Cranberry Balsamic Pot Roast with Creamy Mashed Potatoes

🍷 Cranberry Balsamic Pot Roast with Creamy Mashed Potatoes 🥔🍒

Slow-cooked, fall-apart beef in a sweet-tangy cranberry balsamic gravy, served over buttery mashed potatoes with tender carrots. This is the kind of meal that warms you from the inside out—perfect for chilly nights or holiday gatherings. 🎄✨

🕒 Prep Time: 15 minutes

⏳ Cook Time: 3 hours (low and slow!)

🍽 Serves: 6

🔥 Calories: About 570 per serving

🛒 What You’ll Need:

↪️For the Pot Roast:

◾️3 lbs chuck roast

◾️Salt & black pepper

◾️2 tbsp olive oil

◾️1 yellow onion, sliced

◾️4 garlic cloves, minced

◾️1 cup beef broth

◾️¾ cup balsamic vinegar

◾️½ cup cranberry sauce (or whole cranberries)

◾️1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

◾️2 tbsp tomato paste

◾️2 tsp thyme (dried or fresh)

◾️1 tsp rosemary

◾️2 cups baby carrots

◾️Optional garnish: extra cranberries + thyme sprigs

↪️For the Mashed Potatoes:

◾️2 lbs potatoes, peeled & cubed

◾️4 tbsp butter

◾️½ cup heavy cream or milk

◾️Salt to taste

👩‍🍳 How To Make It:

✅️1. Sear the Roast:

Pat the beef dry and season well with salt and pepper. In a hot pan with olive oil, sear it for about 4–5 minutes per side until browned. Set aside.

✅️2. Build the Flavor:

In the same pot, sauté onions and garlic. Add balsamic vinegar, broth, cranberry sauce, Worcestershire, tomato paste, thyme, and rosemary. Stir to combine.

✅️3. Slow Cook It:

Return the roast to the pot with carrots. Cover and braise in the oven at 325°F (160°C) for 3 hours, or until it's fork-tender and rich in flavor.

✅️4. Make the Mash:

Boil potatoes until soft. Drain, then mash with butter, cream (or milk), and salt until fluffy and smooth.

✅️5. Serve & Enjoy:

Spoon mashed potatoes onto plates, top with the tender roast and carrots, ladle that beautiful sauce over everything, and garnish with cranberries and thyme if you’d like.

💡 Tip:

Want extra depth? Add a splash of red wine to the braising liquid. And for a festive kick, warm the cranberry sauce with a pinch of cinnamon before adding it in! 🍷🍂

◾️This dish is like a cozy winter hug in every bite—comforting, flavorful, and perfect for a special dinner or Sunday supper. ❤️🔥