SLOW COOKER DR PEPPER ROAST

Published by Jessica on January 21, 2021

Slow Cooker Dr. Pepper Roast is an easy to make, tender roast made with just 5 ingredients. Packed full of flavor, this crockpot roast recipe is perfect for any Dr. Pepper lover.

If you’re looking for the perfect meal for Sunday night (or any night of the week) then this moist slow cooker roast beef recipe is the thing you need! Save the drippings in the slow cooker for a simple homemade gravy afterward and it tastes like heaven. Even if you aren’t a big fan of Dr. Pepper recipes, you’ll be a fan of this roast beef. It shreds apart flawlessly and tastes so tender and incredible.

What is Dr. Pepper Roast?

Dr. Pepper Roast is a slow-cooked chuck roast in your crockpot that combines the wonderful soda with beef broth and seasonings to make a flavorful roast that falls apart at the touch of your fork. Dr. Pepper helps to add a small amount of sweetness and caramelized flavor but honestly, it does so much more than that! The soda actually helps to break down the tough tissues in the roast making it even more tender as it cooks.

Slow Cooker Dr. Pepper Roast Ingredients

Chuck Roast: Use a 1–3 lb chuck roast as the star of the dish. Larger cuts work too, they’ll just need more time to cook.

Dr. Pepper: You’ll need 2 cups (about 1½ cans). A small bottle or 2-liter works fine if you don’t want to buy a whole case.

Beef Broth: Add 1 cup for extra liquid and flavor. You can substitute water with bouillon if needed.

Onion Soup Mix: One packet adds a ton of flavor with almost no effort.

Worcestershire Sauce: Just 1 tablespoon boosts the overall depth and richness.

Tips & Tricks for making Slow Cooker Dr. Pepper roast

Don’t skip the fat cap—use it strategically: Place the roast fat-side up so it slowly bastes the meat as it cooks. Then trim excess fat after cooking, not before. You’ll get way more flavor and a better texture.
Crack the lid slightly for the last hour: Slow cookers trap a lot of moisture, and with soda in the mix, things can get a little…soupy. Letting a bit of steam escape toward the end helps concentrate the flavor and keeps it from tasting watered down.
Shred it, then put it back in the juices: After shredding, return the meat to the slow cooker for 20–30 minutes. It soaks everything back up and goes from “good” to “why is this so much better than it should be?”

Fall apart Roast in the Instant Pot

My instant pot is a favorite appliance for making fall apart roast! Here’s how to do it:

Set the Instant Pot to sauté and add 2 tbsp oil. Once hot, sear the roast on all sides until browned.

Add the remaining ingredients, secure the lid, and set the valve to sealing.

Cook on high pressure for 60 minutes, then allow a full natural pressure release.

Once the pin drops, open the lid and remove the roast with tongs. Use the sauté function to make gravy right in the pot using the remaining juices.

How long is leftover pot roast good for?

This roast will keep in the fridge for about 3–4 days when stored in an airtight container, and it’s best to keep some of the juices with the meat so it stays tender and doesn’t dry out.

It also freezes really well—just store it in a sealed container or freezer bag with a bit of the juice for up to 2–3 months for the best quality. For easier reheating, freezing it in smaller portions is a smart move so you’re not dealing with one giant frozen block every time.

SLOW COOKER DR.PEPPER ROAST

Slow Cooker Dr. Pepper Roast is easy to make, so tender, and full of delicious flavor – it’s the perfect roast for any occasion!

5 from 10 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: dinner, Main Course, Main Dish, Slow Cooker

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Dr Pepper Pot Roast

Prep Time: 10

Cook Time: 10

Total Time: 10 10

Servings: -10 servings

Author: Jessica & Nellie

Ingredients

3 lbs beef chuck roast
2 cups Dr. Pepper soda
1 cup beef broth
1 packet Dry Onion Soup Mix
1 TBSP Worcestershire sauce

Optional Gravy

1 cup + 2 Tablespoons reserved and strained juices (divided)
1 Tbsp cornstarch

Instructions

Set Slow Cooker on high while you prep the food. I use a 7-quart slow cooker, but anything 5 quart and above would work well for this recipe.
Put your roast in the slow cooker. Combine all other ingredients and stir gently to combine. Pour over the top of the roast. Place the lid on the slow cooker and reduce temperature to LOW.
Cook on LOW for about 8 hours. Increase temperature to HIGH and cook an additional 2 hours. {I’ve heard wonderful things about slow cooking roasts on Low for 14-16 hours while you sleep. I’m trying it this way next!!)
When roast is done, pull out of slow cooker and shred meat, discarding any gristle.

Gravy

Use a ladle and a small strainer to use some of the juices in the slow cooker to make a gravy. I strained about 1 cup of liquid, then in a separate bowl, put 1 TBSP of cornstarch and 2 TBSP of liquid together.
Stir until combined, then add the cornstarch mixture to the remaining cup of strained liquid. Whisk together.
Microwave for about 1 minute, stopping at 30 seconds to whisk again. Gravy should be thickened. Ladle some over the meat to serve.

Instant Pot Instructions

Add 2 TBSP oil to the Instant Pot and turn it on Saute. Once hot, add roast and brown on all sides.
Add remaining ingredients and place lid on IP and seal toggle. Cook on High Pressure for 60 minutes. Let NPR fully.
Open lid once toggle drops and remove roast with tongs. Follow instructions for making gravy using the IP on saute function.

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Why is my chuck roast tough?

If your cooked chuck roast is tough there could be a few reasons. The biggest one would be that you didn’t cook it long enough. Chuck is one of those meats that becomes more tender the longer that it cooks, so it goes from raw to hard to tender and fall apart ready. If it’s not shreddable, add a little more cooking time (like an hour) and try again.

What kind of cut of meat is a chuck roast?

A chuck roast is a cut from the shoulder/neck of a cow. It’s a very rich and flavorful cut that is pretty high in saturated fats. That said, it’s often served as a roast because of how well it falls apart when cooked.

Can I brown my chuck roast before placing it into the crockpot?

You definitely could! With a few minutes of searing on all sides of a roast, you can add a nice caramelized outside to help seal the inside juices. This could make for an even tastier roast.

Like this easy crockpot recipe? Try more crockpot recipes here:

Our Slow cooker pulled pork simmers with sweet, smoky BBQ flavors, onions, and peppers until it’s fall-apart tender and ready to pile onto buns, tacos, or straight onto a fork if no one’s watching.
This slow cooker beef stew is the kind of meal that cooks itself! Tender beef, cozy veggies, and a rich, savory broth all simmer together into pure comfort food energy.
Crock Pot Hawaiian Chicken is a set-it-and-forget-it ticket to sweet, savory meal. Juicy chicken simmers in pineapple, brown sugar, and soy sauce until it’s ridiculously tender!
For the ultimate cozy way to turn leftover ham into something that feels like a whole new meal, try our Crockpot ham and bean soup. A comforting soup that basically tastes like a hug in a bowl.
Slow Cooker Pork Roast is one of those throw-it-together meals that somehow tastes like you spent all day on it. It cooks up fall-apart tender with a rich, flavorful gravy that basically demands mashed potatoes on the side—and yes, it works in the Instant Pot too when you’re in a hurry.