Pot Roast Seasoning Recipe, The Best, Perfect Pot Roast

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A mouthwatering pot roast beef that's been rubbed with the most delicious dry rub made from a homemade pot roast seasoning mix! This simple mix of common ingredients can transform a humble cut of meat into something extraordinary.

You can make this in an instant pot or even slow cook it if you're all about that set-it-and-forget-it goodness. I went with the instant pot this time, which meant tender meat in just 4-5 hours.

Pot Roast Seasoning

This pot roast seasoning mix has got everything you need for the perfect pot roast! It's got wonderful ingredients like garlic, onion, pepper, and spices that just come together in the most incredible way.

Don't worry about leftover seasoning – just store it in an airtight container in a cool place, and you're set for your next pot roast adventure. The best part is, you can use this blend for pork chops, beef roasts, or even a pork roast if you're in the mood.

Pot Roast Seasoning Blend

Homemade Spice Blend Ingredients:

Salt, sea salt is a great choice here, but your favorite salt will work fine too! (adjust to taste)
Black pepper
Garlic powder or minced garlic (you can add ½ a teaspoon more if you are a garlic lover)
Onion powder or minced onion
Dried thyme (or 2 teaspoons fresh thyme)
Dried rosemary (or 2 teaspoons fresh rosemary)
Paprika
*Optional - Dried oregano or basil, and 1 bay leaf to add to your pot!

This pot roast seasoning recipe is a general guideline regardless of the specific size of the roast. You can adjust the quantities of the seasoning ingredients based on the size of the roast you're cooking.

You can use about 1 to 1.5 teaspoons of seasoning per pound of meat. So, if you have a 3-pound pot roast, you might use around 3 to 4.5 teaspoons of the seasoning blend.

Remember that the seasoning is meant to enhance the natural flavor of the beef roast. It's always a good idea to start with a bit less seasoning and add more as needed during the cooking process.

Instructions

In a small bowl, mix together all the spices and herbs until well combined. Before searing or cooking the pot roast, pat the meat dry with paper towels and then rub the seasoning blend all over the surface of the meat.

Recipe Card

Pot Roast Seasoning

Yield: 6 teaspoons

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 5 hours

Total Time: 5 minutes

This simple mix of common ingredients can transform a cut of meat into something extraordinary.

Ingredients

2 teaspoons salt, sea salt is a great choice here, but your favorite salt will work fine too! (adjust to taste)
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder or minced garlic (you can add ½ a teaspoon more if you are a garlic lover)
1 teaspoon onion powder or minced onion
1 teaspoon dried thyme (or 2 teaspoons fresh thyme)
1 teaspoon dried rosemary (or 2 teaspoons fresh rosemary)
One teaspoon Paprika
Optional: ½ teaspoon dried oregano or basil, and 1 bay leaf to add to your pot!
¼ cup Worcestershire sauce and 2 cups beef broth (for pot)

Instructions

Proceed with your pot roast recipe, whether it involves searing the meat, slow cooking, or braising in the oven. Remember that personal preferences vary, so feel free to adjust the quantities of each seasoning to suit your taste. Some people might prefer a bit more or less of a certain spice, so don't hesitate to experiment and find the balance that you enjoy the most.

Notes

Before seasoning, pat the meat dry with paper towels to ensure a good sear. This step is essential for a rich, caramelized exterior.

Homemade Spice Blend- Whip up the homemade pot roast seasoning blend by combining salt, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, thyme and rosemary and paprika. It's a simple mix of spices from your spice cabinet, but it brings an incredible flavor to the dish. Plus it adds wonderful flavors to the gravy and mashed potatoes!

Rubbing the Meat- Massage the seasoning blend onto the meat's surface, ensuring an even coating. This step can be done just before SEARING or even a few hours in advance to let the flavors penetrate.

Searing for Flavor- Heat up some olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Sear the seasoned meat on all sides until it forms a beautiful brown crust. This step is where the magic begins, locking in the amazing flavor.

Adding Aromatics- Toss in some chopped onions, bell peppers, and fresh herbs like thyme and rosemary. These aromatic veggies enhance the taste and aroma of the pot roast.

Liquid Magic- Pour in 2 cups of beef broth, and a splash of Worcestershire sauce. These liquids will infuse the meat with incredible depth and an earthy flavor.

Time to Cook- Cover the Dutch oven with its lid, or if using an instant pot, seal it up. You can also throw in a bay leaf or two for extra aroma. For a slow cooker pot roast, set it and forget it for 4-5 hours on medium heat.

Pressure Cooking - If you're using an instant pot, set it to pressure cook mode for a quicker result. The tender meat will be ready in no time, thanks to the wonders of pressure cooking.

Testing for Doneness- After cooking, use a fork to check the tenderness of the meat. If it easily shreds, it's ready to go.

Thickening the Sauce - If you want a thicker sauce, you can mix corn starch with a bit of cold water and add it to the pot, then let it simmer for a few minutes until it thickens.

Tips

Selecting the Cut

Choose a quality cut of beef, like a beef chuck roast or rump roast, for the best results. The marbling in these cuts ensures a tender and flavorful pot roast.

Prepping the Meat

Before seasoning, pat the meat dry with paper towels to ensure a good sear. This step is essential for a rich, caramelized exterior.

Homemade Spice Blend

Whip up the homemade pot roast seasoning blend by combining salt, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, thyme and rosemary and paprika. And it adds wonderful flavors to the gravy and mashed potatoes!

Rubbing the Meat

Massage the seasoning blend onto the meat's surface, ensuring an even coating. This step can be done just before SEARING or even a few hours in advance to let the flavors penetrate.

Searing for Flavor

Heat up some olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Sear the seasoned meat on all sides until it forms a beautiful brown crust. This step is where the magic begins, locking in the amazing flavor.

Adding Aromatics

Toss in some chopped onions, bell peppers, and fresh herbs like thyme and rosemary. These aromatic veggies enhance the taste and aroma of the pot roast.

Liquid Magic

Pour in 2 cups of beef broth, and a splash of Worcestershire sauce. These liquids will infuse the meat with incredible depth and an earthy flavor.

Time to Cook

Cover the Dutch oven with its lid, or if using an instant pot, seal it up. For a slow cooker pot roast, set it and forget it for 4-5 hours on medium heat.

Testing for Doneness

After cooking, use a fork to check the tenderness of the meat. If it easily shreds, it's ready to go!

Thickening the Sauce

If you want a thicker sauce, you can mix corn starch with a bit of cold water and add it to the pot, then let it simmer for a few minutes until it thickens.

Serving

Serve the pot roast with the flavorful juices made into gravy for mashed potatoes, a green salad and soft homemade sourdough rolls, and don't forget to remove the bay leaves.