Keto Pot Roast In An Instant Pot (Or Slow Cooker)

Enjoy a tender and juicy keto pot roast for dinner! Using an Instant Pot (or a slow cooker), serve this deliciously juicy meat with baby carrots and creamy mashed cauliflower for a warm, comforting meal.

Jump to:

• Ingredients Needed For Keto Pot Roast
• How To Make Keto Pot Roast
• Frequently Asked Questions About Keto Pot Roast
• Other Low Carb Slow Cooker Recipes
• 📖 Recipe

It’s so easy to make a comforting keto pot roast that tastes just like the recipe you loved as a kid. There are very few ingredients, and it’s pretty easy to add more and make it how you want it.

Honestly, classic pot roast is already low in carbs. Once you make a few adjustments, the rest is pretty similar!

The only things that needed updating for a keto diet were the flour in the gravy and the potatoes.

This recipe is one of those “make once, eat twice” meals. You can save leftovers for lunches later in the week (which is a huge money saver!)

Ingredients Needed For Keto Pot Roast

Whether you make this in the slow cooker or the Instant Pot, the recipe remains the same. Here’s a bit more information about what I used, along with any substitutions you can make.

Low-Carb Vegetables

Traditionally, you slowly cook a chuck roast with potatoes and carrots. So if you’re following a keto diet, you’ll want to replace those with low-carb vegetables.

I used cauliflower and celery in my keto roast beef recipe. But cauliflower can get mushy when slow-cooked. That’s why I often replace it with turnips or radishes, which are much firmer.

For a standard low-carb diet, a small number of carrots can be okay. And, since I served to guests who weren’t strict keto, I decided to use a few in this slow cooker low-carb pot roast.

The carb count per serving is still low, but most people on a ketogenic diet avoid carrots because they contain natural sugar.

Meat

I used a chuck roast because it has the perfect amount of meat and fat. You can use any type of beef roast. Make sure it will fit in your slow cooker before you buy one that is too big.

Gravy

All you need to make the gravy is some liquid from the slow cooker and some xanthan gum. The xanthan gum thickens the keto gravy right up!

Spices

Use your favorite spices! I love how the rosemary, thyme, and beef broth all combine to make it taste like a classic pot roast.

Please note: Check out the recipe card at the bottom for a full list of ingredients used to make this low-carb recipe.

Quick Tips:

• You can use dried thyme if you enjoy the flavor, but not the leaves. Just sprinkle some on along with fresh rosemary.
• For a thicker gravy, use ½ teaspoon of xanthan gum. For a runnier consistency, use ¼ teaspoon.
• If you want the pot roast to have a little spice to it, add some red pepper flakes.

How To Make Keto Pot Roast

In the printable recipe card, I list the steps for pot roast in both the slow cooker and the Instant Pot. Here are those steps again, but with some step-by-step photos and a few additional tips.

Season The Chuck Roast

Before slow cooking, the chuck roast should be seasoned with salt and pepper and then browned on both sides.

An iron skillet works best, but if you want to go with the one-pot method, you can sear in an Instant Pot or a slow cooker with a brown/sauté setting.

Add Vegetables And Spices

Onions and vegetables add additional flavor, especially when sautéed in the juices from the meat before slow cooking. Beef broth, rosemary, and thyme round out the flavors and enhance the taste of the meat as it slow-cooks.

Cooking Times

The cooking time will vary depending on the size of the meat and whether it’s slow-cooked or cooked in an electric pressure cooker.

Slow Cooker

If you are wanting to make this low-carb roast in a slow cooker, the meat will be done in 4 to 6 hours on high or 6 to 8 hours on low.

Instant Pot Electric Pressure Cooker

To speed things up, you can cook a keto chuck roast in an Instant Pot. Cooking time varies based on the size of the meat, but I find 60 minutes at high pressure followed by a quick pressure release is just about right for a 5-pound chuck roast.

For a smaller 3 pound piece, I’d lower the time to 50 minutes.

What To Serve With A Low-Carb Pot Roast

This is a complete meal, so you don’t need very many sides to go along with it. If you want some additional food to serve, try mashed celery root mixed with cauliflower for a keto-friendly alternative to mashed potatoes.

For a simple vegetable side, green beans almondine cooks up quickly.

Do you like roasted potatoes? These keto roasted radishes are a fabulous low-carb stand-in.

Pan-fried brussels sprouts with bacon will add in some fat and flavor. Also, grilled cabbage steaks are an easy yet tasty side that cooks up easily in a pan, on the grill, or in the oven.

Finally, picky eaters love keto mashed cauliflower with cream cheese mixed in.

Frequently Asked Questions About Keto Pot Roast

Before I get to the printable recipe card, here are some questions people have asked about it. If you don’t see your question in this list, please leave it in the comments.

Can I use arrowroot instead of xanthan gum?

Yes, you can definitely use arrowroot in the gravy instead of xanthan gum. I prefer it and try to use it whenever I can.

The only problem is that it adds more carbs to the dish, so be aware of that if you use it.

How do you store leftover pot roast?

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will stay fresh for up to 3 days.

Can I add Worcestershire sauce to the roast?

Yes, Worcestershire sauce is a popular ingredient in some recipes for pot roast. If can’t find any at the store that works for you, try making a batch of my Worcestershire sauce recipe. It is gluten-free and low-carb!

Kids and adults alike will dig into this soft and juicy pot roast! The gravy is so delicious that you’ll enjoy smothering it all over the roast.

Other Low Carb Slow Cooker Recipes

If you enjoyed this keto pot roast, here are some more keto slow cooker recipes that easily become the main course. They are some of my go-to’s:

• Slow-Cooked Keto Beef Tips are always tender and tasty.
• Crockpot BBQ Pulled Chicken is so easy because you just put all the ingredients in the slow cooker and let it work.
• Pork Curry In The Slow Cooker comes with a creamy dairy-free sauce that’s paleo friendly too.
• Slow-Cooked Pork Adobo gives you an amazing taste of the Philippines.
• Keto Pork Loin is slow cooked with a balsamic vinegar seasoning and is sure to please.
• Crockpot Chicken Legs And Thighs are budget-friendly and perfect for busy days.

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📖 Recipe

First published on December 30, 2019. Post updated on November 18, 2021, with additional recipe information and higher quality images.