Grandma’s Pot Roast Dinner {with self making gravy}

Mar 24, 2022Updated May 02, 2025

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This easy Grandma’s Pot Roast Dinner features tender beef, hearty carrots, and creamy potatoes — all slow cooked together with a rich gravy that makes itself!

close up of pot roast in gravy in a slow cooker.

Can you really own a slow cooker without making a classic pot roast? I don’t think so! This easy Crockpot Pot Roast is a tried-and-true recipe you’ll come back to again and again — just like Grandma used to make.

It starts with a tender chuck roast and includes all the essentials: potatoes, carrots, onions, and a rich, savory gravy that practically makes itself. Add some warm dinner rolls and butter on the side, and you’ve got the ultimate comfort food dinner. I think this recipe tastes just like grandma would make but with very little effort.

We do love a classic pot roast recipe, if you are looking for something different try my Slow Cooker London Broil, Slow Cooker Coca Cola Pot Roast or Slow Cooker Sauerbraten.

Key Ingredients

This recipe is a breeze to put together. You can find the full recipe with ingredient amounts in the recipe card below.

ingredients for pot roast on table with text overlay

Beef – Chuck Roast has been my favorite for years. The slow cooker makes the chuck roast melt in your mouth tender. If you can’t find a chuck roast my second favorite is a bottom round roast or blade roast, they are not as fatty but the meat shreds very nicely.
The Gravy – Cream of mushroom soup, French Onion soup and cornstarch. This pot roast recipe has a self-making gravy. The canned soups, beef juices along with the cornstarch make a gravy while the roast simmers away. I’ve made this recipe many times and the gravy is always a perfect consistency and makes it self!
Vegetables – You’ll want to use these root vegetables; red potaotes (or russets), carrots and white onion.
Salt and pepper to taste – To season the gravy when ready to serve.

How to make Pot Roast just Like Grandma’s – In 2 easy steps

Step One – Add 2/3 of the vegetables on the bottom of your slow cooker. Add the meat on top. Arrange the remaining vegetables around the roast.

raw pot roast with onions, carrots and potatoes around it in a slow cooker.

Gravy mixture poured over pot roast in a slow cooker.

Step Two – How to make gravy; in a medium sized bowl, add the cream of mushroom soup, french onion soup and cornstarch. Whisk until the cornstarch is dissolved. Pour this gravy mixture over the roast and vegetables. Cook low and slow for 9-10 hours is my preference.

cooked chuck roast in gravy with vegetables.

My Serving Suggestions

This one pot meal is perfect for busy nights, see how I serve it:

Serve directly out of the slow cooker, no need to put on a serving platter. Use tongs to serve the meat and veggies. Add salt and pepper to the gravy to taste.
Ladle the gravy over the meat and veggies once plated.
Place a basket of dinner rolls and a stick of butter on the table for a complete meal. Easy as that!

pot roast with vegetables dinner roll and gravy on a speckled plate.

Featured Comment

“This is one of the best pot roasts I’ve had! It has a really amazing gravy sauce that brings this one over the top! Thank you for this one!”
– Ned

119 More Reviews

pot roast with gravy, potatoes and onions in a slow cooker with wooden spoon in it.

Grandma’s Pot Roast Dinner {with self making gravy}

4.58 from 28 votes

Prep Time: 20

Cook Time: 9

Total Time: 9 20

Servings:

By: Sarah Olson

This classic easy slow cooker pot roast is made with a chuck roast, potatoes, carrots and onion. My recipe also has a self-making gravy!

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How to Video

Equipment

Slow Cooker- 6 quart or larger (I own and use this one from Crock-Pot)

Ingredients

▢ 4 lbs. Beef Chuck roast,
▢ 10.5 ounce can Campbell's cream of mushroom soup (or bacon), do not add water
▢ 10.5 ounce can Campbell's French onion soup, do not add water
▢ 1/4 cup cornstarch
▢ 2 pounds red potatoes (or russets), cut into 2 inch chunks
▢ 4 carrots, peeled and cut into 2 inch chunks (or 1 pound baby carrots)
▢ 1 large white onion, diced
▢ salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Add 2/3 of the vegetables to the bottom of the slow cooker (the potatoes, onions and carrots).
Add the roast on top of those veggies. I do not brown my roast in a skillet, but you can at this point if desired.
Add the remaining vegetables around the pot roast.
Whisk together soups and cornstarch in a medium bowl, pour over roast.
Place the lid on the slow cooker. Cover and cook on LOW for 9-10 hours. Do not open the lid during the cooking time. This can be done on high for 6 hours on high but I recommend low and slow.
When the cooking time is done, I like to degrease the top of the gravy before serving. I do this by taking paper towels and laying over the grease. Pull up quickly and just the grease will be on the paper towel.
Shred or slice the pot roast.
Add salt and pepper to the gravy to taste.
Serve the pot roast with the veggies and drizzle over the gravy. Enjoy!

Sarah’s Notes

Can I add red wine?

If you desire to add red wine to this recipe, add a 1/2 cup. But also add 1 more tablespoon of cornstarch to the soup mixture.

Can I sear my roast before adding it to the slow cooker?

I chose not to brown my chuck roast before adding to the slow cooker for this recipe. This recipe has the caramelized onions in the French onion soup, which adds so much flavor. And I like easy for this recipe. You certainly can sear your roast in a skillet on the stove-top (in olive oil or canola oil) and follow the exact directions of this recipe. This is true for most slow cooker recipes; if you prefer to brown, do what makes you happy!

Can I use something other than French onion soup?

Yes, and I highly suggest you do if you have family members who don’t love onions. Use one can of Campbell’s Beef Consume, beef broth or an additional can of cream of mushroom. You can add a touch of onion powder or garlic powder to make up for the flavor of the French onion soup.

Can I use Lipton Onion Soup Mix?

Yes, use one packet of onion soup mix instead of the French onion soup. Add one cup of water as well.

Why is my roast not tender?

You most likely did not cook long enough, it’s not because you overcooked it. Place the lid back on the slow cooker (and keep it on). And cook for an additional 2 hours or more.

Nutrition

Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.

Made this recipe? Leave a comment below!

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