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
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
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.
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.
