Crock Pot Coca Cola Pot Roast
This Crock Pot Coca Cola Pot Roast is tender, flavorful, and easy to make! A comforting slow cooker dinner that the whole family will love.
A TENDER SLOW COOKED ROAST RECIPE
There’s nothing better than coming home to the smell of a hearty pot roast that has been simmering all day! What makes this different from other pot roast recipes? The soda helps tenderize the beef and adds a subtle sweetness that perfectly balances the rich and savory gravy. Add in tender potatoes and carrots and you have a whole meal! Perfect for those days you just want a warm, belly filling meal!
It is the best pot roast I’ve ever tasted by far!!
– Darylynn
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
You add the soda because it has acid. The acid helps to tenderize the meat and adds flavor to the pot roast. You don’t taste it as a separate ingredient.
Because of the packet ingredients, this can be salty to some (especially if you are sensitive to salt). If you are at all concerned this will come out too salty for your tastes, I definitely suggest using low or no sodium options where possible. You can always add in additional salt if you feel it needs it.
Yes, I’m not a fan of diet sodas, but you can use them if you prefer that.
Searing the beef first locks in flavor and adds rich, caramelized depth to the final dish. It’s a small extra step that makes a big difference in taste. If you are short on time, you can skip it.
Cooking on low for about 8 hours gives you the most tender, flavorful beef. It takes longer, but the results are worth the wait. Cooking on high is not great for pot roasts as they don’t turn out as tender.
After the roast and vegetables are done, remove them from the slow cooker. Stir in a cornstarch slurry (2 tablespoons cornstarch + 2 tablespoons water) and cook on high for 5–10 minutes until the sauce thickens.
This really is a whole meal with the carrots and potatoes but it is also shown served here with Mashed Potatoes. If you want more vegetables, some steamed broccoli or Green Beans are a great option. Even some egg noodles work. Some Butter Dip Biscuits or Dinner Rolls round it out too.
Leftover pot roast can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. If you’d like to keep it longer, freeze it for up to 3 months. Be sure to let the roast and gravy cool completely before transferring to freezer-safe containers or bags. When ready to eat, thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat gently on the stove or in the microwave until hot and tender.
INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (SEE RECIPE CARD BELOW FOR THE FULL RECIPE)
- beef chuck roast– if you need a different option, try chuck roast for brisket or bottom round instead.
- smoked paprika – if you don’t have smoked paprika, just use regular.
- onion powder
- garlic powder
- butter – salted or unsalted butter will work. When searing, try using olive oil if you need a quick swap.
- baby potatoes– If you don’t have baby potatoes, try Yukon golds or sweet potatoes and cut them up.
- carrots and onion – cut into pieces
- Coca Cola– you can swap out the sodas. Other options to try are Pepsi, Dr. Pepper, or root beer. Try going for a sweet and smoky flavor by using half the Coca Cola with whatever bbq sauce you have.
- Worcestershire sauce
- packet beefy onion soup mix– if you’re worried about sodium intake, make sure to use a low sodium soup mix, or use a Homemade Dry Onion Soup Mix.
- packet brown gravy mix– you can use a low sodium gravy mix to control sodium intake
- garlic cloves – fresh if you have it and the jarred stuff if you don’t
HOW TO MAKE CROCK POT COCA COLA POT ROAST
First, season the chuck roast with salt, pepper, smoked paprika, onion powder and garlic powder. In a large skillet, over medium high heat, melt the butter. Place the chuck roast into the skillet and sear the meat until brown then flip over and brown the other side. Turn off heat and place the roast into a 5-6 quart crock pot.Place the potatoes, carrots and onion around the roast.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the coca cola, worcestershire sauce, beefy onion soup mix, brown gravy and garlic together. Be careful, the soda will fizz as you do this so do it slowly. Pour the sauce over the roast and vegetables in the crock pot.
Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or high for 6 until the meat is tender and falls apart. Note: Do not remove the lid while cooking. Continuing to check on the meat releases steam and can make the meat take longer to cook and it won’t come out as tender. Just set it and forget it! Optional: Top with a little chopped parsley and serve!
CRAVING MORE RECIPES?
Crock Pot Coca Cola Pot Roast
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 3 pounds boneless beef chuck roast (see notes below)
- 2 Tablespoons butter (salted or unsalted – can also use oil)
- 1.5 pounds baby potatoes, halved
- 4 carrots, cut into pieces
- 1 onion, sliced
- 12 ounce can Coca Cola
- 2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 ounce packet beefy onion soup mix (see notes below)
- 1 ounce packet brown gravy mix (see notes below)
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- chopped fresh parsley (for garnish, optional)
Instructions
- In a small bowl combine 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon black pepper, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon onion powder and 1 teaspoon garlic powder and stir to combine.
- First, season both sides of the 3 pounds boneless beef chuck roast with the seasoning (using it all.)
- In a large skillet, over medium high heat, melt 2 Tablespoons butter (or oil of your choice.)
- Place the chuck roast into the skillet and sear the meat until brown then flip over and brown the other side. You are not cooking it all the way through, just browning it to give it color and flavor.
- Turn off heat on the skillet and place the roast into a 5-6 quart crock pot.
- Place 1.5 pounds baby potatoes, halved, 4 carrots, cut into pieces and 1 onion, sliced around the roast.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together 12 ounce can Coca Cola, 2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce, 1 ounce packet beefy onion soup mix, 1 ounce packet brown gravy mix and 4 garlic cloves, minced together. Be careful, the soda will fizz as you do this so do it slowly.
- Pour the sauce over the roast and vegetables in the crock pot.
- Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or high for 6 until the meat is tender and falls apart. NOTE: Do not remove the lid while cooking. Continuing to check on the meat releases steam and can make the meat take longer to cook and it won’t come out as tender. Just set it and forget it!
- Shred meat a bit with two forks. Optional: top with a little chopped fresh parsley and serve!
Video
Notes
- Please refer to my FAQ’s (Frequently Asked Questions) and ingredient list above for other substitutions or for the answers to the most common questions.
- You can use brisket or bottom round as well. It does not need to be exactly 3 pounds. It can be roughly 2-3 pounds for this recipe.
- If you have any sensitivity to salt or are worried this will be too salty for your tastes, use no or low sodium options and do not use salt to season the chuck roast. You can always add additional salt if you feel it needs it.
Homemade Onion Soup Mix recipe: https://www.thecountrycook.net/homemade-dry-onion-soup-mix/
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer
“The Country Cook” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
It is the best pot roast I’ve ever tasted by far!!
Thanks so very much Darylynn! I really appreciate you taking the time to come back and comment!
looks GREAT can not wait to make this.
I made this yesterday and it was AMAZING!! Tonight, it’s my dinner and the flavors are incredible! The soda tenderized the roast! I didn’t have worcestershire sauce, onion powder, or garlic powder; instead I used 4 whole cloves of garlic on a bed of baby red potatoes and carrots. So. darn.good.
This was absolutely delicious! So tender and flavorful!
Can you do this stove top or in the oven too?
You could. Just use your favorite stovetop or oven pot roast recipe to figure out the cooking time 🙂
Would really be making this wonderful Pot Roast with Coca Coca. It’s so Delicious.
just made this today. absolutely the best pot roast I’ve ever made. thank you for a great recipe
Hi Brandi
Just started following you. I Live in the foothills of Mt. Rainer in Washington State and I thought to myself you live in the country so why give this website a shot. So far so good with the recipes.
I am a retired Savory Chef 15 years and a Culinary Art Instructor for Teens I taught for 18 years. My employer was the Boys&Girls Club of South Puget Sound based in Tacoma WA.
Now to the recipe. I am going to replace the coke with Pepsi, as that is what in the house. They both have acidity to tenderize the meat and very similar ingredients.
Similar function: Both Coca-Cola and Pepsi are dark, carbonated sodas that work in a similar way in pot roast recipes to tenderize the meat due to their sugar and acid content.
Flavor profile: You can expect a very similar flavor from the final dish, though Pepsi may have a slightly different flavor profile than Coke.
Recipe adjustments: No adjustments are needed for other ingredients. You can substitute Pepsi for Coca-Cola on a 1:1 basis.
Other soda options: Other dark sodas like Dr. Pepper or root beer can also be used as substitutes.
Thank You for the time and hard work it takes you to keep on top of this endeavor.
Gregor
Thanks so very much Gregor! Very true on all counts! 🙂
Hey brandie ive been making your Mississippi pot roast for years I saw this an thought maybe ill try something different looks delicious an im sure my family will love it thanks again for sharing your recipes with me
I know this will be delicious, but am wondering if you take the potatoes out and mash them, as it looks like they are definitely mashed in your photo (which is what I’d do). I make Mississippi Pot Roast at least twice a year (more often if we have guests), and I always put it over mashers with the gravy I make from the juice in the crockpot (I’ve tweeked my recipe, so it’s a little different than the original!).
Yes definitely! You can keep them whole if course but they are super tender and flavorful to mash up! Whatever is your preference 🙂
Could I use Diet Coke?
I answer that above in the frequently asked question section 🙂
How long is cooking time in the Instant Pot
I haven’t tested in the instant pot but I’m sure you could look at other instant pot recipes for pot roast to give you an idea 🙂
Sweet and tender hardy for sure.
Can you use pork roast meat instead ?
I’m sure you could. I haven’t personally tested it though. Let me know if you try it!
Yum!! Can’t wait to make this!
Make it! You won’t regret it! So, so good!!