Description
A comforting and flavorful Italian pot roast that simmers to tender perfection in a rich sauce of crushed tomatoes and grape juice.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 pounds beef chuck roast
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour (optional, for dusting)
- 1 large yellow onion, diced
- 2 carrots, chopped
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 can (28 ounces) crushed tomatoes
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 cup unsweetened grape juice
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- Freshly grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
- Creamy polenta, mashed potatoes, or crusty bread (for serving)
Instructions
- Pat the beef chuck roast dry with paper towels and season generously with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Dust with flour if desired.
- In a Dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Sear the roast for 3-4 minutes on each side until golden-brown, then transfer to a plate.
- Add onion, carrots, and celery to the pot, sauté until softened (5-6 minutes). Stir in minced garlic, tomato paste, oregano, thyme, and bay leaf for 1-2 minutes.
- Pour in grape juice, scraping up browned bits from the pot. Add crushed tomatoes, beef broth, and balsamic vinegar, mixing well.
- Return the seared beef to the pot, cover, and braise on low heat for 3-3½ hours, turning occasionally until tender.
- After cooking, rest the roast for 10 minutes before shredding. Return meat to the sauce, stirring to combine.
- Serve hot over your choice of polenta, mashed potatoes, or bread, garnished with parsley and Parmesan if using.
Notes
For best results, ensure the roast is well-seared and covered during braising to preserve heat and moisture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 210 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Braising
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 40g
- Cholesterol: 100mg