how do you thicken pot roast gravy in a crock pot

This Slow Cooker Pot Roast is tender and flavorful, with potatoes, carrots and gravy. It’s everything you love about a classic pot roast, made easy in the crock pot.

There’s nothing like pot roast to bring up memories of cozy Sunday dinners at home and Mom’s home cooking. It’s the perfect hearty comfort food as we head into fall and winter!

When you want the convenience of prepping your dinner in the morning and letting it slow cook while you go about your day, this slow cooker pot roast is just the recipe you need. Like my Crockpot Chicken and Potatoes and Slow Cooker Beef Stew, this crock pot roast is a family favorite. Serve it with Homemade Biscuits or Yeast Rolls for soaking up extra gravy.

Cornstarch, potato starch, and chickpea flour are a couple of pantry-friendly ways to thicken soups, stews, and sauces in the slow cooker.
how do you thicken pot roast gravy in a crock pot

Slow Cooker Pot Roast Ingredients

  • Beef Chuck Roast: This is the best type of meat for pot roast.
  • Onion and Garlic: For flavor.
  • All-Purpose Flour: To thicken the gravy.
  • Beef Broth: For the gravy.
  • Tomato Paste and Worcestershire Sauce: Add depth of flavor to the gravy.
  • Dried Thyme: I prefer to use dried thyme instead of fresh because dried herbs hold up well during slow cooking and they are easy to keep on hand in your kitchen.
  • Carrots: Chop them into 1-inch pieces.
  • Potatoes: I like to use baby potatoes in this recipe because you can add them whole to your slow cooker, and they are often pre-washed so you save time. If you need a substitute, I recommend Yukon gold potatoes. Cut them into large chunks.
  • Cornstarch: For thickening the gravy.

Find the full recipe with ingredient amounts in the recipe card below.

How to Thicken Gravy

After your pot roast is done cooking, you may want to thicken the gravy. The easiest way to do this is to stir in a cornstarch slurry during the last hour of slow cooking time. You’ll combine two tablespoons of cornstarch with two tablespoons of water in a small bowl and stir until smooth. Stir this mixture into the slow cooker when there is one hour of cook time left. I find that the gravy thickens best on high, so if you have your slow cooker set to low you may want to increase the heat to high at this point.

You can also thicken the gravy on the stove. This is faster, but takes a little more effort. You will need to remove the meat, potatoes and carrots from the crock pot and then transfer the juices in the pot to a pan on the stove. Stir in the cornstarch slurry and cook over medium high heat for 2 to 3 minutes, until thickened.

How to Thicken Gravy in Crock Pot – 6 Best Ways for Slow Cooker Gravy

FAQ

How do you thicken gravy in a crock pot roast?

What is the best way to thicken a pot roast or beef stew? I use a crock pot and make my beef stew on low setting overnight. I put all the ingredients into the pot and turn it on. As it starts to heat up I add a mixture of 2 tablespoons of corn starch with a little bit of water to liquify it.

Will gravy thicken in slow cooker?

This moist environment allows you to leave food to cook for hours without risking it drying out. But because there is no evaporation, the liquid isn’t able to reduce and thicken naturally in a slow cooker, often resulting in watery sauces and loose gravies. The common solution? Using a thickener.

How do you thicken pot roast gravy without cornstarch?

All-purpose flour: You can thicken sauces with all-purpose wheat flour. For every tablespoon of cornstarch, use three tablespoons of flour. Combine raw flour with cold water in a small bowl to form a paste, then add it into the sauce as it’s simmering. Cooking the flour in the sauce will remove the flour taste.

Does taking the lid off a slow cooker thicken the sauce?

Take the lid off Place the cooker on a high setting, and open the lid for 30-45 minutes to let excess moisture cook off. The liquid will reduce, leaving you with a thick and delicious gravy or sauce. (Tip: This trick can also be applied for thickening stews, or when you’ve accidentally added too much liquid.)

How do you thicken gravy in a slow cooker?

The most reliable method to thicken gravy from the juices in a slow cooker is to create a roux – a mixture of flour and fat – in a separate pan and then incorporate the liquid from the pot. Starch is widely used in cooking to thicken sauces and gravies and the traditional way of doing this is to make something called a roux.

How do you thicken pot roast gravy?

After your pot roast is done cooking, you may want to thicken the gravy. The easiest way to do this is to stir in a cornstarch slurry during the last hour of slow cooking time. You’ll combine two tablespoons of cornstarch with two tablespoons of water in a small bowl and stir until smooth.

How do you make gravy in a slow cooker?

Here’s a simple 10 step method to follow to make some excellent slow cooker gravy using a roux: Remove the meat from the slow cooker and put it somewhere to keep warm. Strain the leftover liquid from the slow cooker into a saucepan, discarding any solids or debris.

How to make gravy for pot roast?

By blending the beef juices with flour or cornstarch, you’ll obtain a thick, hearty gravy that will enhance the taste of your meal. When you’re cooking up a tasty pot roast recipe, you might enjoy some gravy with the meat. Whether you use a roasting pan or a slow cooker, whipping up a batch of gravy shouldn’t take long.

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