This Bacon and Cola Crock Pot Roast Beef is the kind of easy slow cooker dinner that makes a busy day feel a little more manageable. It is rich, savory, comforting, and simple to prepare with everyday ingredients. The cola helps create a flavorful cooking liquid, the onion soup mix adds plenty of seasoning, and the bacon brings a smoky finish that makes the roast taste extra special.
I especially love meals that can do double duty, and this slow cooker roast beef is perfect for that. Serve it the first night with mashed potatoes and plenty of gravy for a classic comfort food dinner. The next day, shred or slice the leftover beef, warm it with a little barbecue sauce, and pile it onto buns for easy roast beef sandwiches. It saves time, stretches the meal, and gives you two different dinners from one crock pot recipe.
You can use a packet of dry onion soup mix for convenience, or you can use your favorite homemade onion soup mix if you prefer to control the seasoning. Either option works well in this recipe. The most important thing is to let the roast cook low and slow until it is tender, flavorful, and ready to serve with the warm gravy from the crock pot.
Bacon & Cola Crock Pot Roast Beef
This tender crock pot roast beef is cooked with cola, bacon, onion soup mix, and a creamy gravy base for a hearty family meal. It is an excellent slow cooker recipe for Sunday dinner, weeknight comfort food, or planned leftovers.
Ingredients
- 1 3 to 4 lb bottom round beef roast
- 1 12 ounce can cream of celery or cream of mushroom soup
- ½ lb bacon cooked crisp and crumbled, with drippings reserved
- 3 to 5 tablespoons reserved bacon drippings
- 1 1 ½ ounce package dry onion soup mix
- 1 12 ounce can cola
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 1 tablespoon water
Instructions
-
Pour the can of cola into the crock pot and set the slow cooker to low.
-
Place the beef roast in the crock pot. Sprinkle the dry onion soup mix evenly over the roast and into the cola.
-
While the roast begins cooking on low, fry the bacon until crisp. Crumble the cooked bacon and set it aside. Reserve the bacon drippings.
-
Drizzle 3 to 5 tablespoons of the reserved bacon drippings over the roast.
-
Sprinkle the crumbled bacon over the roast and onion soup mix.
-
Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours, or cook on high for 4 to 6 hours, until the roast is tender.
-
About one hour before serving, prepare the gravy directly in the crock pot.
-
Carefully lift the roast out of the crock pot and set it aside on a plate.
-
Add the cream of celery soup or cream of mushroom soup to the cooking liquid. Whisk until the mixture is smooth and well blended. An electric mixer may be used if you want to blend it quickly.
-
Stir in the cornstarch and water mixture, then whisk until the gravy begins to thicken.
-
Return the roast to the crock pot, cover, and continue cooking until the remaining time is finished.
-
Serve the roast beef with the warm gravy spooned over mashed potatoes.
Serving and Leftover Ideas
This bacon and cola crock pot roast beef is best served warm with mashed potatoes, but the gravy also works well over rice, noodles, or simple vegetables if that is what you have on hand. Spoon extra gravy over each serving for the fullest flavor.
For a second meal, save the leftover beef and any remaining juices. Shred or slice the meat, warm it gently with a little barbecue sauce, and serve it on sandwich buns. This is an easy way to turn one slow cooker roast into another simple dinner without starting from scratch.