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Homemade French onion pot roast served over mashed potatoes, topped with caramelized onions, pearl onions, and fresh thyme in rich brown gravy, looking tender, glossy, and comforting.

French Onion Pot Roast

This French Onion Pot Roast combines tender, fall-apart beef with deeply caramelized onions for a rich, savory gravy that tastes like it came from a bistro. Slow-cooked perfection with minimal effort — perfect for Sunday dinner or special occasions.
5 from 1 vote
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Course: dinner
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Blair's snacks French onion pot roast, French Onion Pot Roast, French onion pot roast Dutch oven, French onion pot roast Instant Pot, French onion pot roast slow cooker, French onion pot roast soup, French onion pot roast the farm style
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 3 hours
Caramelizing onions: 30 minutes
Total Time: 3 hours 50 minutes
Servings: 6
Calories: 510kcal
Cost: $25

Equipment

  • 1 Dutch Oven (Heavy-bottomed, oven-safe pot with lid)
  • 1 Sharp knife (For slicing onions)
  • 1 Cutting board (Sturdy surface for prepping ingredients)
  • 1 Wooden spoon (For stirring onions as they caramelize)
  • 1 Measuring cup (For liquids)
  • 1 Tongs (For searing the beef)
  • 1 Plate (To hold seared meat before braising)

Ingredients

  • 3–4 large Yellow onions - Thinly sliced into half-moons
  • 3–4 lbs Beef chuck roast - Boneless, well-marbled
  • 2 tablespoon Butter - For caramelizing onions
  • 2 cloves Garlic - Minced
  • 1 packet Dry onion soup mix - Adds rich flavor
  • 3 cups Beef broth - Low sodium preferred
  • 2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce - Deepens the umami
  • 3 sprigs Fresh thyme - Or 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 2 Bay leaves - Remove before serving
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard - Optional flavor enhancer
  • 1 teaspoon Balsamic vinegar - Brightens flavors at the end
  • 1 tablespoon Olive oil - For searing beef
  • to taste Salt & black pepper - For seasoning
  • ½ cup Red wine - Optional; replace part of broth
  • ½ cup Gruyère cheese - Optional topping
  • 2 tablespoon Fresh parsley - Optional garnish

Instructions

  • Slice onions into thin half-moons. Melt butter in Dutch oven over medium-low heat. Add onions and cook slowly for 20–30 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes, until deep golden brown and sweet. Don’t rush this step—it creates all the flavor.
  • Pat chuck roast completely dry, then season with salt and black pepper. Add a bit of oil to Dutch oven and brown all sides of the roast for 3–4 minutes per side. Remove and set aside on a plate.
  • Add minced garlic to caramelized onions and cook 1 minute. Stir in onion soup mix until fragrant, then pour in beef broth and Worcestershire sauce. Add thyme sprigs, bay leaves, and Dijon mustard if using. Scrape up brown bits from the bottom of the pot.
  • Return seared beef to pot, nestling it into the onions. Spoon onions and liquid over the top. Cover tightly and cook in a 300°F oven for 3–4 hours (or slow cooker on low for 8 hours) until fork-tender.
  • Remove bay leaves and thyme stems. Stir in balsamic vinegar to brighten flavors. Slice or shred beef, spoon onion gravy over the top, and garnish with parsley or melted Gruyère cheese if desired.

Notes

Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should be considered an approximation. Actual values may vary based on specific ingredients used and portion sizes.

Nutrition

Serving: 350g | Calories: 510kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 42g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 0.8g | Cholesterol: 135mg | Sodium: 860mg | Potassium: 980mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 320IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 110mg | Iron: 4.8mg