This 4-ingredient slow cooker supper is the kind of comforting meal that feels just right for a family gathering, especially on Grandparents Day when simple, hearty food brings everyone to the table. A beef arm roast turns wonderfully tender with very little hands-on work, and with just a few pantry-friendly additions, you get rich juices and a roast that can be sliced or shredded for an easy, satisfying meal.
Serve this roast with mashed potatoes, buttered egg noodles, or fluffy rice to soak up the savory cooking juices. A side of green beans, glazed carrots, or a simple garden salad rounds it out nicely, and warm dinner rolls make it feel extra special if you are feeding a crowd or setting out a cozy Sunday-style supper.
4-Ingredient Slow Cooker Grandparents Day Supper
Servings: 6 to 8
Ingredients
1 raw beef arm roast, about 3 to 4 pounds
1 packet dry onion soup mix, about 1 ounce
1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup, 10.5 ounces
1 cup beef broth
Directions
1. Place the raw beef arm roast in the bottom of a slow cooker.
2. In a medium bowl, stir together the dry onion soup mix, condensed cream of mushroom soup, and beef broth until well combined.
3. Pour the soup mixture over the roast, covering the top as evenly as possible.
4. Cover and cook on low for 8 to 9 hours or on high for 5 to 6 hours, until the beef is very tender and easy to pull apart with a fork.
5. Transfer the roast to a serving platter, spoon some of the juices over the top, and serve hot.
Variations & Tips
For extra vegetables: Add baby carrots and halved small potatoes around the roast at the beginning of cooking so you can make the whole meal in one pot. Keep in mind that a very full slow cooker may need the longer end of the cooking time.
For picky eaters: Shred the cooked beef and serve it over noodles or mashed potatoes with a little extra gravy. This makes the texture softer and easier for little ones or grandparents who prefer very tender bites.
For deeper flavor: If you have a few extra minutes, brown the roast in a skillet before placing it in the slow cooker. It is not required, but it adds a richer color and more savory flavor to the finished dish.
To thicken the gravy: If you want a thicker sauce, remove the cooked roast and whisk 1 tablespoon cornstarch with 2 tablespoons cold water, then stir it into the hot cooking liquid. Cover and cook on high for another 10 to 15 minutes until the gravy thickens.
Leftover idea: Leftover beef makes wonderful hot sandwiches the next day. Pile it onto split rolls with a spoonful of gravy, or tuck it into toasted bread with provolone for an easy second meal.