Slow-Cooked Beef Chuck Roast with Onion Tomato Gravy
A tender, fall-apart roast with rich onion and tomato gravy, perfect for budget-friendly weeknight dinners. This american-inspired slow cooker ready in about 380 minutes pairs trimmed beef chuck roast, large, thinly sliced onion, minced garlic for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 450 calories and feeds 6, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 2 lbs, trimmed beef chuck roast
- 1 large, thinly sliced onion
- 3 cloves, minced garlic
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 tsp, dried thyme
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp all-purpose flour
Instructions
- Step 1: Season 2 lbs trimmed beef chuck roast with 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp black pepper on all sides.
- Step 2: Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Sear roast for 3 minutes per side until browned, then transfer to a slow cooker.
- Step 3: Add 1 large thinly sliced onion and 3 minced garlic cloves to the pot, cook for 2 minutes until fragrant, then stir in 2 tbsp tomato paste and cook for 1 minute.
- Step 4: Pour 1 cup beef broth and 1 tsp dried thyme over the roast, cover, and cook on low for 6 hours.
- Step 5: Remove roast, set aside. In a small bowl, whisk 1 tbsp flour with 2 tbsp cold water, then stir into the cooking liquid. Simmer uncovered for 10 minutes until thickened, then slice the roast and serve with gravy.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Slow-Cooked Beef Chuck Roast with Onion Tomato Gravy take to make?
Total time is about 380 minutes (20 min prep + 360 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Slow-Cooked Beef Chuck Roast with Onion Tomato Gravy?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep trimmed beef chuck roast from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Slow-Cooked Beef Chuck Roast with Onion Tomato Gravy?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Slow-Cooked Beef Chuck Roast with Onion Tomato Gravy for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 6 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 6). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
What goes well with Slow-Cooked Beef Chuck Roast with Onion Tomato Gravy?
American slow cooker like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.
What others are saying
- ★★★★★
This is the only recipe I use for beef roast. The gravy elevates mashed potatoes to new heights.
- ★★★★★
My family begged for seconds! The gravy was rich and the beef melted off the bone. Perfect for Sunday dinner.
- ★★★★☆
Loved the depth of flavor, but the gravy needed more tomato reduction. Still a winner for weeknight dinners.
