There's nothing quite like a hot plate of rich stew, especially when it's flavorful, slow-cooked, tender beef smothered in thick, rich gravy. This keto pot roast is one of the best recipes to make, especially in the winter.
This article provides a comprehensive guide to making a delicious and easy keto chuck roast in a slow cooker. This recipe is perfect for anyone following a low-carb or ketogenic diet and looking for a comforting and satisfying meal. It's also naturally dairy-free, gluten-free, and can be made Whole30 and Paleo compliant. The recipe utilizes simple, everyday ingredients and requires minimal preparation, making it ideal for busy weeknights or relaxed weekend cooking.
Why Choose a Slow Cooker for Keto Pot Roast?
Slow cookers are ideal for preparing tough cuts of meat like chuck roast. The long, slow cooking process breaks down the connective tissues, resulting in incredibly tender and juicy meat. Additionally, using a slow cooker requires minimal hands-on time, allowing you to "set it and forget it" while you go about your day.
Ingredients for Keto Chuck Roast
Here's what you'll need to create this delectable keto pot roast:
- Beef chuck roast: A 3-pound chuck roast is recommended. Chuck roast is perfect for slow cooking because it's flavorful and well-marbled. Slow cooking makes it very tender. You may also substitute with round or rump roast.
- Onion and garlic: These aromatics are essential for building a flavorful base. Slice the onion fairly thinly. As for the garlic, you can mince it yourself or use the stuff that comes in a jar. Both work, although freshly minced tastes better.
- Fresh parsley: This herb adds a wonderful fresh flavor to the dish.
- Beef broth: Store-bought beef broth works well. You can also use beef bouillon or beef bone broth.
- Olive oil: For searing the meat (optional).
- Seasonings: Salt, black pepper, dried thyme, paprika, and garlic powder.
- Balsamic vinegar: Used to deglaze the pan after searing (optional).
- Optional ingredients: Cream cheese, heavy cream, Worcestershire sauce, red pepper flakes, bay leaf, peppercorns, carrots, celery, low-carb vegetables (turnips, radishes, cauliflower, parsnips)
The Keto Mississippi Pot Roast Variation
For a different twist, consider making a Keto Mississippi Pot Roast. This version includes:
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- Butter
- Ranch dressing mix (or homemade ranch seasoning)
- Pepperoncini peppers
Step-by-Step Instructions for Keto Chuck Roast in a Slow Cooker
Here's how to make this easy and delicious keto pot roast:
- Season the meat: Season the beef chuck roast with salt and pepper.
- Sear the meat (optional): While not strictly necessary, browning the meat on the stovetop before placing it in the slow cooker can add depth of flavor. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the roast on all sides until browned.
- Prepare the slow cooker: Place the roast in a 6-quart slow cooker pan. Add the sliced onion, minced garlic, fresh parsley, and any other desired vegetables like carrots or celery. For a Mississippi Pot Roast, place the roast in your slow cooker insert.
- Add liquids and seasonings: Pour the beef broth (or wine) over the top. In a mixing bowl, combine the seasonings (salt, pepper, thyme, paprika, garlic powder). Pour over the chuck roast. Dissolve the beef concentrate or bouillon in the hot water, then pour over the pot roast. Add in the rest of the ingredients.
- Cook: Cover and cook on LOW for 7-8 hours or on HIGH for 4-5 hours, or until the meat is fork-tender. If the pot roast seems tough, it likely needs to slow cook longer. If you find that the pot roast in the Crock-Pot isn’t fork tender after the allotted cooking time, it needs to cook longer.
- Make the gravy: Remove the meat to a plate. Set the slow cooker to WARM. Strain the cooking liquids into a glass measuring cup. Use a spoon to skim the fat layer off the top of the cooking liquids. Season them with salt and pepper. Transfer to a medium saucepan. Heat over medium heat, and continue to simmer, whisking occasionally, until reduced into a rich sauce, about 10 minutes. For a thicker gravy, you can use a keto-friendly thickener like xanthan gum or konjac powder. Mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 1 tablespoon of cold water and stir that into the gravy. The cornstarch adds just 7 grams of carbs for the entire recipe. You can thicken any gravy by simply cooking it and reducing the liquid. To make gravy just add 2 cups of the drippings to a saucepan with 1 tbsp of xanthan gum. Whisk to incorporate the xanthan gum and simmer until it reduces.
- Shred the meat: Flake the beef with a fork.
- Serve: Distribute the flaked beef evenly among plates lined with mashed cauliflower or other keto-friendly sides. Spoon 2-4 tablespoons of gravy on top of each plate and serve. Slice and serve with your favorite keto friendly vegetables.
Instant Pot Instructions
To speed things up, you can cook a keto chuck roast in an Instant Pot. Cooking time varies based on the size of the meat, but I find 60 minutes at high pressure followed by a quick pressure release is just about right for a 5-pound chuck roast. Before slow cooking, the chuck roast should be seasoned with salt and pepper and then browned on both sides. Onions and vegetables add additional flavor, especially when sautéed in the juices from the meat before slow cooking.
Serving Suggestions and Side Dishes
This keto pot roast is delicious on its own, but it's even better with the right side dishes. Here are some keto-friendly options:
- Mashed cauliflower: A classic substitute for mashed potatoes. You can easily make cauliflower mash in the blender. All you need is a head of cauliflower, butter, salt and black pepper.
- Low-carb vegetables: Roasted or steamed broccoli, asparagus, green beans, or Brussels sprouts.
- Green beans almondine: Cooks up quickly for a simple vegetable side.
- Pan-fried Brussels sprouts with bacon: Will add in some fat and flavor.
- Keto mashed cauliflower with cream cheese: Picky eaters love this.
- Rutabaga: Try peeling and cubing it and put it on the bottom of the crockpot with the roast on top.
Tips and Variations
- Don't skip the fat: Using a tougher cut of beef with lots of marbling makes a better roast when making a recipe for a roast in the Crock-Pot.
- Make it spicy: Add a few extra pepperoncini peppers or red pepper flakes for a little added kick of flavor.
- Homemade Ranch Seasoning: Another tip I use to cut down on carbs is using Homemade Ranch Seasoning.
- Deglaze the pan: You can also deglaze the pan with your liquids and really make the most of all that flavor.
- Add Worcestershire sauce: Yes, Worcestershire sauce is a popular ingredient in some recipes for pot roast.
- Arrowroot instead of xanthan gum?: Yes, you can definitely use arrowroot in the gravy instead of xanthan gum.
- Choosing the Right Cut of Beef: When selecting a roast, there are several cuts to decide upon.
Storing and Reheating Leftovers
You can keep the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days. They easily dry out when reheated, so it's best to reheat them covered in the microwave at 50% power. You can also freeze the leftovers for up to three months. Freeze the meat and the cooking liquids separately. Thaw the pot roast in the fridge overnight to reduce the risk of the meat drying out.
Nutritional Information
Each serving contains 36 grams of protein, 20 grams of fat, and 351 calories. This low-carb keto version only has 6 grams net carb per serving.
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