This tender and flavorful Keto Pot Roast cooks on the stovetop in a rich broth with portobella mushrooms for an easy Sunday dinner the whole family will love! And for this roast, the most surprising flavor enhancer is cocoa powder! This recipe is versatile, making it easy to keep it keto!
A slow simmer to perfection in your Dutch oven works wonders for a chuck roast! Actually, any large, heavy pot with a lid will work (easy enough!). My recipe uses mushrooms (just because I happen to love them!), but you can add whatever vegetables you like. My grandmother used to add chopped turnips to her pot roast (delicious!).
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Why You'll Love It
A traditional pot roast is usually cooked with potatoes and carrots, which are delicious, but they contain too many carbs, making them unsuitable for keto and low carb meals. Hello portobella mushrooms! They're packed with rich, earthy flavor giving the roast and gravy a flavor boost; plus, they're low carb and yummy to eat!
The gravy is delicious, too. After the roast is cooked, all you do is reduce the liquid in the pot until it's slightly thickened. It won't be thick like a traditional starchy gravy, but it really doesn't need to be! You could add xanthium gum to thicken it up, but I really like it as-is!
When I was growing up, we ate pot roast after church on Sundays. It slow simmered while we were at church, then when we got home, we had a delicious meal waiting for us to enjoy. Being able to have a sit-down meal with family has really made for some great memories.
Another great use for portobella mushrooms are these beefy, cheesy Lasagna Stuffed Portobella Mushrooms! With all the flavors of lasagna, but much lower in carbs!
Ingredients for Keto Pot Roast
Chuck Roast - This budget-friendly cut of beef has a good fat-to-meat ratio (marbling) that gives it a lot of flavor.
Portobella Mushrooms - these low carb vegetables are packed with rich, earthy flavor giving the roast and gravy a savory flavor boost.
Beef Broth - as the roast cooks, the broth prevents it from drying out and keeps it tender while adding even more beefy flavor.
Cocoa Powder - not only does cocoa powder add a rich, deep flavor to beef but it also contains natural enzymes that can actually help tenderize the meat. Who knew!
Additional seasonings - adding a nice variety of seasonings that work together to enhance this pot roast include dried garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and bay leaves, salt, pepper, and fresh parsley.
Ingredient Substitutions
I love how versatile this recipe is! Even though it is most delicious with the listed ingredients, here are some great substitutes in case you need them.
| Instead of this ingredient | Use this ingredient |
|---|---|
| Chuck roast | shoulder roast, rump roast |
| Portobella mushrooms | regular mushrooms, turnips, rutabagas, beets |
| Beef broth* | low sodium beef broth or bone broth |
| Italian seasoning | Herbes de Provence |
| Dried garlic powder | minced garlic |
| Bay leaves | dried oregano or thyme |
| Fresh parsley | dried parsley flakes |
How to Make It
Here is a short overview of the instructions. Use the recipe card when you make it!
Step 1. Mix all the seasonings together and then rub all over the roast.
Step 2. Sear the roast in a large Dutch oven then remove it from the pot.
Step 3. Saute the mushrooms in the Dutch oven.
Step 4. Add beef broth, tomato paste, and bay leaves to the pot.
Step 5. Return the roast to the pot. Cover and cook 3 to 3-½ hours.
Step 6. Transfer roast to a serving platter, top it mushrooms and gravy!
Tips for the Best Chuck Roast
First, the seasonings you put on a roast play a huge role in the final outcome (no brainer)! For this roast, the most interesting flavor enhancer is cocoa powder! It surprisingly adds a rich, deep flavor to the meat; no, it does not make the roast taste like chocolate, haha.
Second, sear and simmer! Searing all sides of the roast in a hot skillet is a must for locking in the juices. Slow simmering in a flavorful beef broth with mushrooms, bay leaves, and a dash of tomato paste creates tender meat and flavorful vegetables.
Vegetables Options for a Keto Pot Roast
Besides mushrooms, you can use these low carb vegetables for the pot roast:
Root vegetables - turnips, rutabagas, beets, onions, garlic
Other vegetables - brussels sprouts, green beans, zucchini, bell pepper, broccoli florets, cauliflower florets
Keep in mind - be sure to chop root vegetables similar in size so they'll get tender at about the same time.
What to Serve with It
Serve the roast and juices on top of mashed cauliflower or cauliflower rice for the most delicious keto comfort food! Try my loaded cauliflower casserole or roasted brussels sprouts with bacon for an extra side dish or two.
This Keto Pot Roast is an "all-in-one meal," but you can't go wrong serving it with a simple green salad.
If you also need a dessert option, consider these rich and creamy Keto Cheesecake Bars!
Frequently Asked Questions
I like to cook a roast on the stovetop because it's easy and handy! Stovetop offers (1) more precise temperature control, (2) quick monitoring of the cooking process to ensure the meat turns out perfectly tender and juicy, and (3) a quick way to add additional seasonings or ingredients if needed.
My top choice has always been a chuck roast. This budget-friendly cut of beef has a good fat-to-meat ratio (marbling) that gives it a lot of flavor. It comes from the shoulder "area" which means it can be tough. However, when it's cooked low and slow, it becomes a tender, show-stopping centerpiece for any meal.
A shoulder roast is similar to a chuck roast in flavor, but can have slightly more connective tissue, making it slightly tougher. However, a shoulder roast is still excellent for slow cooking methods like this recipe, resulting in a tender, flavorful meat.
A good alternative to chuck roast is the round roast (aka rump roast). It's a leaner cut of beef, which can seem a little dry, but when cooked slowly, it definitely produces a very tender roast.
Store any leftovers in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. I prefer to use BPA-free glass containers with locking lids. Check out this 18-piece set of glass food storage containers with locking lids from Bayco, available now on Amazon.
More Keto Meals for Dinner
If you tried this recipe, please let me know by leaving a comment! I'd love to hear from you.
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Recipe
How to Cook a Keto Pot Roast
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon cocoa powder
- 1 Tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 3 pounds chuck roast
- 3 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided
- 8 ounces Portobello mushrooms, sliced
- 4 cups beef broth
- 1 Tablespoon tomato paste
- 2 bay leaves
- fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Combine cocoa powder, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in a small bowl, stirring until well mixed. With your fingers, rub the seasoning blend all over the roast, applying pressure to make sure it adheres. Set aside.1 Tablespoon cocoa powder, 1 Tablespoon Italian seasoning, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon pepper, 3 pounds chuck roast
- In a large Dutch oven over medium heat, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil. When the oil is hot, add the roast and sear it on all sides (until dark brown and crisp), about 3-4 minutes per side.
- Remove the roast from the Dutch oven and place it on a plate. Add the remaining tablespoon of oil and the mushrooms to the pot. Sauté the mushrooms, stirring occasionally, until they develop color and start releasing their liquid, about 4-5 minutes.8 ounces Portobello mushrooms, sliced
- Deglaze the pot by pouring in the beef broth and scraping up any browned bits from the bottom (this is where all the flavor is!). Stir in the tomato paste and add the bay leaves. Return the roast to the Dutch oven and put the lid on.4 cups beef broth, 1 Tablespoon tomato paste, 2 bay leaves
- Turn down the heat to low and simmer for 3 to 3½ hours, or until the meat is easily falls apart with a fork. Turn off the heat and remove the bay leaves. Carefully transfer the roast and mushrooms to a serving platter, covering them to keep warm. Set aside.
- Increase the heat to medium-high and bring the liquid in the pot to a boil. Then, reduce the heat to medium and simmer for several minutes until the liquid thickens slightly.
- When ready to serve, spoon some gravy over the roast, and top with mushrooms. Garnish with fresh parsley, if desired.fresh parsley, chopped
Notes
- Read my post for ingredient substitutions.
- Serve the roast and juices on top of mashed cauliflower or cauliflower rice for the most delicious keto comfort food! Try my loaded cauliflower casserole or roasted brussels sprouts with bacon for an extra side dish or two.
- This Keto Pot Roast is an "all-in-one meal," but you can't go wrong serving it with a simple green salad.
- If you also need a dessert option, consider these rich and creamy Keto Cheesecake Bars!
- Store any leftovers in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. I prefer to use BPA-free glass containers with locking lids.
- If you like this recipe, please rate it and leave me a comment! I'd love to hear from you!
Nutrition
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy to my readers. I'm not a nutritionist and I don't guarantee the accuracy of this data. The data may differ according to the brands I used versus the brands you use. To calculate the data yourself using your brands, try using an online nutrition calculator or app.
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