Old Fashioned Pot Roast Seasoning | Easy Crockpot & Instant Pot Blend
A classic, savory pot roast seasoning blend made from simple pantry spices, perfect for slow cookers or Instant Pot. Delivers rich, herby flavor and deep color for tender beef and great gravy.
Ingredients
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons kosher salt (reduce to 1 tablespoon if you prefer less salty)
- 1 tablespoon coarse black pepper
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 2 teaspoons paprika (sweet, not smoked)
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme, crushed between fingers
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary, lightly crushed
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon celery seed (or 1½ teaspoons celery salt and reduce kosher salt slightly)
- 1/2 teaspoon mustard powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander (optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon ground bay leaf (optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar (optional)
Instructions
Instructions
- Add all spices to a small bowl and lightly crush the thyme and rosemary so they distribute evenly.
- Whisk the mixture until the color looks uniform with no streaks of salt or paprika.
- Transfer the seasoning to a clean, dry jar and label with the name and date.
- For crockpot pot roast, pat the roast dry, season all sides with 2–3 tablespoons of the blend, sear in a hot oiled skillet until browned, then place on top of onions, carrots, and celery in the slow cooker.
- Add 1–1½ cups beef broth and 1 tablespoon Worcestershire to the slow cooker and sprinkle about 1 teaspoon of seasoning into the liquid.
- Cook on Low for 8–10 hours or on High for 4–6 hours until the roast is fork-tender.
- Remove the roast and vegetables, then thicken the cooking liquid by stirring in a cornstarch slurry and simmering until it forms a gravy.
- For Instant Pot, season 2–3 tablespoons on a 3–4 lb roast, sear on Sauté with a little oil, deglaze with 1 cup beef broth, and stir 1 teaspoon seasoning into the liquid.
- Add onions and carrots around the roast, seal, cook on High Pressure for 55–65 minutes, and allow a natural release for 10–15 minutes, then thicken juices with a cornstarch slurry on Sauté.
- For oven roasts, rub 2–3 tablespoons of seasoning on the roast, add broth, cover, and roast at 300°F until tender, about 3–4 hours depending on size.
Notes
This blend seasons a 3–4 lb roast generously. Use about 2 teaspoons per pound of beef as a starting point. Adjust salt if using celery salt or salty broth. Store in an airtight jar in a cool, dark place for best flavor up to 6 months. Optional variations include adding marjoram, oregano, smoked paprika, cumin, mushroom powder, or cayenne.