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Savory French Onion Pot Roast Recipe

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★★★★★

4.2 from 41 reviews

This Savory French Onion Pot Roast is a comforting, tender beef dish infused with deeply caramelized onions, red wine, and aromatic herbs. Slow-cooked in a Dutch oven, the pot roast becomes meltingly tender, with rich, flavorful gravy perfect for serving alongside mashed potatoes, polenta, or buttered egg noodles. A perfect hearty meal for family dinners and comfort food lovers.

Ingredients

Scale

Meat and Seasonings

  • 3 lb boneless pot roast (chuck)
  • 1 teaspoon fine sea salt, divided
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided
  • 1 sprig fresh rosemary
  • 1 bay leaf

Vegetables and Aromatics

  • 3 lbs yellow onions (about 8 medium-large)
  • 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

Liquids and Others

  • 3 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided
  • 1 Tablespoon pure maple syrup or brown sugar
  • 1 Tablespoon all-purpose flour or gluten-free all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup red wine (or more beef stock if not using wine)
  • 2 1/2 cups beef stock

Instructions

  1. Preheat and Season: Preheat a Dutch oven over medium heat and add 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Season the pot roast with half of the salt and black pepper to enhance the meat’s flavor.
  2. Sear the Pot Roast: Carefully add the pot roast to the Dutch oven and sear it on all sides until nicely browned. This process takes about 10–12 minutes total and helps lock in the juices. Once browned, transfer the meat to a plate to rest.
  3. Prepare Onions: Using a food processor with a thin slicing attachment, halve and peel the onions, then slice them thinly through the processor to prepare for caramelizing.
  4. Sauté Onions: Add the remaining olive oil to the Dutch oven and toss in all the sliced onions. Season with the rest of the salt and pepper. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until onions are translucent and limp, about 5 minutes, allowing any released liquid to evaporate.
  5. Caramelize Onions: Lower the heat to medium-low and continue to cook the onions, stirring occasionally, for 20 minutes until they reduce and achieve a light golden color. Scrape the bottom often to prevent burning.
  6. Preheat Oven: While the onions cook, preheat your oven to 300°F (150°C) to prepare for slow roasting.
  7. Add Garlic and Sweetener: Stir in the finely chopped garlic and maple syrup (or brown sugar). Cook for 7–8 minutes, stirring frequently to soften the garlic and deepen the caramelization of the onions.
  8. Add Flour and Deglaze: Sprinkle the flour over the onions and stir well to coat. Deglaze the pot by pouring in the red wine (or beef stock) and scrape any browned bits from the bottom, then add the beef stock and stir to combine.
  9. Add Roast and Herbs: Return the pot roast to the Dutch oven, ensuring the onion liquid covers the meat. Add the rosemary sprig and bay leaf. Increase heat to medium-high and bring the mixture to a simmer.
  10. Oven Cooking: Secure the lid on the Dutch oven and transfer it to the preheated oven. Cook undisturbed for 3 hours. After this time, remove, turn the roast in the juices, pull it apart into pieces with forks, cover again and return to the oven for an additional 30–45 minutes until the beef is meltingly tender.
  11. Rest and Refrigerate: Take the pot roast out of the oven, remove the lid, and allow it to cool completely. Refrigerating the roast in the same pot overnight allows the flavors to deepen significantly.
  12. Serve: Reheat gently before serving hot with mashed potatoes, polenta, or buttered egg noodles for a delicious, hearty meal.

Notes

  • For gluten-free option, substitute all-purpose flour with gluten-free flour.
  • If you prefer not to use wine, increase beef stock by one cup to deglaze the pan.
  • Using a Dutch oven is key to slow cooking and flavor development.
  • Cooling and refrigerating before serving intensifies the flavor, but it can be served immediately if desired.
  • Leftovers keep well in the fridge for up to 3 days and the flavors improve overnight.

Keywords: French onion pot roast, comfort food, slow cooked beef, caramelized onions, Dutch oven recipe, hearty dinner

Find it online: https://epicrecipebox.com/savory-french-onion-pot-roast-recipe/