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Slow Cooker Balsamic Dijon Pot Roast

This slow cooker balsamic Dijon roast is not your average pot roast. Using a homemade balsamic Dijon sauce, this beef recipe will impress any guest or picky eater. You can also make this easy slow cooker pot roast in the Instant Pot. 

Slow Cooker Balsamic Dijon Pot Roast

PIN FOR LATER

Like chili, I believe pot roasts were made for the slow cooker.  Add your ingredients, let it cook & in a few hours later you have melt-in-your mouth tender beef with potatoes and veggies. Pot roasts are true one-pot slow cooker meal.

collage of Slow Cooker Balsamic Dijon Pot Roast ingredients

Ingredients For Balsamic Dijon Pot Roast

  • Beef Roast: Use your favorite cut of roast.
  • Balsamic Vinegar: 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
  • Dijon Mustard: Dijon mustard or something similar
  • Beef Broth: 1/2 cup beef broth
  • Potatoes: 1 1/2 pounds of your preferred potatoes. I used baby potatoes.
  • Carrots: 3 chopped carrots or the equivalent. I used baby carrots so I did not chop them.  
  • Onions: 1 large onion, chopped
  • Salt & Pepper: The seasonings are simple: salt & pepper
uncooked pot roast ingredients in the slow cooker

before

cooked pot roast ingredients in the slow cooker

after

How To Make Balsamic Dijon Pot Roast

Prepare The Roast

  1. Season the roast generously with salt & pepper on all sides.  

SLOW COOKER

  1. Add the beef roast to the slow cooker. Add the potatoes, onion, and carrots on top.
  2. In a small bowl, whisk together the beef broth, balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, and a pinch of salt & pepper.  Pour broth mixture on top of all ingredients.
  3. Cook HIGH 4-5 or  LOW 8-10 hours.

Instant Pot

  1. Turn the Instant Pot to sauté. Once hot, add the oil and the prepared beef. Cook 3-5 minutes on each side or until beef is browned. You may need to cut the beef to make the meat fit. Remove beef from the Instant Pot.
  2. In a small bowl, whisk together the beef broth, balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, and a pinch of salt & pepper. Pour the mixture into the Instant Pot and deglaze the bottom by scraping the bits off with a wooden spoon.
  3. Add the beef back to the pot. 
  4. Close lid and seal valve. Set high pressure and cook 20 minutes per pound of beef. When cooking time is complete, manually quick release the pressure.
  5. Add the potatoes, onion, and carrots. Close lid and seal valve. Set high pressure and cook 5 minutes. When cook time is done, quick release the pressure.
cooked pot roast ingredients in the slow cooker

after

What Cut Of Roast To Use

I used a round roast but you can use another cut of beef. The cheaper the better. Chuck roast, rump roast, brisket, all work well with this recipe. The beef should take between 8-10 hours to cook until tender. Mine always cooks in about 9. You’ll know the beef is done when the meat shreds easily with a fork. 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. 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.

close up of balsamic Dijon pot roast on a white serving platter

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. If you don’t have time for that step do not worry, the 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.

close up of balsamic Dijon pot roast on a white serving platter

Homemade Balsamic Dijon Sauce

This slow cooker roast recipe is balsamic Dijon sauce. It’s simple but flavorful. If you plan on making a nice gravy, then increase the broth amount to 1 cup. Otherwise 1/2 cup of broth is enough. 

close up of balsamic Dijon pot roast on a white serving platter

FAQs & Tips

  • Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. 
  • I served this roast as a Whole30 compliant recipe with potatoes; easily make it paleo by swapping out the potatoes for sweet potatoes.
  • I used a  6-quart slow cooker or Instant Pot for this recipe.

 

Roast Recipes 

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overhead shot of up of balsamic Dijon pot roast on a white serving platter

Slow Cooker Balsamic Dijon Pot Roast

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

5 from 1 review

  • Total Time: 9 hours 10 mins
  • Yield: 6 servings 1x

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 34 beef roast, seasoned with salt & pepper
  • 4 carrots, peeled & chopped
  • 1 1/2 pound potatoes
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 1/2 cup low-sodium beef broth
  • 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
  • 1/4 cup Dijon mustard
  • Pinch of salt & pepper
  • 1 tbsp oil

Instructions

Prepare The Roast

  1. Season the roast generously with salt & pepper on all sides.

SLOW COOKER

  1. Add the beef roast to the slow cooker. Add the potatoes, onion, and carrots on top.
  2. In a small bowl, whisk together the beef broth, balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, and a pinch of salt & pepper.  Pour broth mixture on top of all ingredients.
  3. Cook HIGH 4-5 or  LOW 8-10 hours.

Instant Pot

  1. Turn the Instant Pot to sauté. Once hot, add the oil and the prepared beef. Cook 3-5 minutes on each side or until beef is browned. You may need to cut the beef to make the meat fit. Remove beef from the Instant Pot.
  2. In a small bowl, whisk together the beef broth, balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, and a pinch of salt & pepper. Pour the mixture into the Instant Pot and deglaze the bottom by scraping the bits off with a wooden spoon.
  3. Add the beef back to the pot.
  4. Close lid and seal valve. Set high pressure and cook 20 minutes per pound of beef. When cooking time is complete, manually quick release the pressure.
  5. Add the potatoes, onion, and carrots. Close lid and seal valve. Set high pressure and cook 5 minutes. When cook time is done, quick release the pressure.
  • Author: Shannon Epstein
  • Prep Time: 10 mins
  • Cook Time: 9 hours
  • Category: Entree

Nutrition

  • Serving Size:
  • Calories: 420
  • Sugar: 8.4 g
  • Sodium: 261.9 mg
  • Fat: 12.8 g
  • Saturated Fat: 3.3 g
  • Carbohydrates: 25.9 g
  • Fiber: 5 g
  • Protein: 48 g
  • Cholesterol: 133.8 mg

 

 

 

 

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Recipe rating 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

Karen

Monday 14th of February 2022

My roast is 3 3/4 lbs. I chose to cook on high 4-5 hours. How do I know when it's done. (Meat on bottom. Carrots, Yukon Golds, celery on top of seasoned beef. Broth/Balsamic & mustard blended & drizzled over top. I combined & started slow cooker process at 1P. It's 5:30P where I am (AZ). It's a HUGE slab of Chuck roast. Probably 2+" thick.

Shannon Epstein

Monday 14th of February 2022

You'll know it's done when it shreds easily with a fork. A piece that size I would say will probably take 5 hours on HIGH.