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My Slow Cooker French Onion Roast fills the house with delicious smells all day. The onions cook into a rich gravy, and the beef turns fork-tender by dinnertime. It is a dependable, comforting meal that is perfect when you want something familiar and filling.
👉 You really need to try my Slow Cooker Alfredo Tuscan Chicken next!
This French onion pot roast is slow cooked with onions, garlic, beef broth, and tomato sauce to create a rich, savory gravy. The chuck roast becomes tender and easy to shred after hours in the slow cooker. A simple cornstarch slurry can be added to thicken the gravy if desired. This recipe works well for Sunday dinners and reheats nicely.
Why you’ll love this recipe…
This recipe is a great pick because it cooks all day and is finished by dinnertime. The onions soften into the sauce, and the beef shreds easily once it is done. This dinner is so easy to serve and works well for leftovers throughout the week.
⏰ Total Time: About 8 hours
🍂 Perfect For: Sunday dinners, comfort meals
🛒 Key Ingredients: Chuck roast, onions, beef broth
🍽️ Servings: 5
🥄 Skill Level: Easy
🧊 Storage: Refrigerator friendly
👉 My Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Pasta is another familiar, cozy option for busy weekdays.
Made With Love,
Table of Contents
- What You’ll Need for French Onion Pot Roast
- Full Ingredients List
- Swaps & Substitutions
- About What This Costs
- How to Make French Onion Pot Roast
- French Onion Pot Roast Variations
- Tips and Tricks
- Recipe FAQs – French Onion Pot Roast
- Serving Suggestions
- Make-Ahead, Storage & Reheating
- How I Use the Leftovers
- More Great Slow Cooker Dinners
- French Onion Pot Roast Recipe
What You’ll Need for French Onion Pot Roast
- Chuck roast: Easy to shred after slow cooking.
- White onions: Cook down into a rich onion gravy.
- Beef broth: Forms the base of the sauce.
- Cornstarch slurry: Optional, for thickening the gravy at the end.
👉 I love making my Green Chili Ranch Chicken with Potatoes & Carrots during busy weeks.
Full Ingredients List
- 2 lb chuck roast
- 2 large white onions, cut into rings
- 1 cup beef broth
- 3 teaspoons minced garlic
- 8 oz tomato sauce
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- Salt and black pepper, to season
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons water
🔒 The printable recipe card below includes the full ingredient list and exact amounts — perfect for saving or printing for later.
Swaps & Substitutions
- The cornstarch slurry can be skipped if you prefer a thinner gravy.
- Extra onions can be added if you like more onion flavor.
- Serve without shredding if you prefer slicing the roast.
About What This Costs
Estimated total cost: $18–22
Servings: 5
Estimated cost per serving: About $4–5
This estimate is based on average US grocery prices and may vary depending on location, store, and seasonal pricing.
How to Make French Onion Pot Roast
Step 1: Cut the white onions into rings and set aside.
Step 2: In a medium bowl, whisk together the beef broth, minced garlic, tomato sauce, dried thyme, Worcestershire sauce, and red wine vinegar.
Step 3: Add half of the onion rings and half of the sauce mixture to the slow cooker.
Step 4: Place the chuck roast on top of the onions and season all sides with salt and black pepper.
Step 5: Add the remaining onions and pour the rest of the sauce over the roast.
Step 6: Cover and cook on LOW for 8 hours or on HIGH for 4 hours.
Optional Gravy Thickening:
Step 7: Remove the meat and onions to a separate dish and shred the beef.
Step 8: Set the slow cooker to HIGH.
Step 9: Stir together the cornstarch and water to make a slurry and pour it into the cooking liquid.
Step 10: Stir well, return the meat and onions to the slow cooker, and cook for an additional 10–20 minutes until thickened.
🔒 The step-by-step instructions are also available in the printable recipe card below — don’t forget to save it for later!
French Onion Pot Roast Variations
- Skip thickening for a thinner, au jus-style gravy.
- Serve the shredded beef on sandwich rolls.
- Add extra onions for more flavor.
👉 This Slow Cooker Meatless Chili Mac is so yummy and comforting.
My Pro TipS
Tips and Tricks
- Slice onions evenly so they cook at the same rate.
- Layering onions above and below the roast builds flavor.
- Shredding the beef helps it absorb more gravy.
Recipe FAQs – French Onion Pot Roast
Yes, cooking on high for about 4 hours works well.
No, the gravy can be served as is if you prefer it thinner.
Yes, it reheats well and keeps its texture.
👉 Slow Cooker Shredded Beef is another good option for meal prepping.
Serving Suggestions
- Serve over mashed potatoes.
- Pair with a simple side salad.
- Spoon extra gravy over the beef before serving.
- Make with my Easy One Hour Dinner Rolls
Make-Ahead, Storage & Reheating
- Fridge: Store leftovers for up to 4 days.
- Freezer: Freeze shredded beef with gravy for up to 3 months.
- Reheat: Warm gently on the stove or in the microwave.
👉 I love making my Slow Cooker High-Protein Chicken & Veggies on busy days.
How I Use the Leftovers
- Reheat and serve over potatoes the next day.
- Use the shredded beef in sandwiches.
- Add a little broth when reheating if needed.
More Great Slow Cooker Dinners
Meatless
Meatless Chili Mac (Slow Cooker)
All Recipes
Chicken Noodle Pasta (Slow Cooker)
Slow Cooker
Slow Cooker Alfredo Tuscan Chicken
Pin this one so it’s ready when you need it.
French Onion Pot Roast
Ingredients
- 2 lb chuck roast
- 2 large white onions, cut into rings
- 1 cup beef broth
- 3 teaspoons minced garlic
- 8 oz tomato sauce
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons water
Instructions
- Cut onions into rings.
- Mix beef broth, garlic, tomato sauce, thyme, Worcestershire sauce, and red wine vinegar.
- Add half the onions and half the sauce to the slow cooker.
- Place chuck roast on top and season with salt and pepper.
- Add remaining onions and sauce.
- Cook on LOW for 8 hours or HIGH for 4 hours.
- Optional: Remove meat and onions, shred beef, add cornstarch slurry, return meat and cook 10–20 minutes to thicken.
Notes
- Thickening the gravy is optional.
- Shredding the beef helps it absorb more flavor.
- Serve over mashed potatoes for a complete meal.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I made this last night and was very happy with the result! Great videos great recipes. Thank you!
Hi,
Love your recipes!
Watched one of your videos where you used roasted cream of mushroom soup but cannot find the recipe. Can you pass on which recipe it was?
Thanks