What’s for dinner? How about Pot Roast that makes its own gravy? That takes only a few minutes to prepare, then all day in a slow cooker or on the table in an hour if you prefer Instant Pot? That’s what I’m talking about!

Pot Roast with Gravy

Pot Roast in a crock pot is economical, classic comfort food, and a quintessential family favorite. Bonus: leftovers are even better on the second day. What’s not to love?

Get ready for fall-apart beef that’s tender, flavorful, and smothered in a rich gravy. This recipe is mouthwateringly good, yet insanely simple to make. Use a slow cooker or Instant Pot. Pick the method that works best for you!

And now get ready for a quirky recipe—nothing to measure, no chopping, cutting, or browning. Just three seasoning packets, a roast and you’re good to go.

MORE: 5 Quick and Easy Homemade Soup Recipes to Soothe the Soul and Budget

Variations

Spice mixes are available in just about every supermarket and grocery store. You will find these packets with name brands like Schilling or McCormick or look for their generic or store brand cousins.

Below are Amazon links if you prefer to order online or to compare prices. You’ll save quite a bit if you can find the bulk containers of the same products.

Individual packets

Brown Gravy dry mix

Chicken Gravy dry mix

Pork Gravy dry mix

Italian dressing dry mix

Ranch dressing dry mix

Bulk containers

Brown Gravy dry mix

Ranch dressing dry mix

Poultry Gravy dry mix

MORE: 3 Quick and Cozy Slow Cooker Soup Recipes

A close up of a plate of food, with Pot roast

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

4.62 from 18 votes

Three Packets and a Roast

Get ready for fall-apart beef that's tender, flavorful, and smothered in a rich gravy it makes itself. This recipe is mouthwateringly good, yet insanely simple to make. Use Instant Pot or slow cooker—the method that works best for you!

Prep Time5

Cook Time1

Total Time1 5

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Servings:

Calories: 314kcal

Ingredients

1 (3-4 lb.) beef roast chuck, London broil, round—you name it!
1 packet Brown Gravy dry mix
1 packet Italian dressing dry mix
1 packet Ranch dressing dry mix
1 cup water
½ cup red wine (optional)

Instructions

Place beef in Instant Pot or slow cooker (no need to brown, but you sure can do that if you want).
Pour contents of the three seasoning packets into a small container along with the water (and optional wine if using), the pour all over the raw meat.
Slow cooker: Cook on Low for 8-10 hours for a very large roast (yes that long), fewer hours if smaller, or on High for 5-6 hours. Check for doneness after 4-5 hours, as time will vary depending on the cut of beef, size and so on.
Instant Pot: Set to high pressure (or 'meat/stew' if your IP model has that setting) for 60 mins. Quick release.
Optional: Add cut up potatoes and carrots during the last hour of cooking; frozen peas during the last 10 minutes in slow cooker. For Instant Pot, remove roast, add cut up raw potatoes and carrots to the gravy, then high pressure for 4 to 5 minutes, quick release.
Expect beautiful, rich, dark brown gravy and the best Pot Roast ever.

Notes

Adding the (optional) red wine adds an amazing depth of flavor and works to tenderize the beef.

While preparing in an Instant Pot (pressure cooker) is a viable option, I have never had results equal to the long, slow, 8 to 10 hours on Low in a slow cooker. The gravy is good from Instant Pot, but not as velvety and smooth as when prepared in slow cooker.

Three Packets and a Chicken

One whole chicken with Chicken Gravy Mix, Italian Dressing Dry Mix, Ranch Dressing Dry Mix, and 1 cup water. (skip the optional red wine suggested for beef).

Three Packets and a Pork Roast

One pork roast with Pork Gravy Mix, Italian Dressing Dry Mix, and Ranch Dressing Dry Mix and 1 cup water (do not add the optional red wine suggested for beef).

Nutrition

Calories: 314kcal

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Please keep your comments positive, encouraging, helpful, brief,
and on-topic in keeping with EC Commenting Guidelines

Regina says:

March 31, 2020 at 10:20 am

I’ve made similar adapted my mothers for crock pot. I sear the meat, place into pot. Small amount of wine or water to pan that u seared the meat in. Sprinkle pkg. onion soup mix over meat, 1 can tomato sauce or some leftover homemade tomato sauce.Cover I cook on low as instructed.
Enjoy

Diane says:

March 31, 2020 at 10:13 am

Perfect timing, I had a sirloin roast just defrosted in the fridge and it’s already in the instant pot! Thank you for the recipe!

Ann Webster says:

March 31, 2020 at 10:09 am

I’ve made this a few times with a beef roast. Delicious and not too salty.

Marilyn Machado says:

March 31, 2020 at 9:52 am

I’ve been making my pot roasts like this for years. The only problem is the price of the ranch dressing is out of sight. When it’s on sale I stock up on it.

Linda Hodges says:
March 31, 2020 at 11:08 am

If you have an Aldi nearby, it is very cheap there and can’t tell a difference in flavor.
Mary Hunt says:
February 13, 2021 at 8:11 am

Try the generic brand ranch dressing mix. $1 a packet at my local Kroger.

jimijean says:

March 31, 2020 at 9:38 am

Depending on the size of your piece of beef, you might…
Day 1: Pot roast with onions, potatoes, carrots, gravy
Day 2: Beef stew with biscuits
Day 3: Beef Manhattan with mashed potatoes, gravy
Day 4: Beef BBQ on a bun (if you’re really good at stretching)
Just take care in the beginning so you won’t run out of gravy.

Sue says:

I agree with Susan…sounds like way too much salt!

Susan Mary Sharp says:

March 31, 2020 at 8:48 am

Haven’t made this and probably won’t. Those seasoning packets are great but oh my goodness, the sodium content!

cheryl shanks says:
February 12, 2021 at 8:25 am

Remember Mary has on her site , in the archives how to make some of the mixes for just pennies, go do a search, they might be on there. I think at one point she had one for ranch dressing. Then just don’t do as much salt.
Debbie says:
April 5, 2022 at 10:20 am

I agree! I rarely use any of the seasoning packets for anything. Just way too salty in my opinion.

Gail Wickham says:

March 31, 2020 at 8:46 am

This recipe is so good, I only use 1/2 package of Good Seasons Italian Dressing. Just my taste the whole package was to much salt.

Joanne says:

March 31, 2020 at 8:30 am

We’re making all kinds of homemade soups,whole-wheat bread and yogurt to stretch our resources. Even making homeade French hot cocoa which is very rich so you only need a modest serving to feel like a decadent treat.

Mary Hunt says:
March 31, 2020 at 8:31 am

Share?! Pleeeeze?

Karen Ranieri says:

March 31, 2020 at 8:14 am

Mary, you’re killing me!!! I JUUUUST took out the chuck I froze a few weeks ago!!! We are on the same wavelength. Let’s see what you post tomorrow… LOL.

Stay healthy!

Mary Hunt says:
March 31, 2020 at 8:30 am

Haha. Don’t you love it when that happens?! (Maybe I really can read minds !)