This Sunday Dinner Pot Roast recipe is a classic combination that warms the heart and satisfies the soul.
This is my mother’s classic recipe, but with the ease of a crock pot. It delivers tender, juicy beef that pairs perfectly with creamy mashed potatoes, buttery noodles, or roasted potatoes.
Plus, there are step-by-step photos to guide you in making a rich, flavorful homemade gravy to complete the meal.
The meat is cooked perfect every single time! Let me show you another one of my Family's Favorite Crock Pot Recipes that's perfect for Sunday Dinner!
Pot roast is the ultimate Sunday dinner for me—I grew up enjoying it every week. My mom would put one in the oven before we left for church, filling the house with that delicious smell when we walked in the door a few hours later.
Now, I make mine in the crock pot—perfect for busy days when you’re out and want to return to a home-cooked meal ready to serve. This easy crock pot pot roast recipe brings all the flavor with minimal effort!
Serve this easy recipe over mashed potatoes, roasted potatoes, buttery noodles and your choice of vegetable.
Table of Contents
- Why you'll LOVE this recipe:
- Rump Roast Crock Pot Recipe
- How many Beef Bouillon Cubes for Pot Roast?
- 🛒Helpful Kitchen Tools
- Recipe Ingredients
- Step-by-Step Directions:
- How Long to Cook the Pot Roast
- Expert Tips
- How to Make Gravy for Pot Roast
- Before You Begin!
- Storing, Freezing, Thawing and Reheating Tips
- More Sunday Dinner Ideas
- Recipe FAQ's
- 📖 Recipe Card
- 💬 Comments
Why you'll LOVE this recipe:
Easy & Hands-Off – Minimal prep, just let the slow cooker do the work while you go about your day.
Comfort Food Classic – A tender, flavorful pot roast that’s perfect for cozy family dinners.
Delicious & Family-Friendly – Packed with rich, savory flavors everyone will enjoy.
Amazing Smells – Nothing beats coming home to the comforting aroma of a home-cooked meal.
Foolproof Recipe – Simple ingredients and step-by-step instructions for perfect results every time.
Rump Roast Crock Pot Recipe
Most people have a favorite cut of beef to cook for their Sunday Dinner. I always use a rump roast. It's what my mother always used too.
When this cut of beef goes on sale at the grocery store, I try to buy a few and freeze. It is one meal even my picky kids will agree on!
How many Beef Bouillon Cubes for Pot Roast?
Depending on the size of your beef roast, 2 bouillon cubes are enough to give flavor to the roast while it cooks in the slow cooker.
You can use Better than Bouillon or my favorite Knorr Bouillon Cubes. Both are great ways to add flavor to a roast while it slow cooks.
🛒Helpful Kitchen Tools
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Recipe Ingredients
Here's a quick overview of the ingredients for this recipe. For exact amounts and to easily shop for everything, click the Instacart button in the recipe card below to add the ingredients straight to your cart!
Step-by-Step Directions:
Step 1: In a heavy pan, brown the pot roast on all sides in a few tablespoons of oil. Season each side with salt and pepper. Once the roast is browned, add it to the crock pot that has been sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. Add 2 cups of water and 2 beef bouillon cubes. My favorite brand of bouillon cube is Knorr.
How Long to Cook the Pot Roast
Step 2: Cooking the pot roast can take anywhere from 6 to 8 hours depending on the size of the rump roast you're using and how fast your crock pot cooks.
Expert Tips
- Patience is key with this cut of beef! Cook it slow and low, and you'll be rewarded with melt-in-your-mouth tenderness.
- Here's a tip I learned from my mom, cook your pot roast until you can stick a small paring knife into the center of the roast easily. That tells you the meat is cooked to perfection!
- All crock pots cook differently. Newer crock pots cook much faster than older ones.
How to Make Gravy for Pot Roast
Now on to making the gravy. We will have a thick, delicious gravy, don't worry! This is the method I use to make gravy all the time. You will never have lumps!
Step 1: Remove the cooked pot roast from the crock pot, place it on a cutting board, and cover it with foil.
Step 2: Strain the broth from the crock pot using a fine sieve over a bowl—you should have about 2 cups of liquid for the gravy.
Step 3: In a small saucepan, melt 2 tablespoons of butter, then stir in 2 tablespoons of flour. Cook for a few minutes, stirring constantly.
Step 4: Gradually add the reserved broth, stirring continuously until the gravy thickens.
Before You Begin!
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Storing, Freezing, Thawing and Reheating Tips
Refrigerator: After the pot roast cools, separate the meat and gravy. Store each in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Freezer: Follow the steps above. Then label the containers with the date you prepared the pot roast and gravy. Place the containers in the freezer.Frozen pot roast can be stored for up to 2-3 months.
Thawing and Reheating: Thaw the pot roast and gravy overnight in the refrigerator. Gently reheat the gravy on the stovetop and add the pot roast slices to warm through. Add them to a casserole dish and bake until heated. If needed, make extra gravy using beef broth and combine it with the leftover gravy.
More Sunday Dinner Ideas
- Dutch Oven Roast Chicken - made with a homemade seasoning spice.
- Potato and Corn Chowder - serve with homemade white bread for a comforting Sunday dinner recipe.
- Homemade Tomato Sauce with Meatballs - my family loves pasta for dinner on Sundays!
- Bacon Wrapped Chicken - another delicious crock pot recipe.
- Pot Roast is even better with Homemade Biscuits!
Recipe FAQ's
To view the answers, simply click on the down arrow (⬇) next to each question. If you have any other questions not answered here, please leave a comment!
This answer varies depending on who you ask. For some people, only mashed potatoes will do and others love buttered noodles. There are even some people who only want homemade mac and cheese. It's really up to you and your family to decide what you enjoy best.
A chuck roast is any cut of meat that comes from the shoulder of a cow. And a "pot roast" isn't really a cut of meat! It just refers to the process of cooking beef.
📖 Recipe Card
Pot Roast in the Crock Pot
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Heat the 2 tbsp. oil in a heavy pan on top of the stove.
- Add the rump roast to the pan and brown on all sides; seasoning with salt and pepper.
- Once the pot roast is browned on all sides, place it in the crock pot.
- Add the two beef bouillon cubes and the two cups of water.
- Cook for six to eight hours on low or four to six hours on high.
- Tip: The pot roast is done when you can stick a knife in the center easily.
- In a small saucepan, melt the 2 tbsp. of butter.
- Add the 2 tbsp. of flour and stir; allowing the flour to cook for a few minutes.
- Then add the 2 cups of reserved broth from the crock pot. If you need to, you can add water if there is not enough broth from the crock pot.
- Stir and simmer until the gravy thickens to the consistency you desire.
Nutrition
Notes
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!This recipe has been updated since it first appeared in 2012 with new photos and a new printable recipe card that includes nutritional information. I hope you enjoy the updates as much as I enjoyed working on them!
angela Thompson says
Is Scrumptious and am willing to give it a whirl.
Thanks
Lois says
Hope you enjoy the recipe!
Sarah says
This is without a doubt THE BEST ROAST and gravy recipe. I have always been so picky on my gravy and could never find a recipe that was just perfect. I add a bit of thyme to the gravy for flavour, and sometimes I need to add more flour as two doesn’t seem enough. If I need more gravy or have a larger roast I just add another cup of water and one more beef cube to make more gravy if I have company. Other than that everything is perfect and is beyond delicious!! Thanks for this recipe that my whole family loves as well!
Lois says
Thank you for letting me know! Glad you enjoy the recipe as much as my family does!
Erlene - My Pinterventures says
I love pot roast and so does my hubby. Will be including your recipe in tonigth's MM party round-up.
Nicole B. says
My mom always made roast in the crock pot at least 2-3 times a month. It's a classic! Thanks for sharing your recipe at the #HomeMattersParty
Made In a Day says
Looks fabulous!T hanks for linking up to Merry Monday! Pinned! Have a great week!
Kim
Angela Muir says
Making my mouth water! Thank for linking up!
Kimberly Lewis says
This is my favorite way to cook a roast! Pinned. Lou Lou Girls
Mandee Pogue says
Lois! This looks DIVINE!!!!
Catherine says
Dear Lois, This looks delicious and hearty. Truly perfect comfort food. Blessings, Catherine xo
mickeydownunder says
G'day and wow Lois, never did a pot roast in the slow cooker before, true!
Yours looks very moist an bet it tasted great too!
Cheers! Joanne
http://whatsonthelist.net
sandra stinson says
That's the way I cook mine. So good.
Angie Walker says
Thank you for sharing this at the crock pot party. I already have this one pinned. YUUUUUMMMMMMYYYYY!!
Fiona says
Have just bought a crock pot so am madly looking around for recipes-
glad I found this one!
x
Marlys Folly says
I haven't made a pot roast for awhile... Should do it again. We always had pot roast on Sundays at home growing up.
Elena says
Now that looks yummy!!
Cheryl @ The Farmer's Daughter says
Looks good, Lois. I haven't used my crockpot in a while, I need to in this hot weather!
Chatty Crone says
You gave me a couple of ideas for my next pot roast - I just made one last weekend. So tell me though - what does the knife signify - I know done - but why? I am probably dumb here. sandie
Carol @ Always Thyme to Cook says
Now that is perfect comfort food. Looks delicious.
Blondee says
Sounds wonderful. I like to make roasts in the crock pot, too. 🙂
When making your gravy...you don't add any extra salt or pepper? (I suck at gravy making and any tips are helpful!)
Maple Lane says
Thanks to you and your Mom for the recipe. I'll have to try out my crock pot. Makes me hungry just seeing your photos.
Debra says
Mmmmm... that looks delicious. So good!
Sandra says
Mmmmmm that is like comfort food at it's best, for me 🙂 Looks amazing 🙂
Cranberry Morning says
Wow! Looks like a typical down-home American dinner. Yummy beef!
Nellie's Cozy place says
Morning Lois,
I saw your question yesterday but didn't know what to answer so figured I would think about it and answer later. When I have been sick I do like a steak, baked potato and salad after for some reason.
I think I might have just come up with mine.........after seeing your wonderful pot roast and veggies.
Works for me! Nothing like a good pot roast for sure.
Hope you are doing well my friend,
blessings, nellie
Tammy ~ Country Girl at Home ~ says
Lois,
I love using my crockpot in the summer. As a matter of fact, it's going to be put to use today for cheese ravioli. But my your roast looks and sounds good! Great gravy tip too!
Have a great Wednesday!
Tammy
Beth says
YUMM!! Sounds so good.
I think you and I must be related. I have always made gravy the same way you do. I also make a roux of the melted butter and flour, add a can of peas to make creamed peas. delicious.
allisamazing says
Your pot roast looks delicious and your gravy looks so good. I think I need to pull a roast out of the freezer now 🙂
Jill says
You're making me hungry for a roast and it's only 7:35 am here! 😉