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    Framed Cooks » Recipes » Slow Cooker Favorites

    Slow Cooker Coca-Cola Pot Roast

    Published: Jun 23, 2022 · Modified: Feb 20, 2025 by Kate Morgan Jackson · This post may contain affiliate links · 6 Comments

    Jump to Recipe

    This fix it and forget it recipe for Slow Cooker Coca-Cola Pot Roast is packed with juicy flavor and tender vegetables!

    Slow cooker coca cola pot roast over grits on a plate.
    Jump to:
    • Why we love this recipe
    • Ingredients you need
    • Ingredient notes and substitutions
    • How to make this recipe
    • Recipe FAQs
    • Want to round out your meal?
    • Other pot roast recipes we love! ❤️
    • We want to know what you think!
    • Slow Cooker Coca-Cola Pot Roast

    Why we love this recipe

    One of my very favorite strategies for making dinner during busy weekdays is to break out my beloved slow cooker.

    (And okay, I love it on weekends too, but there is nothing like throwing a few ingredients in your Crock-Pot, walking in the door at the end of a long day and realizing that Dinner Is Almost Ready.)

    There’s something about cooking things low and slow that makes everything from this pot roast to my decadent recipe for Slow Cooker Brownie Cake always comes out perfectly, with practically no cooking needed.

    Just a little background on the soda part…one of the most popular recipes on this here site for years – years! – has been my dad’s recipe for Coca-Cola Ribs.

    Grandpa's Coca-Cola Ribs sitting on a cutting board.

    Pretty much everyone who tries it says they are the best ribs ever…and I think a big part of it is the soda, which tenderizes the meat and adds just a hint of flavor.

    As it turns out, my dad was on to something wonderful, because these Slow Cooker Coca-Cola Pot Roast are, yes, just as delectably tender and flavorful ribs. as his famous ribs! Father Knows Best. ❤️

    Ingredients you need

    Ingredients for slow cooker coca-cola pot roast on a counter.

    Ingredient notes and substitutions

    • Chuck Roast: This is a thick, hearty cut of beef that is perfect for cooking slowly at low temperatures.
    • Soda: We do use Coke but you can use any brand of cola. We recommend using regular (not diet) as the sugar works with the carbonation to enhance both the texture and flavor.
    • Garlic: You don’t have to peel it! Just cut it half horizontally and drop it in. You’ll want to scoop it out at the end…it’s done its job.

    See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities and nutritional information.

    How to make this recipe

    Seared chuck steak in a skillet.

    STEP 1: Heat 4 tablespoons of canola oil in a large deep skillet over medium high heat. Sear a 3 pound boneless beef chuck roast for 5 minutes per side.

    Cola sauce for pot roast in a slow cooker.

    STEP 2: Add a quarter cup of flour and 2 cups of cola soda to your slow cooker and whisk until smooth.

    Seared chuck roast and cola sauce in a slow cooker ready to be cooked.

    STEP 3: Add 3 tablespoons of tomato paste, 2 tablespoons of grainy mustard and a tablespoon of Worcestershire and stir. Add the beef to the slow cooker.

    Coca cola pot roast ingredients in a slow cooker ready to be cooked.

    STEP 4: Add some chopped carrots, a peeled and chopped sweet onion, a halved bulb of garlic, and a teaspoon each of cinnamon and pepper to the cooker. Cover and cook on low for eight hours.

    Shredded pot roast in a bowl.

    STEP 5: After 8 hours, remove the beef and shred with two forks into large chunks.

    Cooked pot roast vegetables in a bowl.

    STEP 6: Scoop out the veggies with a slotted spoon and put in a bowl, tossing out the garlic bulb.

    Thickening slow cooker cola pot roast sauce with flour.

    STEP 7: Turn the slow cooker to high and add the remaining flour, shaking it in through a small fine mesh strainer if you have one. Stir until the gravy is slightly thickened. Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed.

    Fully cooked slow cooker coca cola pot roast in a slow cooker.

    STEP 8: Return the beef to the cooker and stir it around until it is well coated with sauce. Give it a taste and add some salt and pepper if you think it needs it.

    Now all that’s left to so is to spoon your coca cola pot roast into warmed bowls, over noodles, mashed potatoes, grits…or just by its delicious self!

    Recipe FAQs

    What is a slow cooker and how does it work?

    A slow cooker (also sometimes called a Crock-Pot, which is a brand name) is a kitchen appliance that cooks food at a low temperature for long periods of time (at least 4 hours and sometimes as long as 10). It’s perfect for meats and stews and soups that benefit from cooking for hours to tenderize them.

    Can I use diet soda for this recipe?

    Nope! The sugar in regular cola is part of the secret to making it so tender. And don’t worry, I promise it won’t taste too sweet!

    Can I slice the pot roast instead of shredding it?

    You can! Although this pot roast is so tender, it may break apart into chunks – and you can serve it up that way too!

    Can this recipe be made ahead of time?

    Yes! As with so many slow cooker recipes, it is even better the next day. Just warm it up either by putting the slow cooker on high, or transferring it to a large pot and heating it on the stove. Keep it in the fridge until you are ready to heat it up.

    Can you explain a little more about that whole bulb of garlic?

    You bet! Take the whole bulb (no need to peel it) and slice it in half so the insides of all the garlic cloves are exposed (think about cutting a grapefruit in half and seeing the middle of all the various sections). Pop it in the cooker and you are good to go!

    Have a question that I didn’t answer?

    Leave your question in the comments section below and I will answer pronto!

    Want to round out your meal?

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      Carrot Mashed Potatoes
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      Polenta with Corn
    • Cheesy Grit Cakes with parsley on plate.
      Cheesy Grit Cakes
    • Slice of southern coca-cola cake with ice cream on top.
      Coca-Cola Cake

    Other pot roast recipes we love! ❤️

    • Slow cooker turkey pot roast in a bowl with a spoon.
      Slow Cooker Turkey Pot Roast
    • Shredded pot roast on a plate with mashed potatoes.
      Shredded Pot Roast
    • Slow Cooker Apple Cider Pot Roast
      Slow Cooker Apple Cider Pot Roast
    • Maple Pot Roast in a bowl with polenta.
      Maple Pot Roast

    Looking for more slow cooker inspiration? Here is our complete collection of slow cooker recipes!

    We want to know what you think!

    If you try this recipe, we would love to hear how it came out for you! I’d be super grateful if you could leave a star rating (you pick how many stars! 🌟 ) and your thoughts in the Comments section.

    Print

    Slow Cooker Coca-Cola Pot Roast

    Slow cooker coca cola pot roast on a plate with grits.
    Print Recipe
    Pin Recipe

    5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

    5 from 2 reviews

    This fix it and forget it recipe for Slow Cooker Coca-Cola Pot Roast is packed with juicy flavor and tender veggies!

    • Author: Kate Morgan Jackson
    • Prep Time: 20 minutes
    • Cook Time: 8 hours
    • Total Time: 8 hours 20 minutes
    • Yield: 6
    • Category: Dinner
    • Method: Slow Cooker
    • Cuisine: American

    Ingredients

    Scale
    • 4 tablespoons canola oil
    • One boneless beef chuck roast, around 3 pounds or so
    • 1/4 cup flour
    • 2 cups cola soda
    • 3 tablespoons tomato paste
    • 2 tablespoons grainy mustard
    • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
    • 1 large sweet onion, peeled and cut into eighths
    • 8 carrots, peeled and cut into large chunks (or 2–3 cups baby carrots)
    • I bulb of garlic, cut in half horizontally
    • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
    • 1 teaspoon black pepper
    • 1/4 cup flour for sauce thickening
    • Sea salt

    Instructions

    1. Heat canola oil in a large deep skillet over medium high heat. Sear roast for 5 minutes per side.
    2. Add flour and soda to slow cooker and whisk until smooth. Add tomato paste, mustard and Worcestershire and stir. Add the beef to the slow cooker.
    3. Add carrots, onion, garlic, cinnamon and pepper to the cooker. Cover and cook on low for eight hours.
    4. After 8 hours, remove the beef and shred with two forks into large chunks. Scoop out the veggies with a slotted spoon and put in a bowl, tossing out the garlic bulb.
    5. Turn the slow cooker to high and add the remaining flour, shaking it in through a small fine mesh strainer if you have one. Stir until the sauce is slightly thickened. Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed.
    6. Return the beef to the cooker and stir it around until it is well coated with sauce.
    7. Spoon beef into warmed bowls, over noodles, mashed potatoes, grits…or just by its delicious self

    Notes

    • Chuck Roast: This is a thick, hearty cut of beef that is perfect for cooking slowly at low temperatures.
    • Soda: You can use any brand of cola. We recommend using regular (not diet) as the sugar works with the carbonation to enhance both the texture and flavor.
    • Garlic: You don’t have to peel it! Just cut it half horizontally and drop it in. You’ll want to scoop it out at the end…it’s done its job.

    Did you make this recipe?

    Share a photo and tag @FramedCooks on Facebook or Instagram…we want to see it!

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    Comments

    1. Beth Fitzgibbons says

      February 17, 2024 at 7:24 pm

      Not a big fan of beef roast, but this was delicious! I only had Diet Coke, so I add a teaspoon of brown sugar, and I didn’t have tomato paste so I added ketchup. Will definitely be making it again.

      Reply
      • Kate Morgan Jackson says

        February 17, 2024 at 7:26 pm

        Beth! I’m so glad you liked it and bravo for working with that you had on hand! :)

        Reply
    2. Susie says

      February 06, 2024 at 12:52 pm

      The Coca Cola gives this such a unique flavor. It was a perfect meal for a cold day!

      Reply
      • Kate Morgan Jackson says

        February 06, 2024 at 2:17 pm

        Hi Susie! It’s amazing what a little can of soda can do, right?

        Reply
    3. Marilyn says

      June 25, 2022 at 12:05 am

      Is the garlic bulb unpeeled? Maybe a stupid question, but I’ve never used a half bulb of garlic. TY.

      Reply
      • Kate Morgan Jackson says

        June 25, 2022 at 9:53 am

        Actually a very good question that I will add to the recipe, but in the meantime, you just take the whole bulb, slice it in halve so that you see the insides of all those cloves, and then pop it in – no need to peel! :)

        Reply

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    Hi, I’m Kate! I’m a recipe writer, food photographer and devoted bacon lover. I’m so glad you’re here!

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