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

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4.64 from 19 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

Sue B says:

March 31, 2024 at 11:14 am

this recipe is SO easy! I hate to cook and this has truly made my day! My husband has gotten picky in old age, used to love my cooking, now disparages everything. roast beef too tough no matter what I do, this isnt done, thats done too much, that doesnt taste the same, or plain old “I dont like it anymore”~!!!! decided to try this one on him, gues what??? IT IS HIS FAV AND SAYS HE COULD EAT EVERY WEEK!!!! go figure….GOD BLESS YOU for this one…now how about some more like it? simple, in time/ingredients. we usually have a meat and 1/2 veg. hate doing side dishes too, like to open can or freezer things. gotten lazy in old age too….me, I could live on a sandwich…lol..thanks again!

Patty says:

August 8, 2023 at 8:49 am

How about getting means like this with less salt. So much of us have to watch how we eat. Everyone should watch their salt in take so they won’t end up like us that need to cut back. Please give us some helpful tips on cooking with less or no salt. Thanks

Mary Hunt says:
August 8, 2023 at 6:12 pm

Hi Patty … EC is not a food blog but rather a frugal living blog. However, there are plenty of food blogs out there that are highly specialized. I suggest you take a look at Low Salt Kitchen To find others google: low salt food blogs. I think you’ll find great info and recipes from experts in this specific niche! Hope that helps …

Catherine says:

October 31, 2022 at 1:29 pm

Trying roast this weekend Yummy. Great sponge idea in pots

DD says:

October 11, 2022 at 9:35 am

Mary, Is the cooking time different for the whole chicken or the pork roast? And what size chicken or pork roast? Thank you!

Mary Hunt says:
October 11, 2022 at 3:03 pm

This is not an exact science. I am going to say the timing would be similar and the size … about 3.5 lbs, give or take. And there is no harm in checking at say the half-way point. With slow cooking it’s difficult to overcook meat or poultry unless you to leave it go for say 12 hours!

Donna R says:

October 10, 2022 at 3:45 pm

My family refuses to eat this recipe they want my recipe which takes a 2 – 3 pound roast (cheapest I can find) add 1 pkg onion soup mix (I use the kind we get from Aldis) and 1 large can of mushroom soup (the low salt – low-fat kind) and about a 1/2 soup can of water – put in the crock pot for 4-6 hours or in the oven in a covered roaster for 3-4 hours – when meat is about halfway done add carrots, potatoes, and any other vegetables you want – when meat and vegetables are tender – remove from cooker or oven and serve – with a husband, 2 boys, and a girl, we’re lucky if any is left for leftovers.

Carol Rossi says:

June 5, 2022 at 3:38 pm

Hi Mary.
Three packets and a beef roast looks great! I saw the calories in the nutrition listing but could you tell us the sodium, as well.
Thank you for EC. It’s a great help.
Carol

Jodi says:

May 18, 2022 at 5:17 pm

Just stumbled across this recipe recently. Was a little surprised about the packets, but wanted to try it. Just made it tonight, and it is WONDERFUL!!! Easy and I love it. Thank you!

Lisa says:

February 6, 2022 at 5:50 pm

This roast was Absolutely Scrumptious!!! I can’t believe it is so good and so very easy! This is now my go to roast.

Beef Pot roast says:

September 1, 2021 at 6:53 pm

Mary, I love your tips! Keep up the good work! We lived in Panama for a number of years. The beef there is grass fed and a bit tough. Before going to bed, I put the roast in the crock pot and added 1/2 bottle of red wine then set the crockpot on low and let it cook overnight and until we wanted our dinner the next day, usually late afternoon. Add the carrots and potatoes in the morning and it was always just as juicy and tender as a filet served in a pricey restaurant. Back in the States, I still cook any cheap cut of beef in red wine in my CrockPot but start it in the morning and get the same results by late afternoon, so tender and tasty!