Crockpot Roast Beef- All in One

The crock pot is an invaluable tool for creating dirt cheap, tasty meals for your family with minimal effort. This recipe costs less than .72 per person and easily feeds 4-6 people, plus leftovers for pot roast sandwiches the next day.
I generally use chuck roast because it's a cheaper cut of meat that is frequently on sale, particularly on Monday mornings. The crock pot is great for tougher cuts of meats- as they cook slowly throughout the day without needing any attending, perfect for busy families!

You'll Need:
2 lb. chuck roast
1 Tbsp. oil
1 lb. potatoes, quartered
4 carrots, in 1" slices
1 onion, chopped
2 tsp. beef bouillon
2 cups hot water
1 Tbsp. crushed thyme
1 clove garlic
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 tsp. hot pepper sauce - optional

In the crock pot, layer the ingredients in the following order, quartered potatoes, carrots, and onion. Sprinkle the vegetables with a dash of salt and pepper.

Heat the oil in a large skillet over high heat and brown all sides of the roast in oil. (Searing it in oil helps keep the juices in the meat!). Place the browned roast on the vegetables and season lightly with salt and pepper. In a small bowl mix beef bouillon, water, thyme, garlic and hot sauce (I use Franks). Pour it over the roast.

Cook on low heat for 8-10 hours. Do NOT Open the crockpot before the 6 hour mark.


GroceryBudget101 Breakdown:

2 lb. chuck roast ...........$3.28 (as of today's price 2/7/12)
1 Tbsp. oil ................... $0.04
1 lb. potatoes.................$0.25 (10lbs/$2.50)
4 carrots........................$0.30
1 onion .........................$0.15
2 tsp. beef bouillon ........$0.12
2 cups hot water............ Free
1 Tbsp. crushed thyme...$0.16
1 clove garlic.................$0.05
hot pepper sauce .........$0.02
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Total Cost of Meal: $4.33 Feeds 4-6 Easily = .72 per Person (6 ppl)


Photo Credit
© Can Stock Photo Inc. / markestout