Slow Cooker Pot Roast with Jalapeno Cheese Grits

Try serving with a batch of these buttery clover leaf rolls fresh out of the oven.

Shopping list

If you don't want to serve this with the grits try rice or mashed potatoes.

• Chuck or round roast
• Beef stock
• Celery
• Carrot
• Onion
• Worcestershire sauce
• Guijillo pepper (optional)
• Salt
• Pepper
• Jalapenos
• Butter
• Heavy cream
• Grits
• Smoked Cheddar cheese
• Cream cheese
• Garlic powder
• Liquid smoke

This is my kind of food, right here. Like salisbury steak you just throw the stuff in the crock pot, you toss a few ingredients into boiling water and... VOILA!

Variations

Out of some of the ingredients? No problem!

No, it won't taste exactly the same but it will still be good.

• Pork loin, turkey breast, or game instead of the beef
• Use rice, noodles, or mashed potatoes instead of the grits
• Whole or evaporated milk instead of the cream
• Use whatever cheese you have available
• Fresh garlic instead of garlic powder
• Crushed red pepper instead of jalapenos (or just omit for a tame version)
• You can try the Camembert cheese grits from my oven roasted quail recipe with this, too.

If you don't have these just omit -

• Cream cheese
• Liquid smoke
• Guijillo pepper

Tips

People will tell you a lot of things about making the perfect pot roast recipe but basically it boils down (boils down - get it?) to just two things.

1. The quality of the round or chuck roast
2. The skill you have at seasoning the meat.

How to season

Really a good pot roast only needs salt and pepper.

• Use 1 teaspoon Kosher salt (or ¾ teaspoon regular salt) plus ½ teaspoon freshly ground pepper per pound of meat.
• Mix the salt and the pepper together and rub it over all sides.
• Then, and this is important, let it sit on the counter for about 15 minutes before continuing with the recipe.

See? Easy!

What's the best cut of meat to use?

I like to get either a chuck roast or a round roast for pot roast.

Round roast is my preference, although it's a little more expensive. And by little I mean pennies per pound. I look for meat that is well marbled (lots of white flecks within the roast) but doesn't have a lot of fat on the edges.

The marbling is the most important part because the fat renders during cooking and flavors the meat as well as keeps it tender.

Look for lots of flecks of light colored fat in the grain of the meat for the best flavor and most tender roast.

You're also going to want to try this beef stew with onion soup mix!

How long does it need to cook?

Low and slow is the way to go! Cook a pot roast in a slow cooker for at least 8 hours - and I often cook for 10. In the oven or on top of the stove shoot for about 1 hour per pound.

How do you make it tender?

That's super easy. You look for a well marbled piece of beef and you cook it in just a little liquid for a long time at a slow temperature. About an hour before serving you'll cut it or shred it (I prefer shred) and let it simmer in that cooking liquid.

What to do with leftovers

So what can you do with the leftovers?

• If there's enough for another meal go ahead and freeze it for later
• Try this yummy version of Shepherd's Pie
• Warm it up with the contents of a jar of peppers for Italian beef sandwiches
• Chop it and use it as the meat in this ragu. Hint: you won't need to slow cook it again - just simmer for 30 minutes
• Use it in these Texas style Sandwiches
• Serve it with a little extra gravy over toast
• Mix it in with a skillet of home fries.

Equipment

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Thanks so much for being a part of Restless Chipotle!

I love my slow cooker – I’ve had it for several years and it makes my life SO much easier. But… when I get a new one I’m getting this one that can be programmed with my smart phone! 

Guajillo chiles remind me of spicy raisins. They have a rich, fruity flavor with a relatively mild heat.
  

Kaffeeklatch

So, I know someone is going to ask if they HAVE to serve the cheese grits with this because they HATE grits. Technically no, you don't have to. You can serve it over mashed potatoes or whatever BUT please try it with the grits - even a few spoonfuls of grits on the side - at least once?

These cheese grits are creamy and cheesy perfection... just a little smoky with a tiny jalapeno burn. They hold the gravy from the pot roast and when you take a bite ... OMG Heaven! Seriously, you'l be saying y'all and sippin' sweet tea before you know it. And if all the grits you've ever had are from Cracker Barrel you hush now. Those aren't grits. I'm not sure what they are but grits they are not.

This is SO easy and so delicious you'll be making it all year long! Dinner plus a house that smells like home. Who doesn't want that?

This slow cooker sausage and potatoes dinner is another favorite.

📖 Recipe

First published October 23, 2017. Last updated March 30, 2020 for readability and page speed.