Instant Pot Slow Cook Roast Recipe

This slow cooker pot roast only has 5 ingredients but it's still packed with flavorful. You can also make this easy one-pot dinner in the Instant Pot.

PIN FOR LATER

Updated 2019 with Instant Pot instructions

Roasts were made for the slow cooker. Outside of chili I think they're my favorite dish to make in the slow cooker. In general, roasts are pretty easy to make. When you use your slow cooker, they're almost 100% foolproof.

before (slow cooker)

Type of Roast To Use

I tend to always use a chuck roast for my pot roasts however the great thing about slow cooking is that almost any cut of beef whether it be chuck, rump, round, etc. can be slow cooked to the point where it's falling apart tender. When choosing a roast keep in mind the size of your slow cooker or Instant Pot. It's okay if you have to cut your meat into pieces to make it fit. I used a 3 pound chuck roast in my 6-quart slow cooker. My 6-quart can comfortably hold up to 4 pounds of meat along with potatoes and vegetables. If you use anything under 2 pounds, lower the cook time by 1-2 hours.

after (slow cooker)

The 5 Ingredients

Roast, steak seasoning, potatoes (or sweet potatoes for paleo), carrots, and broth. Since I'm limiting myself to 5 ingredients I had to make some choices with this roast. I went with baby potatoes because waxy potatoes hold their shape better with slow cooking. If you substitute another type of potato like sweet potatoes, I suggest you cut them in larger chunks than usual. This will help them not turn to mush during the long cook time. For my carrots, I used baby carrots so I didn't cut them first. If you use regular carrots, peel and chop them. You don't need to add a lot of broth. I only used 1/2 cup for the slow cooker (you'll need a full cup for the Instant Pot). However if you think you'll want to make a nice gravy for this, then use up to 1 cup with the slow cooker. I don't suggest you use more than 1 cup – liquid doesn't evaporate when slow cooking so using more than 1 cup will cause this have way too much liquid in the finished product. Unless you want roast soup.

Searing The Roast

To sear or not to sear? That always seems to be the question. When I use the slow cooker, I usually don't take the time to pan-sear my meat beforehand however as you can see in the pics, this time I was feeling feisty so I did this time. If you don't have time for that step don't worry, your roast will still taste good. With the Instant Pot, searing is a part of the process so it's included in the step. The pressure cooker makes this easy since you can brown the roast directly in the base.

Other roast recipes you might enjoy:

Balsamic-Dijon Pot Roast

Moroccan Pot Roast

Mississippi Roast

Steak Seasoning

This slow cooker pot roast recipe calls for your favorite steak seasoning. If you don't have a favorite or preferred steak seasoning, make your own. Below is my homemade steak blend if you don't have one. It already includes salt; you don't need to add any additional salt to this recipe, there is more than enough between the steak seasoning and the broth.

How Long To Cook The Roast

You'll know this is done when the meat shred easily with a fork. Keep cooking it until it does. Depending on how large your roast is and your slow cooker heats, this might take the full 10 hours. Mine cooked in 9 hours on low in the slow cooker.

I used a 6-quart slow cooker or Instant Pot for this recipe.

3–4 pounds beef roast of your choice
1 pound potatoes
3/4 pound carrots
2 tablespoons steak seasoning
1/2 cup low-sodium beef broth (1 full cup for IP)
1 tablespoon oil

Slow Cooker

Optional step is to add oil to a large skillet over medium heat and sear the meat a few minutes each side prior to adding the roast to the slow cooker.

Add broth to the bottom of the slow cooker.
Season roast generously with steak seasoning and add to the slow cooker.
Add the potatoes and carrots on top of the roast in the slow cooker.
Cook HIGH 4-5 hours or LOW 8-10.

Instant Pot

Season roast generously with steak seasoning.
Turn the Instant Pot to saute. Once hot, add the oil and beef. Brown beef on all sides, approximately 3-5 minutes per side. Remove the roast from the pressure cooker.
Add broth and deglaze the bottom of the pressure cooker by scraping all the bits off with a wooden spoon. Add roast back to the pot.
Close lid and seal valve. Set high pressure and cook 20 minutes per pound of beef. When cook time is up, let the pressure naturally release for 10 minutes, then quick release the remaining pressure.
Add potatoes and carrots. Close lid and seal valve. Set high pressure and cook 5 minutes. When cook time is done, quick release the pressure.

Notes

Instant Pot cook time will depend on how big your roast is and how your pressure cooker heats. Estimate an average of 20 minutes per pound. If you're using a frozen roast, average 30 minutes per pound.

If you're using a frozen roast, skip the searing/browning step. Add the roast to the pressure cooker, add seasoning & broth on top.

Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 4 hours

homemade steak rub

homemade steak seasoning

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5-Ingredient Slow Cooker Pot Roast + VIDEO