. Simmer gently.
8. Return roast to pot, submerging in liquid. Cover and transfer to oven.
9. Cook 3-4 hours until roast is fork-tender.
10. Remove roast and let rest 10-15 minutes. Skim fat from sauce.
11. Optional: whisk cornstarch with cold water, stir into simmering sauce to thicken.
12. Slice or shred roast, serve with onion gravy and garnishes.
Notes
For more flavor, add 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar .
Sauté mushrooms with the onions for extra depth.
Add carrots or celery during the last hour of cooking.
Serve with mashed potatoes, egg noodles, or polenta to soak up the gravy.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Oven-braised
- Cuisine: French-American
Keywords: pot roast, French onion, beef, comfort food, slow cooked