Easy One Pot Cast Iron Pot Roast Recipe
A good pot roast is one of those meals that makes a cast iron Dutch oven worth keeping in the kitchen. You can put the meat, vegetables and seasonings together in one pot, let everything cook slowly, and bring a hearty supper to the table without juggling several pans. This is the kind of from-scratch cooking I enjoy because it works just as well for an ordinary family meal as it does when I am cooking outdoors.
My one pot cast iron pot roast recipe is a family favorite, and I like how flexible the cooking method can be. A Dutch oven holds the roast and vegetables together while the heavy pot helps distribute heat. If you are getting started with cast iron, my guide to cooking in cast iron explains more about using this cookware.
I love cooking this Dutch Oven pot roast recipe in the oven, on the BBQ grill or even over an open fire while camping.
Prepare the vegetables ahead of time, add the seasoning and put the Dutch Oven cast iron pan in your vehicle and take it with you the next time your family goes on an outing.
Then simply add the pot roast to cook it over an open fire or on a BBQ grill to make roughing it that much more enjoyable!
In This Article
My One Pot Cast Iron Pot Roast Video
Watch my one pot cast iron pot roast video along with the written recipe and cooking directions.
How To Cook A Roast In A Cast Iron Dutch Oven
If you want to cook more meals from scratch but do not want a complicated supper, a pot roast is a practical place to start. You prepare the ingredients, put them together in the Dutch oven, and give the roast enough time to become tender. The recipe card below provides the ingredients and my cooking directions.
For another variation, see my Dutch oven round roast recipe. Different cuts of beef can need different cooking times, so tenderness matters more than watching the clock alone.
Once you are comfortable with a roast, the same pot can be used for other satisfying meals. My article on what you can cook in a cast iron Dutch oven offers more ideas for making good use of it.
When I want to follow the roast with a simple dessert, I often think of my Dutch oven apple crisp recipe. It is a natural companion to a hearty meal, especially when the weather turns cool.
There are also plenty of reasons to keep using cast iron beyond this one meal. I cover those in my article about the benefits of cooking with cast iron.
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My Easy One Pot Cast Iron Pot Roast Recipe
Learn how to cook a roast in a cast iron Dutch Oven. This cast iron Dutch Oven pot roast recipe is perfect for an oven, a wood stove or campfire.
- Total Time: 3 hours 30 minutes
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons Butter
- 3 to 5 pounds Beef pot roast
- Meat rub
- C-Spice Seasoning Blend
- 1 teaspoon Garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Black Pepper
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- Worcestershire sauce
- 6 to 8 large Potatoes
- 2 pounds Carrots
- 1 bunch cut up celery (optional)
- Hot Water
Instructions
- Put the pan on the stove, turn the heat setting to medium high and add the butter. A wood fired stove that is just starting to heat up or a grill or campfire whose flames have died down will also work.
- Allow the butter to melt, then add the pot roast. Season the top side of the pot roast with a teaspoon of meat rub, a teaspoon of garlic, c-spice seasoning blend and pepper. Sprinkle each spice over the top of the pot roast.
- Once the bottom of the roast is brown, which will take about 10 minutes, turn it over so the other side can brown.
- Sprinkle enough Worcestershire sauce over the top of the pot roast to cover it. This will add flavor and help tenderize the meat.
- Add carrots and brown slightly.
- Cut whole potatoes into thirds and add them.
- Cut up the celery, if deisred and add it.
- Once the vegetables are all added, stir the potatoes, celery and carrots together.
- Once the potatoes are slightly brown, remove the meat, potatoes and carrots from the dutch oven and set them aside.
- Place a cast iron trivet into the bottom of the dutch oven, then place the potatoes and carrots on top of the cast iron trivet.
- If you desire, add salt and additional seasoning at this point.
- Add enough hot water to almost cover the potatoes and carrots.
- Place the pot roast on top of the potatoes and carrots then add any additional seasoning to the meat.
- Put the lid on the Dutch oven and sit in on the top rack of your oven if you are using a stove, otherwise, if you are cooking it on a stovetop, the top of a wood burning cook stove or over an open fire, simply put the lid on and continue cooking. If you are cooking it over an open fire, be sure to place hot coals on the top of the dutch oven lid.
- Once the pan is inside the oven, close the oven door, turn the heat to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and cook for 3 hours or until the meat is tender. For those using other cooking methods, as long as the temperature is around 350 degrees Fahrenheit, the cooking time is the same.
- That's all there is to it! Remember to remove the food from the cast iron pan as soon as it is finished cooking. Place the dirty pan in the sink, making sure to rinse it off well with hot water. It is not necessary to wash cast iron with soap and never use steel wool. If something sticks, use a wash cloth to scrub it off or a soft brush.
- Once the pan is clean, place it back into the oven, or on top of a heat source so all the water can be removed. If this is not done, the pan will rust. Finally, spray the cast iron pan with grease or use a rag to rub it all over the pan if necessary. This is done to season it and prevent food from sticking.
Equipment
Buy Now → - Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours
- Category: Beef, Vegetables
- Method: Campfire, Oven, Stovetop, Wood Burner
My Favorite Products
Eight Experimental Homesteader recipes, conveniently collected in one downloadable cookbook. Choose how you'd like to get your copy.
The recipes are also available individually on Experimental Homesteader. This PDF brings them together for easy reference.
Tips For Using A Cast Iron Dutch Oven
I used a 5 quart Lodge Cast Iron Dutch Oven for this recipe.
I also used a cast iron trivet in the bottom of the pan to elevate the pot roast, potatoes and carrots which keeps them from potentially sticking to the bottom of the dutch oven.
If you use a cast iron dutch oven frequently, a cast iron trivet is a must have accessory as far as I am concerned!
The reason I love Lodge because their cast irons pans are high quality and they come with easy-to-follow instructions on how to care for your cast iron pans, so even someone who has never owned a cast iron pan before can get started the right way.
It is important to take the time to properly season your cast iron cookware before you use it for the first time.
It is also important to properly season your cast iron cookware after every use to keep it performing it's best.
If an oven is not an option, you can explore other ways to cook a roast in cast iron. My cast iron Crockette beef roast recipe shows another approach, although the pot size and cooking setup are different from a full-size Dutch oven.
Ideas For Storing Cast Iron Dutch Ovens
Cast iron Dutch ovens are heavy and take up a fair amount of space, so it helps to choose a storage spot that makes the pot easy to lift safely. I prefer to think about where I will use the cookware most often before deciding where it belongs.
If you have the room on your countertop or buffet, a great way to store them is in a decorative free standing pot rack!
Be sure the one you choose is well made because it will end up holding quite a bit of weight, especially if you fill it up with cast iron dutch ovens or other cast iron pots.
If you use your Dutch oven regularly, keeping it on a sturdy shelf or on the stove may be more convenient than lifting it out of a high cabinet every time. Make sure the pot is completely dry before putting it away, and avoid trapping moisture beneath a tightly fitted lid.
Ideas For Serving Platters For Pot Roasts
Once your pot roast with potatoes and carrots is cooked, you might want to remove everything from your cast iron Dutch Oven and arrange it on a serving platter.
Of course, if you prefer to serve it right in your Dutch Oven, that is fine.
However for a fancier presentation, check out these pretty serving platters!
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