Slow Cooker Jack Daniel’s Pot Roast


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Whiskey and your crockpot transform the average beef roast into an unforgettable meal in this Jack Daniel’s Pot Roast. Forget beer, whiskey is a game changer in flavor.

Don’t just stop with this drunken pot roast recipe, Fireball Caramel Apples and Slow Cooker Bourbon Chicken also use types of whiskey to amp up the flavor.

Jack daniels pot roast in a slow cooker.
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Why this recipe works

Nothing beats gathering the family around the table for a classic beef pot roast for Sunday dinner. But why wait until Sunday. This whiskey pot roast is probably the easiest thing you can make all week.

The problem with big, hearty recipes is all the prep work involved. That’s where this recipe shines. Depending on how quickly you can slice an onion, you can go from ingredients to dinner’s cooking in less than 10 minutes. Meat, potatoes, vegetables, and gravy, a complete meal all in one pot. If you aren’t a huge fan of whiskey, try my coca cola pot roast recipe.

Now, don’t let the whiskey in this recipe deter you from making it. There is no overwhelming whiskey taste when it’s served. The whiskey is a flavor enhancer in the best way possible, infusing incredible depth of tastes from the combination of ingredients.

Recipe Ingredients

Ingredients for jack daniels pot roast on a table.
  • Beef Roast —we used a top round rump roast. We recommend a beef roast between 2 1/4 and 3 pounds, any larger you’ll need to increase the cooking time.
  • Produce — petite baby gold potatoes, baby carrots, a large onion, and button mushrooms.
  • Seasonings — salt, black pepper, and granulated garlic. You can use garlic powder instead of granulated but do not use garlic salt.
  • Gravy — cream of mushroom soup, Lipton’s beefy onion soup mix packets, and Jack Daniel’s whiskey. Use leftover whiskey in my bourbon hot dog recipe.

Adaptations

  • Season then brown or sear beef in 2 tablespoons of butter, olive oil or your favorite cooking oil on all sides before adding it to the slow cooker.
  • For more flavor without searing, season beef then wrap it up tightly in plastic wrap or foil and place in the refrigerator for a few hours to overnight.
  • Low sodium or no salt added cream of mushroom can be used in place of regular.
  • Add fresh herbs like thyme, parsley, or rosemary.
  • Swap the onion for leeks. Add parsnips, turnips, or green beans.
  • Turn the cooked potatoes into mashed potatoes.

Step-by-Step Directions

Four images showing how to put pot roast with vegetables in a slow cooker.

Step One – Season the roast on all sides with the salt, pepper, and granulated garlic and place it in the slow cooker with the potatoes and carrots around the beef roast.

Step Two – Add the sliced onions and mushrooms on top of everything in the crock pot.

Step Three – Pour in the whiskey.

Step Four – Evenly sprinkle both packets of the beefy onion Lipton soup mix over the mushrooms and onions then spoon the cream of mushroom soup, smoothing it out to evenly coat the dish.

Four images showing how to slice pot roast and put back in slow cooker.

Step Five – Close lid and cook on LOW for 8-9 hours or HIGH for 5-6.

Step Six – When the meat is done and vegetables have softened, remove meat and allow it to rest for a few minutes before shredding or slicing. Using a slotted spoon, remove the veggies and place them in a large bowl. Try to remove as much of the sauce from both the meat and veggies.

Step Seven – Whisk the sauce together. The cream of mushroom could have clumped with the soup mix.

Step Eight – To serve, return everything to the crockpot or plate on a serving platter, adding the sauce to a gravy boat.

Overhead shot of jack daniels pot roast in a slow cooker.

How to serve:

  • Serve the whiskey pot roast along side a dinner salad.
  • Add a basket of dinner rolls or cornbread to the table.
  • For a green vegetable, consider adding steamed broccoli or asparagus.
  • If you need to make this recipe stretch and feed more people add another side dish such as Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese or Slow Cooker Brussels Sprouts.
Plated pot roast on a plate with vegetables.

Recipe FAQs and Variations

Can I use a beef chuck roast instead of a rump roast?

Yes, however it will cook faster due to the marbling. It will also be easy to shred or be in chunks versus the slices from a rump roast. Cut any larger potatoes or carrots to ensure they are fully cooked when the meat is tender and done.

Can I use stew meat instead of a roast?

Absolutely. Stew meat is typically tough and requires a low and slow cooking time in order to be tender.

What is the best way to thicken the sauce?

Make a cornstarch slurry using cold water and add it during step seven. Alternatively, a tablespoon of tomato paste could be used. Stir it in and allow the cooking liquid to heat through.

How long will a 4 pound roast take to cook?

A 4 pound roast will take approximately 9 hours to cook. The cook time will vary due to your own slow cooker and on the size and actual cut of beef, so use a meat thermometer to truly gauge doneness. It should register to 145°F.

How long will the leftovers last?

Refrigerate any leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

What’s the best way to reheat the leftover whiskey pot roast?

Add the whiskey pot roast and vegetables to a baking pan, then cover everything with the gravy, cover tightly with foil, and bake in the oven at 350°F for about 30 minutes or until heated through. You could also reheat using a microwave oven.

Pot roast dinner on a plate with bottles of jack daniels whiskey in background.

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Overhead shot of jack daniels pot roast in a slow cooker.

Slow Cooker Jack Daniel’s Pot Roast

5 from 4 votes
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 8 hours
Total Time: 8 hours 10 minutes
Servings: 5
Whiskey and your crockpot transform the average beef roast into an unforgettable meal in this Jack Daniel’s Pot Roast.

Ingredients 
 

  • 2 ¼ lb beef rump roast, 2 ¼ – 3 pounds
  • ½ tsp. salt
  • ½ tsp. black pepper
  • ½ tsp. granulated garlic
  • 1 cup Jack Daniels whiskey
  • 1 lb. petite baby gold potatoes, whole unless large; halve or quarter
  • 1 lb. baby carrots
  • 1 cup yellow onion, sliced (one small onion)
  • 8 oz. mushrooms, sliced
  • 2 pkts beefy onion Lipton soup mix
  • 22.6 oz. cream of mushroom, or 2 10.5 cans (regular, low or no sodium)

Instructions 

  • Season the roast on all sides with the salt, pepper, and granulated garlic and place in center of the crock pot.
  • Add the potatoes and baby carrots around the roast on the bottom.
  • Add the sliced onions and mushrooms.
  • Pour in the whiskey.
  • Evenly sprinkle both packets of the beefy onion Lipton soup mix all over everything.
  • Spoon over the cream of mushroom, again as evenly as possible.
  • Place the lid and cook on LOW for 8-9 hours or HIGH for 5-6.
  • When the meat is done and vegetables are soft, remove the roast and allow it to rest for a few minutes before shredding or slicing.
  • Using a slotted spoon, remove the veggies and place them in a bowl. Try to remove as much of the sauce from both the meat and veggies.
  • Whisk the sauce together to form the gravy.
  • To serve, return everything to the crockpot or plate on a serving platter, adding the sauce to a gravy boat.

How to Video

Sarah’s Notes

  • Season then sear the meat in 2 tablespoons of cooking oil on all sides before adding it to the slow cooker.
  • For more flavor without searing, season the roast then wrap it up tightly in plastic wrap or foil and place in the refrigerator for a few hours to overnight.
  • Low sodium or no salt added cream of mushroom can be used in place of regular.
  • Add fresh herbs like thyme, parsley, or rosemary.
  • Swap the onion for leeks. Add parsnips, turnips, or green beans.
  • If you want your sauce thicker: Make a cornstarch slurry using cold water and add it during step seven. Alternatively, a tablespoon of tomato paste could be used. Stir it in and allow the cooking liquid to heat through.

Nutrition

Calories: 609kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 56g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 133mg | Sodium: 1367mg | Potassium: 1655mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 12514IU | Vitamin C: 24mg | Calcium: 94mg | Iron: 7mg

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

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Recipe Rating




6 Comments

  1. Michael Osterberger says:

    5 stars
    I made this for the second time last night, it’s fantastic.
    The first time I made it I used a chuck roast and cooked it on low, it retained a lot more of the whiskey flavor.
    Last night when I made it I used the rump roast as suggested but cooked it on high, I’m not sure if it’s due to the cut of meat or the cooking temperature but the whiskey flavor was much more subdued than the first time I cooked it.
    It may also be of note that I used Buffalo Trace bourbon instead of Jack Daniels. (It’s just what I had in the pantry)

    Excellent dish, a family favorite!

    1. Sarah Olson says:

      I’m happy to hear you love this recipe. I wish more would try.

  2. Leslie Hamel says:

    5 stars
    My fav kind of recipe: Easy AND Delicious.

  3. Cynthia King says:

    Can I substitute some other cream soup for the Cream of Mushroom soup? I abhor mushrooms and the taste of mushroom soup.

    1. Sarah Olson says:

      Cream of onion or celery works.

  4. Judie Rix says:

    I used my Slow Cooker all through COVID-19 and loved it so much that I just kept on using it. Cooking in an oven pulls a lot of electricity so it’s a win-win situation.
    Plus the flavors are so much deeper and richer when cooking it slowly and preparing it in the morning, when I have more energy.
    Thank you for this yummy-looking stew recipe.
    Judie
    Vancouver Island, BC
    Canada