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    Home » Recipes » Main Courses

    Slow Cooker Balsamic Beef Roast

    Published: Mar 30, 2022 · Modified: Sep 1, 2024 by Karin and Ken · This post may contain affiliate links. 12 Comments

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    Slow cooker balsamic beef roast produces the most tender, flavorful, beef roast with a gravy that is absolutely divine. This beef slow cooker recipe cooks up all day for an easy weeknight dinner. Slow cooking is best for less expensive cuts of beef such as cross rib roast and top or bottom blade.

    Slow Cooker Balsamic Beef Roast on plate with mashed potatoes.

    Before this recipe, my favorite beef roast to make was The Best and Easiest Pot Roast, which is still incredible in its own right, but the flavor of this roast and the gravy is like none other I have ever tasted before.  Really.

    The softer, almost sweet flavor of balsamic vinegar adds something special to the beef roast as it cooks and gives the gravy great flavor.

    This meal is sure to become one your whole family loves when you serve it up for dinner. It's perfect with mashed potatoes but I also love it with my favorite potato casserole and some air fryer green beans.

    A black plate covered in chunks of BALSAMIC BEEF ROAST on mashed potatoes with gravy.

    Ingredients in Slow Cooker Balsamic Beef Roast

    This might seem like a long list of ingredients for such a simple recipe, but don't worry most of these are easy items you may even already have in your cabinet.

    • beef pot roast
    • onion
    • garlic
    • bay leaves
    • beef broth
    • balsamic vinegar
    • tomato paste
    • Worcestershire sauce
    • Dijon mustard
    • honey
    • rosemary
    • flour
    • salt
    • pepper
    • sugar

    Check the recipe card for the exact quantities of each ingredient.

    How to Make Slow Cooker Beef Roast

    Step 1: Prep the Beef

    Coat your beef with ½ teaspoon of salt and ½ teaspoon of pepper. Set aside. 

    Step 2: Assemble the Ingredients in the Slow Cooker

    In the slow cooker add the onion, garlic, and bay leaves over the bottom, and then place the beef roast on top. 

    Step 3: Mix and Add the Sauce

    In a medium bowl combine the broth, vinegar, tomato paste, mustard, honey, Worcestershire sauce, rosemary, and the remaining salt and pepper. Stir everything together until blended. Pour the mixture over the beef.

    Step 4: Cook

    Cover and cook on low until beef, is cooked and tender, about 6-8 hours. Discard bay leaves.

    Remove beef onto a plate and remove the strings if any. Set aside to rest.

    Step 5: Make the Gravy

    In a bowl whisk together flour with ⅓ cup of water.

    Remove juices and add to saucepan. Cover and whisk on medium-high until simmering for about 20 minutes or until sauce thickens to your desired consistency. Add parsley. Taste the gravy and add sugar if necessary.

    Slice beef and serve up with gravy and noodles or mashed potatoes.

    Close-up of slow cooker balsamic beef roast on black plate.

    Substitutions

    Don't have the correct ingredients on hand? Or want to change something up? Here are some helpful tips for you to change this slow cooker cross rib roast or another type of beef roast.

    • Balsamic vinegar - This type of vinegar brings a sweeter flavor than other kinds of vinegar so I don't recommend using one of them. Swap it out with red wine or simply leave it out and add extra beef broth.
    • Worcestershire sauce - If you don't have any use soy sauce or coconut aminos instead.
    • Rosemary - Swap it out for thyme or marjoram or your favorite blend of herbs.

    If you love recipes like this, you may also enjoy these slow cooker honey garlic meatballs.

    Equipment

    All you need to cook up tender balsamic beef roast are a few simple tools.

    • Slow cooker
    • Whisk or wooden spoon
    • Saucepan
    • Knife and cutting board

    Storage

    Leftovers: Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to five days in an airtight container or in the freezer for up to three months.

    Reheat: To reheat the beef, you can reheat shredded pieces of roast in a skillet or saucepan on top of the stove or in the oven at 350 degrees F. Add some beef broth to the pan as needed to heat the beef.

    Tips

    Here are some special tips to follow so your balsamic roast beef comes out perfectly.

    • Don't worry about choosing an expensive cut of roast to use to make slow cooker balsamic pot roast. Even the toughest piece of meat can cook up into a tender, juicy beef dinner.
    • Keep an eye on the liquid in the pot as it helps to tenderize the roast. It's important to keep fully covered so the liquid doesn't evaporate. If needed, add more liquid to the slow cooker while it's cooking.
    • Let the beef rest before serving for the best flavor and juiciest servings of beef.

    FAQ

    Do you have questions about making slow cooker beef roast? Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about making it.

    What cut of beef works best for slow cooker roast beef?

    Tougher cuts of beef are perfect to make in the slow cooker. They are often more affordable cuts of beef but cooking them slowly in the crockpot makes them perfectly tender and delicious. Some different cuts to consider are the cross rib roast, rump roast, top or bottom blade. If you aren't sure which to buy while in the store, your butcher can help with some recommendations for cooking beef in a slow cooker.

    Do you have to brown a roast before putting it in the crockpot?

    Some people prefer searing the roast prior to cooking it in the slow cooker, but I find that step to be completely unnecessary. It doesn't really change up the flavor of the finished roast.

    Should meat or vegetables go in the crockpot first?

    It doesn't really matter as it all cooks together and the vegetables are really there just to add flavor. I prefer to place them on the bottom so they sit in the broth and cook up and soften more quickly infusing their flavors into the juice the beef roast is sitting in.

    Slow cooker cross rib roast cooked in balsamic sauce served up on a plate.

    Slow Cooker Balsamic Pot Roast Video

    Have a look at our video for our Slow Cooker Balsamic Pot Roast below!

    YouTube video

    More Slow Cooker Beef Recipes

    If you're looking for more Dinner Recipes Using Beef Broth look no further. All our favorites are listed in one place for you to check out if you're interested. If you love cooking meals with your slow cooker, you might also enjoy these beef dishes.

    • Slow cooker beef tips and vegetables in a white bowl with sticks.
      Slow Cooker Beef Tips and Vegetables
    • A plateful of tomato pot roast on a plate with broccoli and mashed potatoes.
      Creamy Tomato Pot Roast (Slow Cooker)
    • Slow cooker chinese pork chops are served up on a black plate with rice and peas.
      Slow Cooker Chinese Style Pork Chops
    • Slow Cooker Beef, Beer and Onion Stew
      Slow Cooker Beef, Beer and Onion Stew
    Slow Cooker Balsamic Beef Roast on plate with mashed potatoes.

    Slow Cooker Balsamic Beef Roast

    Karin and Ken
    Slow cooker balsamic beef roast produces the most tender, flavorful, beef roast using some of the toughest cuts of meat such as a cross rib roast, rump roast, or top and bottom blade. The balsamic vinegar adds flavor and a gravy that is absolutely divine.
    4.75 from 4 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 8 hours hrs
    Resting Time 20 minutes mins
    Total Time 8 hours hrs 25 minutes mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Servings 8 people
    Calories 522 kcal

    Equipment

    • large slow cooker

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 - 2 ½ pounds beef pot roast, boneless, top or bottom blade or cross rib
    • 1 large onion sliced
    • 2 tablespoons garlic minced
    • 4 bay leaf
    • 1 cup beef broth
    • 1 can (5 ½-6 oz) tomato paste
    • ½ cup balsamic vinegar
    • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce plus 2 teaspoons
    • 1 tablespoon honey plus 2 teaspoons
    • 1 tablespoon dijon mustard plus 2 teaspoons
    • 1 teaspoon rosemary dried
    • ⅓ cup all-purpose flour
    • 1 tablespoon parsley dried
    • 1 teaspoon salt separated
    • 1 teaspoon pepper separated
    • 1 tablespoon sugar if needed
    Get Recipe Ingredients

    Instructions
     

    • Get out and measure your ingredients.
      Overhead photo of all the ingredients needed to make Balsamic Beef Roast.
    • Coat your beef with ½ teaspoon of salt and ½ teaspoon of pepper. Set aside. 
      Raw Beef roast covered in salt and pepper
    • In slow cooker add the onion, garlic and bay leaves. Place beef over top. 
      slow cooker with onion, garlic and bay leaves with beef on top
    •  
    • In a medium bowl combine broth, vinegar, tomato paste, mustard, honey, Worcestershire sauce, rosemary and remaining salt and pepper.
      Broth, vinegar, tomato paste, mustard, honey, Worcestershire sauce, rosemary, salt and pepper in a bowl. Combine.
    • Stir until blended.
      Mixture blended in bowl.
    • Pour over beef.
      Balsamic Mixture poured over beef in slow cooker.
    • Cover and cook on low, until beef is cooked and tender, 6-8 hours. Discard bay leaves.
      Beef roast cooked in slow cooker.
    • Remove beef on to plate and remove the strings if any. Set aside to rest.
      Balsamic Beef Roast served on a black plate with bay leaves.
    • In bowl whisk flour with ⅓ cup water.
      flour and water added to pot.
    • Remove juices and add to saucepan. Cover and whisk on medium high until simmering for about 20 minutes or until sauce thickens to your desired consistency. Add parsley. Taste gravy and add sugar if necessary.
      juices from slow cooker with flour and water in pot.
    • Slice beef.
      Tender SLOW COOKER BALSAMIC BEEF ROAST in chunks on block plate
    • Serve with gravy and noodles or mashed potatoes. Enjoy every bite!
      A black plate covered in chunks of BALSAMIC BEEF ROAST on mashed potatoes with gravy.

    Notes

    Storage:
    Leftovers: Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to five days in an airtight container or in the freezer for up to three months.
    Reheat: To reheat the beef, you can reheat shredded pieces of roast in a skillet or saucepan on top of the stove or in the oven at 350 degrees F. Add some beef broth to the pan as needed to heat the beef.
    Tips:
    Here are some special tips to follow so your balsamic roast beef comes out perfectly.
    • Don't worry about choosing an expensive cut of roast to use to make slow cooker balsamic pot roast. Even the toughest piece of meat can cook up into a tender, juicy beef dinner.
    • Keep an eye on the liquid in the pot as it helps to tenderize the roast. It's important to keep fully covered so the liquid doesn't evaporate. If needed, add more liquid to the slow cooker while it's cooking.
    • Let the beef rest before serving for the best flavor and juiciest servings of beef.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 522kcalCarbohydrates: 14gProtein: 50gFat: 30gSaturated Fat: 13gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 15gTrans Fat: 2gCholesterol: 176mgSodium: 664mgPotassium: 951mgFiber: 1gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 86IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 64mgIron: 6mg
    Keyword balsamic beef crockpot, cross rib roast slow cooker, slow cooker beef roast
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
     

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    Comments

    1. Anonymous says

      January 28, 2025 at 11:53 am

      Just started making tis recipe this morning. Can't wait to try it tonight. Will give an update but the recipe was super simple to throw together. Thanks for the recipe so far😀😀😀

      Reply
      • Karin and Ken says

        January 28, 2025 at 1:20 pm

        I can’t wait to hear what you think of it. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do. All the best. Karin

    2. Nicole says

      April 17, 2023 at 12:26 pm

      5 stars
      We just made this dish last night. Man what a great tenderized beef roast that balsamic makes and the gravy, was to die for. We used a bottom blade and it still turned out perfect. We will definitely be doing this again. So yummy. Leftover meat for sandwiches today for work. Absolutely brilliant!

      Reply
      • Karin and Ken says

        April 17, 2023 at 7:04 pm

        Thank you for all your kind words! I’m so glad you enjoyed this roast as much as we do! Thank you for taking the time to let me know. You made my day. I love this recipe. All the best. Karin

    3. Kristine says

      June 13, 2022 at 12:10 am

      5 stars
      Definitely by far the best-tasting beef roast recipe. I will for sure make it again. Also, added potatoes and carrots.

      Reply
      • Karin and Ken says

        June 13, 2022 at 4:35 am

        I can’t thank you enough for your kind words! You made my day. I love this roast too and am always glad I’m not the only one! 😉 If you enjoy pork try my balsamic pork roast. You’ll even love the way the house smells while it’s cooking! Take care and all the best. Karin

    4. Natalee Neufeld says

      December 25, 2021 at 8:19 pm

      4 stars
      Made this recipe and it was delicious just used a quarter cup of balsamic vinegar instead of half. Also added carrots and potatoes. Will definitely make again

      Reply
      • Karin and Ken says

        January 01, 2022 at 11:48 am

        I am so glad you enjoyed this recipe. It's a personal favorite! Thank you for letting me know how you changed it. I am always curious. Thank you and take care. Karin

      • Sarah says

        December 02, 2022 at 2:58 pm

        Why oh why aren't the measurements in the readable part of the recipe??? The video is laggy and slow.

      • Karin and Ken says

        December 02, 2022 at 3:08 pm

        I am sorry you’re experiencing difficulties. The recipe is at the bottom of the post. The fastest way to find it is once you are on the recipe page at the top under the title there’s a big blue button that says jump to recipe. Push it and scroll down a second to see the specific recipe with exact ingredients. I hope you try this roast. It’s delicious. Take care and hope I’ve helped at least a little. Enjoy your day. Karin

    5. TD says

      November 21, 2021 at 10:02 pm

      5 stars
      This came out very tasty. Thanks for the recipe. I did do a swap of the beef broth for homemade bone broth that I had in the freezer.

      Reply
      • Karin and Ken says

        January 01, 2022 at 11:57 am

        I'm so glad you enjoyed it! We love this recipe around here! I can't thank you enough for taking the time to comment. All the best. Karin

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    Welcome!

    We are the kitchen divas: Karin and my partner in life, Ken.

    We have been attached at the heart and hip since the first day we met, and we love to create new dishes to keep things interesting. Variety is definitely the spice of life!

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