Roast, Potatoes, Carrots, and Onions: A Comforting Classic Made Simple

Few meals embody the essence of comfort food quite like a hearty roast paired with tender potatoes, sweet carrots, and savory onions. This dish has long been a family favorite, often served on Sundays or during special gatherings. Its charm lies in its simplicity—humble ingredients slow-cooked together until they’re infused with rich, aromatic flavors. If you’ve never made this classic one-pan meal before, don’t worry. Here’s a step-by-step guide to creating the perfect roast with potatoes, carrots, and onions.

Why This Dish Works

The beauty of this recipe is that the roast cooks alongside the vegetables, allowing the flavors to mingle. The juices from the meat season the vegetables, while the natural sweetness of the carrots and onions balances the richness of the roast. Potatoes, meanwhile, soak up all the savory drippings, making them irresistibly delicious.

Ingredients You’ll Need

1 beef chuck roast (about 3–4 pounds)
4–5 medium potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
4–5 carrots, peeled and cut into thick sticks
2 large onions, quartered
3 cloves garlic, smashed
2–3 tablespoons olive oil
2 cups beef broth (or water with bouillon)
1 cup red wine (optional, for deeper flavor)
2 sprigs fresh rosemary (or 1 teaspoon dried)
2 sprigs thyme (or 1 teaspoon dried)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Step-by-Step Method

Step 1: Prepare the Roast

Start by patting your roast dry with paper towels. This helps it brown beautifully.
Season generously with salt and pepper on all sides. If you like extra flavor, you can rub it with garlic powder, onion powder, or paprika.