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Pot roast has to be the epitome of comfort food! Using my slow cooker for this Gluten Free Pot Roast makes it that much easier to enjoy a hearty meal on a chilly day. Especially when I’d much rather be snuggling on the couch by the fire watching a Hallmark movie!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe?

Talk about an easy recipe that only takes 15 minutes to prepare. Toss all your ingredients into a slow cooker. Set the temperature on low and walk away! You get to continue doing all the other necessary tasks on your “To Do” list. All while a delicious home cooked meal is being made with minimal work on your end. That sounds like winning to me!

This recipe is also allergy friendly as it’s gluten free and dairy free. A great dinner to serve for guests that may have sensitivities or intolerances.

You’ll find this pot roast has a few ingredients you might not have added in the past. For example, a touch of honey, balsamic cherry vinegar and red wine. It definitely gives this recipe a delicious and special touch!

Ingredients

Bottom Round Roast: The slower you cook bottom round beef, the more time the connective tissue has time to break down. This helps give you a much more tender roast at the end.
Oil: Avocado oil has a high smoke point. Which is great for frying, sauteing and searing.
Vegetables: Yellow onions, garlic, carrots and celery are great staple vegetables that are great in any slow cooker savory recipe.
Cherry Balsamic Vinegar: Natural black cherry juice is combined with aged balsamic to produce a sweet, fragrant and rich vinegar. It adds such a special flavor to this slow cooker pot roast. (Napa Valley Naturals, Grand Reserve Balsamic Vinegar, is my favorite brand.)
Cabernet Sauvignon or Pinot Noir: Both of these dry red wines really boosts the rustic charm of this roast.
Broth: Beef broth pairs perfectly with pot roasts but you can also use a vegetable broth if you prefer.
Honey: Local honey is a great option and generally easy to find.
Dijon Mustard: A distinctive mustard flavor, with just the right amount of bite!
Seasonings: Dried thyme, sea salt and pepper

Step-By-Step Instructions

Start by heating the avocado oil in a large skillet over medium to high heat. While oil is heating, season the bottom round roast with a generous amount of salt and pepper.
Sear the roast on all sides until well browned (about 5 minutes per side). Once seared, place the roast into your slow cooker.
Add to the slow cooker, onions, garlic, carrots, celery, cherry balsamic vinegar, dijon mustard, honey, red wine and thyme. Sprinkle in salt and pepper. Add in the beef broth and stir.
Cook on low and simmer for 7- 8 hours or until meat is tender and falling apart. Vegetables will be soft as well.
Shred meat with a fork. This part should be very easy as the bottom round roast is very tender at this point.

Expert Tip: I suggest using a red wine like FitVine if being gluten free is necessary for you. It’s a great wine for those who are adhering to that lifestyle. You can find more information about FitVine here… https://www.fitvinewine.com/pages/all-wines

Variations

This is my absolute favorite way to enjoy a slow cooker pot roast but you can change it up a few different ways!

Use a chuck roast instead of bottom round roast. Both are great choices for bargain friendly meats. You will find the bottom round roast to be more lean, while the chuck roast contains more fat.
You can leave out the wine and add in more broth if preferred.
If you’d like to add some potatoes straight into the slow roaster meal, it will definitely add in some heartiness.
You could also add in some more greens (I did this in the last 20 minutes of cook time myself). Try frozen green beans or peas.

Serving Suggestions

This dish pairs perfectly with a few different sides. Warm rice, mashed potatoes, cauliflower mash or even some gluten free bread for dipping!

Check out this recipe for my heavenly “Cauliflower Mash”.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best cut of meat to use for slow cooker pot roast?

Chuck Roast and Round Bottom Roast are both great choices for a pot roast recipe! They are both tougher pieces of meat and do well with long cook times. The Round Bottom Roast is a leaner cut of beef than the chuck roast.

Is wine necessary for a good tasting slow cooker pot roast?

No, it is not necessary! You can totally leave it out and replace it with additional beef or vegetable broth. It does however add a richness that brings you pot roast to the next level.

More Recipes

Here are some more recipes you’ll enjoy on a cold or rainy day

If you make this recipe, don't forget to TAG me on Instagram or come back and leave me a 5-star rating and a comment!

Many Hugs,

Cathleen

pot roast, slow cooker, gluten free, dairy free, comfort food

entrees, soups

Yield: 6

Author: Cathleen Crobons