To Die For Pot Roast with Ranch Dressing Easy Copycat Recipe
There is nothing better than a tasty beef roast. Perhaps you had pot roast growing up as a child on Sunday afternoons, or on special holidays. You can make a delicious, to die for pot roast with ranch dressing in an Instant Pot or slow cooker.
Add this site as a preferred Google source!
This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Why this 3 packet recipe works
The magic lies in the combination of three flavor-packed seasoning mixes that work together to create a complex taste, making the roast exceptionally tender. Ranch dressing mix provides creamy tang, Italian dressing mix adds herbs and garlic notes, while brown gravy mix creates rich, savory depth. The pressure cooking or slow cooking process breaks down tough collagen in the chuck roast, transforming it into incredibly tender, juicy meat that falls apart at the touch of a fork.
Instant Pot Beef Roast Ingredients
Here’s a list of what you need:
- Beef roast – Chuck roast works best for maximum tenderness and flavor
- Hidden Valley Ranch dressing mix – Provides tangy, creamy base flavor
- Brown gravy mix – Creates rich, savory depth and thickens cooking liquid
- Italian dressing mix – Adds herb blend and garlic complexity
- Water – Creates steam for pressure cooking and a base for gravy
You won’t need to add anything else, so I find this recipe is perfect for a busy weeknight. Serve some mashed potatoes with this flavorful pot roast, and you will be in business.
How to Make Pot Roast with Ranch Dressing
Differences between the Slow Cooker and the Instant Pot cooking methods:
- The amount of time it takes to cook the roast.
- Instant Pot method uses vegetable oil to brown the roast. Vegetable oil is not needed for the slow cooker method.
- Everything else is the same.
Instant Pot Directions
- Set the Instant Pot to Sauté and add two tablespoons of vegetable oil. When the pot is hot add the roast.
- Sprinkle the Ranch dressing mix, Italian salad dressing mix, and brown gravy mix over the roast.
- Add water and cook for 60 minutes on the high manual setting. You may perform a quick or natural release.
Slow Cooker Directions
- Place the roast in the slow cooker.
- Sprinkle the Italian salad dressing mix, brown gravy mix, and Ranch dressing mix over the roast.
- Add water and cook on low for 6-7 hours.
What Is the Most Tender, Juicy Roast?
A four-pound chuck roast is just about the perfect cut for this recipe. Since the chuck roast cut comes from the hard-working shoulder of a cow, it can be pretty chewy, especially if you cook it quickly over high heat.
However, when you cook a chuck roast low and slow or under pressure, the collagen in the muscle breaks down, resulting in a rich, juicy tenderness that few other cuts of meat can match.
What to Do with Leftover Pot Roast
You’re sure to have some leftovers, and if you don’t want to have the same meal tomorrow, you can use up any of the leftover pot roast in some very creative ways.
Try one of these ideas or come up with your own:
- A pot roast sandwich. Thinly slice the meat and heat it on the stove with some beef stock or in the microwave. Mix the warm beef with horseradish sauce and pile it on a toasted bun. Top with shredded pickled carrots or coleslaw.
- Breakfast hash. Dice the roast, potatoes, and other cooked vegetables and mix them in a bowl with beef stock or water. Form thin patties, dust them lightly with flour, and fry until crispy. Serve with your favorite style of eggs.
What Goes with Pot Roast With Ranch Dressing?
Any sides you serve with another pot roast, you can serve with this one, too. Some favorites include:
- Cornbread
- Green Bean Casserole with Cheese
- Honey Roasted Carrots
- Mac n Cheese
- Yukon Gold Mashed Potatoes
Storage & Reheating Instructions
- Refrigerator Storage: Store sliced roast and gravy separately in airtight containers for up to 4 days in the refrigerator
- Reheating Method: Best reheated in Instant Pot with additional liquid. Add 1 cup beef stock or water, cook on Manual High for 12 minutes (thawed) or 18 minutes (frozen)
- Freeze: Freeze vegetables in freezer-safe containers for up to 6 months. Texture remains excellent after thawing
Love roast beef? Try these recipes!
- Perfect Pot Roast
- Instant Pot Pot Roast with Onion Soup Mix
- How to Cook a Roast in the Oven
- How to Cook Beef Tenderloin
- Rib Eye Roast Recipe
- Beef Shanks
- Grilled Brisket
- Stove Top Pot Roast
Best Side Dishes for Instant Pot Roast Beef
- Old Fashioned Mashed Potatoes
- Boiled Carrots Recipe
- Garlic Green Beans
- Martha Stewart Mac and Cheese
Be sure to check out more of my beef roast recipes and the easy side dish recipes.
Plus you’ll get great new recipes from us every week!
To Die For Pot Roast with Ranch Dressing Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 4 pounds beef roast any cut
- 1 package Hidden Valley Ranch dressing mix
- 1 package brown gravy mix
- 1 package Italian dressing mix
- 1 1/2 cups water
Instructions
Instant Pot Directions
- Add two tablespoons of vegetable oil to the Instant Pot.
- Set the Instant Pot to sauté.
- When the pot is hot, add the roast.
- Add the Italian salad dressing mix, brown gravy mix, and ranch dressing mix.
- Pour the water into the Instant Pot.
- Cook on high manual setting for 60 minutes.
- When the cooking time is complete, you may perform a quick or natural release.
Slow Cooker Directions
- Place the roast in the slow cooker.
- Add the Italian salad dressing mix, the brown gravy mix, and the ranch dressing mix.
- Add water to the slow cooker.
- Cook on low for 6 to 7 hours.
Even my mother in law liked this roast. It’s in our rotation now.
I made a potroast from my sister’s recipe. The recipe called for tomato sauce, tomato paste-the pot roast had a tomato sauce which made it taste so good!!!
Anyone have a recipe that uses sauces, ??? Sister doesn’t remember the recipe.
You can pretty much add a couple of tablespoons of tomato paste to any roast recipe. It will add a nice flavor.
looks great but I would like to know how to make the gravey?
The gravy cooks right along with the roast, did you want another gravy to go with the roast?
This is one of my favorite pot roast recipes. My family never gets enough & I make a huge roast in my 8qt Instant pot. I do have to watch my salt intake so I do try to cut back when I can. I recommend making your own Ranch & Italian dressing mixes. Recipes are online. I keep the mixes in labeled jelly jars in my pantry. I’ve tried to make my own gravy mix but it’s never quite the same as McCormicks or Knorr’s, which are my personal favorites.
That’s a great idea, I will have to try to make it next time.
Quick question. Recipe state 10 minutes of prep time and 10 minutes cook time. In the body of the recipe the instructions are to cook on high for 60 minutes. Which is it – 10 or 60 minutes?
Thanks!
Thank you for a wonderful simple recipe. Not only delicious but passes the supreme test of “Should I make this again?” with a resounding YES!
I failed to set the time when I made the post.
Since I am not a big crock pot fan, I put this in my French Oven for 3 hrs @ 300 degrees and add the potatoes and veggies the last hour of cooking time. Fork tender!!!!!!!!!!! Whole button mushrooms are a nice addition also.
What I like about this recipe, is that it is so easy, you can tell your kids, your friends who don’t cook, your husband, anyone can cook this recipe. Fair warning, with using soo many off the shelf products it is a little salty, so add potatoes, carrots, and if you can find any lower sodium substitutions by all means use them.
Tried this recipe and it was DE-lish!!!
I am glad to hear you enjoyed this one.
Sounds like meat plus salt, salt and more salt.
This recipe is a little salty, but it is also very tasty.
If you make your own mixes, you wouldn’t have that problem.
Cooked it for my friend after she had surgery. Her two sisters were staying with her until she recovered. Everyone loved it. Can’t wait to try it on my family.
I am glad you enjoyed this recipe. It is a favorite of mine too.
I am going to make mine in my new Elite Electric Pressure Cooker. I love it, I already made one roast that only took 20 minutes and was wonderful. I hope you can get you one. Awesome
if seasonings are a problem – make them yours. we’ve used lipton onion soup packet and rubbed a tenderized roast with ground up beef boulion (sp?). season it the way you want it. JUST DON’T ADD LIQUID! 🙂
whatever you do DO NOT put water into a slow cooker with the pot roast. put a good amount of chopped potatoes into the bottom, the roast on top followed by the seasonings, let cook as directed. the meat will be more tender without the water – i promise you.
When do you put those potatoes in? Do you put them in at the begining of when you are cooking the roast?
This couldn’t be easier to make. I will use 3/4 – 1 cup of water next time to help cut the sodium.
Made this yesterday and it WAS delicious. The only negative is the horrendous amount of salt in these packets. I will have to recreate much of this from scratch. I cut up one large russet potato and added some frozen mixed veggies (broccoli, cauliflower and carrots) and cooked these separately to avoid over-cooking in Crockpot. I removed the meat (which was done in 6 hrs) and added the cooked drained veggies to the meat sauce to reheat on high for 15 minutes. All was good but you could taste the high soidum content.
I found this recipe a few years back on another website and it is now the only way I will make a roast in the crockpot…it is wonderful. The only change I made is to substitute the water with a can of beef broth and 1 cup of good red wine…this makes a little more juice for making gravy and in my opinion, only adds to the great flavor. I also throw in 3-4 unpeeled white rose potatoes and a bag of baby peeled carrots. This can be done in the beginning if you’re going to work or a few hours into cooking if you happen to be at home.
David
Get a life……
Easy to make but SO SALTY. Followed exactly as written
Susan Fenton
Honestly, this may be too salty for some. I am personally a salt fiend. I have about 6 different types of salt in my house. I don’t believe any one of the prepackaged ingredients have low salt equivalent.
Has anyone seen a recipe on here consisting of the following:
Pot roast in crock pot
seared and stuffed with garlic & bacon
has red wine, onions, potatoes, carrots
I can’t find it anywhere but I’m pretty sure I found it on this site. Thanks much!
Not sure about that roast being on my site, but it sure sounds good!
How can this sort of thing work for Non Americans? We don’t have those sorts of things in ‘packages’ premade, nor do I know how big a packet is even if I could find some sort of packaged form of it…
I think the package equivalents would be roughly a 1/4 cup for the Ranch Dressing Mix, and the Brown Gravy mix. For the Italian seasoning mix I would think it may be just about a tablespoon.
Do searches for “home made dry Italian dressing mix” and “homemade ranch dressing mix,” etc. I would use about 3 or 4 Tablespoons of each mix. Making your own mixes would allow you to cut back on the salt a little, which even with my penchant for salt, I feel could be reduced in this recipe.
I make this all the time & it is WONDERFUL! It was a great taste! I usually cook it in a crockpot with a little more water.