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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.
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
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
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.
STEP 2: Add a quarter cup of flour and 2 cups of cola soda to your slow cooker and whisk until smooth.
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.
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.
STEP 5: After 8 hours, remove the beef and shred with two forks into large chunks.
STEP 6: Scoop out the veggies with a slotted spoon and put in a bowl, tossing out the garlic bulb.
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.
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
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.
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!
You can! Although this pot roast is so tender, it may break apart into chunks – and you can serve it up that way too!
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.
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!
Leave your question in the comments section below and I will answer pronto!
Want to round out your meal?
Other pot roast recipes we love! ❤️
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.
Slow Cooker Coca-Cola Pot Roast
This fix it and forget it recipe for Slow Cooker Coca-Cola Pot Roast is packed with juicy flavor and tender veggies!
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 hours
- Total Time: 8 hours 20 minutes
- Yield: 6
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 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
- Heat canola oil in a large deep skillet over medium high heat. Sear roast for 5 minutes per side.
- 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.
- Add carrots, onion, garlic, cinnamon and pepper to the cooker. Cover and cook on low for eight hours.
- 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.
- 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.
- Return the beef to the cooker and stir it around until it is well coated with sauce.
- 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.
Beth Fitzgibbons says
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.
Beth! I’m so glad you liked it and bravo for working with that you had on hand! :)
Susie says
The Coca Cola gives this such a unique flavor. It was a perfect meal for a cold day!
Hi Susie! It’s amazing what a little can of soda can do, right?
Marilyn says
Is the garlic bulb unpeeled? Maybe a stupid question, but I’ve never used a half bulb of garlic. TY.
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! :)