How to make the best slow cooker pot roast - This simple and easy recipe uses onion soup mix, a can of soda pop, and a can of cream of mushroom soup to make a tender, juicy, and flavorful roast that falls apart with a fork. It's an awesome, classic, easy CrockPot dinner. Add potatoes, carrots, and other vegetables for a full meal.
I'm really serious about giving up Mountain Dew. I intended to give it away this week, but the weather has been too cold for me to leave it my car all day while I'm at work, so it's still tempting me from the garage. I'm not giving in.
I was trying to think of something I could do with some of the pop, and I remembered this recipe that my friend Holly shared with me many years ago when we were both pregnant.
Holly swore by this recipe to make the most tender and juicy pot roast, and I have to admit that I agree with her. It's so easy and it comes out perfectly every time.
Holly's recipe used regular soda pop, and I thought about using it for mine as well since I have some in the garage. But it would be a lot healthier and fewer calories to use a can of diet, so that's what I've included in the recipe below. If you don't do artificial sweeteners, you could use the regular full sugar version with similar results, just more calories.
How to make the best slow cooker pot roast
- Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. When the oil is hot, place the pot roast in the oil and cook until it is browned. Do this on each side so that the whole roast is brown on the outside.
- Put the browned roast into the slow cooker. Sprinkle the onion soup mix over it and pour the soup and soda pop over top.
- Fill the crock with your choice of veggies. We prefer potatoes and carrots. You can pack the vegetables in pretty tight.
- Cook on low for 6-8 hours.
- If you want to make gravy for your pot roast, whisk 2 tablespoons of cornstarch into the broth in the bottom of the slow cooker. Turn it on high to thicken the gravy a bit.
While you're here, check out these other delicious beef recipes:
- Easy Shredded Beef Tacos in the Instant Pot
- Very Best Pot Roast Ever (Instant Pot Recipe)
- Low Carb Beef, Cheddar, and Chive Meatballs
- Beef and Green Beans | A Quick and Easy Weeknight Recipe
- Mongolian Beef in the Instant Pot
Slow Cooker Pot Roast - Use Up Leftover Soda Pop
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 pounds pot roast
- 1 package onion soup mix
- 1 can diet soda pop (Most people I know use a cola flavor like Pepsi or Coke, but I've heard that you can use a lemon-lime flavor, too. Really, I think you could use any flavor. Dr. Pepper would probably be good.)
- 1 can cream of mushroom soup low fat
- Fresh veggies like potatoes, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, and onions
Instructions
- Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. When the skillet is hot, place the pot roast in the pan and cook until it is brown. Do this on each side so that the whole piece of meat is brown on the outside.
- Put the browned roast into your slow cooker. Sprinkle the onion soup mix over it. Pour the soup and soda pop over top of everything.
- Toss the veggies into the crock to fill it up. We really pack the veggies in.
- Cook for 6-8 hours on low, and the pot roast and veggies should come out perfectly cooked.
- If you want to make gravy from the broth that's left over, you can whisk in a tablespoon or two of cornstarch and allow it to cook a bit longer in the slow cooker.
HeathersHodgepodge says
Yum. I've been known to make beer bread using soda in place of the beer. Dr. Pepper makes a really good version of the bread.
Kathleen says
I use ginger ale when I do my corned beef too! So don't throw away your soda as we call it here in NY!
Have a good weekend!
darnold23 says
I've never tried this even though I have heard of it. Thanks for the suggestion. Come join me for Crock Pot Wednesday this week:)
Mary says
What an interesting recipe. Thank you for sharing it with us. Have a wonderful day.
Kristen says
What a great way to use up that pop instead of throwing it out. Good luck in giving it up. I hope you are able to stick to your goal.
facebook-1596927112 says
I needed a recipe that utilized leftover cola--this is great!
ButterYum says
Very interesting with the addition of the cola. I've done a cola ham before, but I don't think I've seen it called for in a beef recipe. I might have to give it a try. Thanks for sharing!!
🙂
ButterYum
FeelsLikeHomeBlog says
I never thought of that. I bet it's delicious!
FeelsLikeHomeBlog says
My husband calls it soda, too, and so does everybody else where we live. I'm originally from NW PA, and we call it pop there.
FeelsLikeHomeBlog says
I'm going to try to find more slow cooker recipes, so I'll try to time them for Wednesdays.
FeelsLikeHomeBlog says
How did it turn out in the ham? I've never had ham that way.
facebook-1596927112 says
I needed a recipe that utilized leftover cola--this is great!
FeelsLikeHomeBlog says
I never thought of that. I bet it's delicious!
FeelsLikeHomeBlog says
My husband calls it soda, too, and so does everybody else where we live. I'm originally from NW PA, and we call it pop there.
FeelsLikeHomeBlog says
I'm going to try to find more slow cooker recipes, so I'll try to time them for Wednesdays.
FeelsLikeHomeBlog says
How did it turn out in the ham? I've never had ham that way.
Stitchin Sweet Sue says
Yes, made this today, DELISH! A fine way to cook with Coke, will make again, thx:)