Slow Cooker Recipe: Savory Maple & Dijon Pot Roast — Recipes from The Kitchn |Cooking With Amanda

Like many of you, I grew up eating pot roast on a (very) regular basis. And while I will always love my mother's old-school version, I felt it was time for a little upgrade. I've nixed the "pantry helpers" and replaced them with Dijon, maple, and balsamic for delicious take on a classic.

My mom, a busy wife and mother of three, adhered to a strict weekly dinner rotation consisting of "new American" classics. Her repertoire of recipes was quick, consistent, and — most importantly — didn't stir up complaints from the peanut gallery. She made no apologies about using convenience products to get food on the table, nor should she have. To this day, the mere thought of her cheesy chicken spaghetti and creamy beef stroganoff rouse a deep urge to be transported back to my youth.

Like many Southerners, pot roast and potatoes were a Sunday night tradition, and her recipe to this day is still my gold standard. (Its not-so-secret secret? Lipton's onion soup mix.) In all honesty I've never attempted her pot roast in my kitchen — I guess it's one of those memories I felt was better left alone. That said, all this Arctic weather of late has kept the old one-pot wonder on my mind. So I brushed off my dusty slow cooker, lonely from its creaky attic shelf, but instead of reaching for my mother's recipe binder, I decided to create a new pot roast tradition to call my very own.

This recipe uses my favorite cast of characters to create a rich yet homey dish. I've eaten one too many pot roasts on the dryer side, so my goal was a buttery, falling-apart piece of meat. The slow cooker is the ideal candidate for the job: low heat for a long time makes this recipe melt-in-your mouth delicious. And while my mom always cooked potatoes and carrots along with the meat, I wanted something a little more dressed up. Creamy stone ground grits provide a perfect foil for the savory gravy, while maple roasted carrots add just a hint of sweet. It may not be the same pot roast of my childhood, but I think my mom will approve.

Maple-Dijon Pot Roast

Serves 4 to 6

2 1/2-3 pounds beef chuck roast (See Recipe Notes)
4-5 slices bacon, diced (or neutral cooking oil)
3 large onions, peeled and sliced into half moons
1 1/2-2 cups chicken stock
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon maple syrup
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Fresh thyme, for garnish

To serve: Creamy grits, egg noodles, or mashed potatoes and/or oven-roasted carrots

Pat the beef dry with paper towels and season generously with salt and pepper.

Set a large Dutch oven or heavy skillet over medium-high to high heat. Add the bacon and cook until some fat starts rendering and it begins to turn golden. Push the bacon to the sides and add the beef. Sear both sides until golden brown, about 10 minutes per side, and transfer all the meat to the bowl of the slow cooker.

Pour off all but 2 tablespoons of the bacon fat. Reduce heat to medium. Add the onions and cook until starting to soften, about 5 minutes. Pour in a few tablespoons of chicken stock and bring to a boil, scraping up any of the brown bits from the bottom of the pan. Pour the onions and pan juices into the bowl of the slow cooker.

In a separate bowl, whisk the remaining chicken stock, Dijon, balsamic vinegar, maple syrup, paprika, salt, and pepper until combined. Pour the liquid mixture over the roast. Close the lid and cook on LOW heat until the meat falls apart and is meltingly tender, about 8 hours.

Transfer the roast to serving bowl or platter and cover with foil. Pour the cooking liquids into large saucepan and bring to a boil. Cook until the gravy is reduced to desired thickness. Cut the roast into chunks and pour hot gravy over the top. Serve with creamy grits, egg noodles, or mashed potatoes and/or oven-roasted carrots.

Recipe Notes

Beef chuck from the shoulder area is the ideal meat for a pot roast. Cuts of beef chuck can go by many names: 7-bone pot roast, blade roast, chuck-eye roast, boneless chuck roast, shoulder pot roast, mock tender, flat iron roast, and cross-rib roast. Choose whichever one has the size and shape to suit your needs. I tested with a 2 1/2 pound 'boneless chuck roast.'
To make in a Dutch oven: Prepare the meat and vegetables for the pot roast as directed, then place all the ingredients in a Dutch oven. Cover and simmer over very low heat (or in a 325°F oven) until the potroast is tender. Cooking time will be reduced, so begin checking the roast after about 2 hours.