3 to 5lb.chuck roastcould also use top or bottom round roast
2onionspeeled and cut in half
6-8mediumcarrotspeeled and cut into 3-inch sticks
2cupbeef stock
1teaspoondry crushed rosemary or 3-4 fresh rosemary sprigs
1teaspoondried thyme or 2-3 fresh thyme sprigs
Instructions
Heat the olive oil over high heat in a large cast iron skillet or Dutch oven. Salt and pepper all sides of the roast well. When the oil is shimmering, add the roast and sear it well on all sides (about a minute per side). Remove the roast from the skillet and place it in the bottom of your slow cooker.
Add the two onions to the same skillet that the roast cooked in and sear them for one minute, cut side down. Add them to the slow cooker.
Place the carrots in the skillet and sear them for another minute, stirring often. Add 2 cups of beef stock to the hot skillet to deglaze the pan (the liquid will help remove all the little cooked on bits of vegetable and beef from the pan which adds tons of flavor). Pour the carrots and the broth from the skillet into the slow cooker.
Add more beef stock until the roast is half covered in stock (this might be up to another 4 cups of stock). Sprinkle herbs over the contents of the slow cooker.
Cover the slow cooker and cook on high for about 4-6 hours or on low for 6-8 hours (may need a little more time if you're using a 5-lb. roast). You'll know your roast is done if you can break off pieces of meat with your fork.
Serve the meat with the carrots and onion slices over some steaming mashed potatoes with gravy on the top.
Notes
To make this recipe in the oven, you can sear everything up in a large Dutch oven (6-7 quart) with a tight fitting lid. So follow the directions and instead of placing everything in the slow cooker, just place it on a cookie sheet and then when you are finished deglazing the pan with the broth, add the roast back to the pan and the onions and adjust the broth as needed. Place the lid on the Dutch oven and bake at 250 degrees F. for 3-6 hours depending on your oven and your roast.
If you don't have fresh herbs you can use 1 tablespoon each of dried herbs.
You can use the leftover broth and juices from the roast to make gravy! You can use this recipe and just use the juices in place of the broth (and add additional broth as needed to get the amount needed in the recipe.