Glenn’s Pot Roast: The Simplest Recipe You’ll Ever Make
Some recipes are complicated. Long ingredient lists. Fancy techniques. Multiple trips to the grocery store.
This is not one of those recipes.
Glenn’s pot roast is beautifully simple: chuck roast, salt, pepper, water, and time. That is it. No onions. No wine. No secret spice blend. Just beef slowly transforming into something tender and comforting.
And somehow, maybe because it is so simple, it has become one of those meals that feels like home.
The beauty of this recipe is not just how good it tastes. It is how unbelievably easy it is to make.
Brown the roast, add water, put it in the oven, and let time do the work. There is no fussing over it. No complicated steps. Just patience and trust in the process.
In a world where everything feels increasingly complicated, there is something comforting about a meal this straightforward.
Maybe that is part of why I love it.
It reminds me that good things do not have to be complicated. A good meal. A warm kitchen. A recipe you can count on. Sometimes the simplest things end up meaning the most.
If you make it, trust the process. It may look too simple to work, but somehow, every single time, it turns into magic.
Glenn’s Pot Roast
Ingredients
3–5 pound chuck roast
1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper per pound of meat
1 tablespoon neutral oil
Water
Instructions
For best flavor, dry-age the beef by placing it uncovered on a rack in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days before cooking.
Season the roast with salt and pepper the day before preparing it.
Preheat oven to 250°F.
Heat oil in the pot over medium heat.
Brown the chuck roast on all sides, about 2 to 3 minutes per side.
Add enough water to cover the roast about three-quarters of the way up. Bring to a boil.
Cover and transfer to the oven. Cook at 250°F for about 4 hours, or until the meat easily pulls apart with a fork.
Remove the roast and simmer the sauce over medium heat until reduced by half.
Tips
Use an oven-safe pot with a lid. I love my All-Clad Stainless pot for this recipe.
Choose a pot that “fits” the roast, you do not want one that is too large.
Leftovers make fantastic sandwiches.
If your dog’s diet allows it, a tiny bit of sauce added to their food makes a delicious treat.
Serve with pan sauce and your favorite potatoes.