Description

This Caramelized French Onion Pot Roast recipe is the ultimate cozy dinner, made with tender chuck roast, slow-cooked caramelized onions, and a savory broth that tastes like French onion soup in pot roast form. Perfect for fall and winter nights, it’s a low-effort, high-reward dish that’s ideal for entertaining or weekly meal prep. Keywords: pot roast, french onion pot roast, caramelized onion beef, comfort food, beef dinner ideas, slow cooker beef, chuck roast dinner.

Ingredients

3 to 4 lb chuck roast

3 large yellow onions, sliced

3 cups beef broth

2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

4 cloves garlic, minced

4 to 5 sprigs fresh thyme

3 tablespoons salted butter

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon black pepper

1 cup shredded Gruyère cheese (optional)

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Instructions

1. Pat the chuck roast dry and season it with salt and black pepper.

2. In a Dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium-high heat and sear the roast for 3–4 minutes on each side. Set aside.

3. In the same pot, melt the butter and add the sliced onions. Cook on medium-low heat for 30–40 minutes, stirring often, until deeply golden and caramelized.

4. Stir in minced garlic and cook for another minute.

5. Add balsamic vinegar and Worcestershire sauce to deglaze the pot, scraping up any browned bits.

6. Pour in the beef broth, then return the seared roast to the pot and add fresh thyme sprigs.

7. Cover and cook in a preheated 300°F oven for 3 to 3.5 hours, or until the beef is fork-tender. Alternatively, slow cook on low for 8 hours.

8. Discard the thyme stems. Shred the beef into the sauce and stir to combine.

9. Optional: Top with Gruyère cheese and broil for a few minutes until bubbly and golden.

10. Serve hot and enjoy!

Notes

Use a heavy pot like a Dutch oven for best heat retention during oven braising.

Don’t rush the onion caramelizing step; this builds the base flavor of the dish.

For an even richer sauce, you can stir in a splash of cream at the end.

Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 3 hours 30 minutes
Category: Dinner
Method: Braising
Cuisine: American, French-inspired

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1/6 of recipe
Calories: 510
Sugar: 5g
Sodium: 620mg
Fat: 35g
Saturated Fat: 15g
Unsaturated Fat: 17g
Trans Fat: 0.5g
Carbohydrates: 10g
Fiber: 2g
Protein: 38g
Cholesterol: 125mg