Slow Cooker Roasted Vegetables Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What vegetables should not be added to a slow cooker? ›

Tender vegetables

Vegetables such as peas, asparagus and peppers can become a flavorless, mushy mess in a slow cooker. Stick to heartier root vegetables like potatoes, onions, leeks and yams, or wait to add the tender vegetables until the last 30 minutes or so of cooking time.

Since you have time, try roasting your carrots low and slow.

Let's hit those carrots at 300°—hell, you can go as low as 250°! —for as long as it takes (probably closer to an hour, depending on the size). We can do that, because we have a solid chunk of time at home.

Some recipes call for liquid, some do not. It mainly comes down to the type of meat you use. Cuts like chuck roast will release more fat and moisture than leaner cuts, so they don't need any water. In addition, the slow cooker itself creates some moisture, which helps keep the meat juicy.

Place firm, slow-cooking root vegetables like potatoes and carrots at the bottom of the crock and pile the meat on top. Set the heat level: A general rule of thumb is that cooking on the low setting (170 degrees F for most models) takes about twice as long as cooking on high (280 degrees F on most models).

Forgetting to flip halfway through

Leaving the pan totally unattended means that the bottom of your vegetables will burn, while the tops never crisp up. Flip halfway through, and you'll be rewarded with vegetables that are evenly cooked and golden all over.

Best Vegetables To Roast

Obvious choices are root veg like carrots, potatoes, and parsnips. But crucifers like Brussels sprouts, broccoli, and cauliflower roast well, too. More delicate veggies like cabbage, tomatoes, onions, and squash roast spectacularly well.

Step 2: Add Some Flavor

It's always best to toss the veggies with a little oil and seasoning (at least 1 tablespoon of oil for each baking sheet of veggies) before they cook so they don't stick to the pan. Bonus, the fat helps you absorb some vitamins (fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K) in your vegetables.

Delicate vegetables like asparagus, spinach, tomatoes, and peas, will overcook in a slow cooker. It's best to stick to sturdier vegetables like carrots and potatoes.

Slow cookers are specially designed to cook food for long periods of time, but yes, you can still overcook in a slow cooker if something is left on the wrong setting for longer than it's supposed to be.

Root vegetables like sweet potatoes, carrots and turnips take the longest, followed by hard squash and cruciferous vegetables like butternut squash, cauliflower and broccoli. Tender items like cherry tomatoes or zucchini come next, then cooking greens, which have the shortest roasting time.

Do potatoes go on top or bottom of roast? ›

They need to be large to stay intact, so keep them in 2- to 3-inch pieces. Leave the skin on and place them underneath the pot roast as it cooks for absolutely incredible pot roast potatoes. I also add onions, carrots, and celery for flavor, but they are also great to eat!

I usually put enough water to cover about half of the roast. This way the water doesn't "drown" the meat, but there's still enough to make a nice broth. I also put some beef broth in with my pot roast as well as some potatoes and carrots.

Not enough liquid: Slow cookers rely on moist heat to soften food. If you don't have enough liquid in the pot, the carrots won't cook evenly and may stay tough. Aim for at least a cup or two of liquid, enough to reach about a third of the way up on the ingredients.

As any seafood eater knows, fish and mollusks, including lobsters, crabs, oysters, clams, and mussels, cook quickly, making them a bad match for the slow cooker.

Tender vegetables such as zucchini and beans can be added to your dish in last ¾ - 1 hour of cooking when cooking on High, or 2 hours if cooking on Low. Hard, starchy vegetables like potato and carrots are best added around 3 hours before the meal is done if cooking on High, and 4 hours on Low.

Reduce liquid when using a slow cooker

It should just cover the meat and vegetables. Don't overfill your slow cooker, or it may start leaking out the top, and the food won't cook so well.