French Onion Pot Roast (Oven or Slow Cooker)

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French Onion Pot Roast is one of the most delicious ways to enjoy a beef roast. The beef is slow cooked in the oven with beef broth, red wine and plenty of sliced onions, creating the most amazing onion gravy that perfectly coats the tender beef.

French onion beef roast over mashed potatoes and peas in a bowl beside it.

Table of Contents

What happens when you combine Easy French Onion Soup with comforting braised beef? This delicious one-pot meal is fall-apart tender and savory, and freezer friendly, too.

This french onion pot roast recipe is a comfort food meal that’s so satisfying. A hearty dish that is perfect for special occasions, cozy gatherings, or a weeknight dinner. Our Chicken and Stuffing Bake gives that same feel.

Both make-ahead friendly and freezer-friendly, the flavors of this best pot roast recipe are even better the next day.

This french onion roast recipe uses a dutch oven, yet I’ve included instructions using just a oven-safe pot and lid, or even making slow cooker french onion pot roast.

For a pork roast recipe, try our Rosemary Garlic Pork Roast.

Why You’ll Love French Onion Pot Roast

Slow Cooked to Perfection – The slow cooking process in the oven melds the sweet richness of caramelized onions with the hearty, savory notes of the pot roast, creating a fantastic depth of flavor. It also makes the beef fork tender.
Classic with a Modern Twist – While pot roast is a timeless dish, the addition of French onion elements elevates this ultimate comfort food, like with our Baked French Onion Chicken. Using caramelized onions and a splash of wine brings an aromatic complexity that enhances the traditional pot roast experience.
Versatile and Crowd-Pleasing – This dish works beautifully for both casual family meals and more refined dinner settings. It’s the kind of recipe that can impress guests without requiring hours of fuss, like our Slow Cooker Hawaiian Chicken Recipe.

Total Time: 3¼ Hours

Serves: 8

a whole french onion pot roast in a white casserole dish with dried thyme on top.

Ingredients and Notes

Ingredients on a table to make french onion roast.

Beef Chuck Roast – Chuck roast is affordable and the marbling becomes tender with extended slow cooking times. Yet the cut of beef can be substituted with another cut of beef suitable for slow cooking.
Butter – Salted butter was used in this recipe, however unsalted butter could instead be used. Also note, the butter is not an essential ingredient in this recipe, and can be omitted if preferred.
Onions – Large yellow onions were used in this recipe because they are perfect for caramelizing, however white onions could instead be used.
Garlic – Fresh garlic will taste best in this pot roast, however the fresh garlic could be substituted with 4 heaped teaspoons of minced jar garlic.
Red Wine – If you prefer, you can use extra broth or a splash of balsamic vinegar as alternatives. You can also use white wine if necessary.
Beef Broth – You can substitute with vegetable broth in a pinch, but the flavor won’t be quite as robust or hearty.
Dried thyme – The dried thyme could be replaced with a few sprigs of fresh thyme, or even dried rosemary.

As always, the full ingredients and recipe is on the printable recipe card at the end of this post.

Recipe Variations

Make Slow Cooker French Onion Pot Roast instead of using a Large Dutch Oven. To do so, sear and caramelize the onion as per the instructions. Then instead of placing int he oven, use the slow cooker and cook for 6 hours on high or 8 hours on low.
Add Mushrooms: Incorporate sliced mushrooms alongside the onions for an earthy, umami twist that enhances the richness of the pot roast.
Spicy Kick: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes or a dash of smoked paprika to bring a subtle heat and smoky nuance to the dish.
Slow Cooker Version: Prepare the recipe in a slow cooker for ease, adapting cooking times to 6-8 hours on low heat.
Add more spice by using our Homemade Onion Soup Mix!

a casserole dish with shredded beef roast and a wooden spoon.

Tips for Success

Don’t Have a Dutch Oven? No problem, you can still make this french onion pot roast in oven! Just make sure to use a heavy oven-safe pot with a tight-fitting lid to retain moisture and heat evenly. This ensures the meat stays tender and everything is locked in and mingling.
Brown the meat thoroughly – Searing the chuck roast in a hot pan before slow cooking locks in juices and creates a rich, caramelized crust. This step adds an essential layer of flavor that can’t be achieved by slow cooking alone.
Caramelize onions patiently – Take your time caramelizing the onions slowly over low heat to coax out their natural sweetness and develop a golden-brown color. Rushing this process can result in less flavor and a sharper onion bite.
Let the roast rest before slicing – Once cooked, allow the pot roast to rest for at least 15 minutes before slicing. This helps redistribute the juices, so each slice remains moist and flavorful rather than dry and crumbly.

How to Make French Onion Pot Roast

STEP 1 – Preheat the oven to 285°F. Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a dutch oven over a medium-high heat. Sear the roast for approximately 3 minutes on each side, or until golden. Take out the roast and set aside.

a dutch oven dish with cooked onions and garlic.

STEP 2 – Reduce the heat to low-medium. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil to the dutch oven along with the butter. Add the sliced onion and cook, stirring regularly, for 10 minutes or until softened and starting to turn golden, reducing the heat if the onion starts browning too quickly. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, for 1 minute or until fragrant.

A pan with cooked onion slices and broth in it

STEP 3 – Add the flour to the dutch oven and stir until well combined with the onions. Add the red wine and cook, simmer and stir, until thickened and reduced slightly.

a oven dish with french onion sauce and spices in it.

STEP 4 – Add the beef broth and dried thyme to the onion mixture and stir until well combined. Season to taste with kosher salt and black pepper.

a dutch oven with french onion chuck roast inside.

STEP 5 – Return the seared roast to the dutch oven along with any resting juices.

A dutch oven with a french onion pot roast inside with peas and potatoes in bowls beside it.

STEP 6 – Cover the dutch oven with a lid and transfer to the oven. Cook for 1 1/2 hours, then remove the lid and cook for a further 1 hour, or until the beef is tender enough to be shredded with a fork.

A white casserole dish filled with french onion beef roast and peas on the side in a bowl.

STEP 7 – Remove the beef from the dutch oven. Shred or cut the roast into pieces, and return to the dutch oven, mixing through the onion gravy. Serve the fall apart tender meat with your favorite sides and garnish with fresh thyme if desired.

The sauce can be reduced further by removing and setting aside the beef once cooked, and simmering the dutch oven over a low-medium heat. This will further thicken the sauce and intensify the flavors.

Serving Suggestions

We love to place the shredded french onion soup pot roast on top of creamy mashed potatoes or Roasted Garlic Cauliflower Mash because they soak up the flavorful roast juices and onion gravy.

It’s also a good idea to serve with crusty bread, Air Fryer Garlic Toast, or even Easy Biscuits.

Pair this delicious french onion pot roast with a side of peas, Roasted Green Beans, or Honey Glazed Carrots.

Storage and Freezing

Store this beef pot roast in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

This beef pot roast is suitable for freezing. Freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.

How to Reheat Pot Roast

Oven Method
Preheat your oven to 325°F (163°C). Place the pot roast and onion mixture in an oven-safe dish, cover tightly with foil, and heat for 20-30 minutes until thoroughly warmed. Stir halfway through for even heating.

Microwave Method
Place leftovers in a microwave-safe container, cover loosely, and heat on medium power for 2-3 minutes, stirring halfway through to avoid cold spots. Add a splash of broth if needed to keep the meat moist.

Stovetop Method
Gently reheat on the stove over low heat in a covered skillet, stirring occasionally. Adding a little beef broth helps maintain moisture and revives the sauce’s silky texture.

Slow Cooker Method
Place leftovers in the slow cooker on low for 1-2 hours until heated through, perfect for hands-off warming while keeping flavors intact.

Ways to Use Leftover French Onion Pot Roast

French Onion Pot Roast Sandwich
Pile reheated pot roast with caramelized onions onto crusty bread or baguette slices and top with with melted gruyere cheese to make the best sandwiches the next day.
Shepherd’s Pie
Mix the leftover shredded pot roast with its onion gravy with some frozen mixed vegetables. Place into a greased casserole dish and top with mashed potatoes. Bake until bubbly and golden brown.
Tacos
Make tacos using the shredded beef leftovers in soft tortillas or hard taco shells. You can also add rice, fresh cilantro, a squeeze of lime, sour cream and salsa.
French Onion Pot Roast Soup
Add broth and any vegetables of choice with the leftovers to make a hearty and comforting soup.

a casserole dish with shredded beef roast with onions and a bowl of mashed potatoes and peas beside it.

Recipe FAQ

Can I make french onion pot roast in the slow cooker?

Absolutely! Simply sear the roast and caramelize the onions, then place everything in the slow cooker instead of cooking in the oven. Cook for 6-8 hours on low in the crock pot.

What type of onion should I use for french onion pot roast?

It’s recommended to use either yellow onion or white onion. Yet in a pinch you can use or even red onions if necessary.

More French Onion Recipes

French Onion Meatballs can be served in so many ways.
Baked French Onion Pork Chops are anything but boring.
This French Onion Chicken Bake is loved by the whole family.
Classic Easy French Onion Soup cannot be beat.

If you’ve tried this French Onion Pot Roast or any other recipe on my blog please let me know how it went in the comments below. I love hearing from you. Finally, consider leaving a 🌟 star rating while you’re here. Thanks!

a casserole dish with shredded beef roast with onions and a wooden spoon.

French Onion Pot Roast

French Onion Pot Roast combines tender and flavorful roast with the classic soup for the ultimate comfort food. Rich, savory, and slow-cooked to perfection with a caramelized onions gravy and the most delicious fall apart beef.

5 from 1 vote

Print Pin

Prep Time: 15

Cook Time: 3

Total Time: 3 15

Servings:

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Author: Tammi

Equipment

1 dutch oven

Ingredients

2 tbsp olive oil (divided)
3 lb beef chuck roast
1 tbsp butter
2 lb onions (thinly sliced)
4 cloves garlic (minced or finely chopped)
3 tbsp all purpose flour
1 cup red wine
2 cups beef broth
1 tsp dried thyme
salt and black pepper (to taste)

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 285°F/140°c.
Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a dutch oven over a medium-high heat. Sear the roast for approximately 3 minutes on each side, or until golden. Take out the roast and set aside.
Reduce the heat to low-medium. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil to the dutch oven along with the butter. Add the sliced onion and cook, stirring regularly, for 10 minutes or until softened and starting to turn golden, reducing the heat if the onion starts browning too quickly. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, for 1 minute or until fragrant.
Add the flour to the dutch oven and stir until well combined with the onions. Add the red wine and cook, stirring, until thickened and reduced slightly.
Add the beef broth and dried thyme to the onion mixture and stir until well combined. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Return the roast to the dutch oven along with any resting juices.
Cover the dutch oven with a lid and transfer to the oven. Cook for 1 1/2 hours, then remove the lid and cook for a further 1 hour, or until the beef is tender enough to be shredded with a fork.
Remove the beef from the dutch oven. Shred or cut the roast into pieces, and return to the dutch oven, mixing through the onion gravy. Serve.

Notes

This pot roast can be cooked in a slow cooker for 6 hours on high or 8 hours on low.
Store this beef pot roast in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat until piping hot using the oven or microwave.
This beef pot roast is suitable for freezing. Freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating according to the above directions.