Ninja Foodi Pot Roast is a quick and simple chuck roast recipe that delivers classic comfort food: tender beef with mushrooms, tomatoes, and vegetables in a savory tomato-based gravy with an Italian touch. This version is low carb, gluten-free, and keto-friendly.
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❤️ Ninja Foodi Pot Roast
“You will LOVE this Ninja Foodi roast beef! Not only is it super easy in your pressure cooker but it has amazing flavor with an Italian twist. No need to wait for Sunday supper for a tender melt-in-your-mouth pot roast!” -Kori
Amazing Italian Flavors
This pot roast takes familiar ingredients and gives them an Italian-inspired lift. Tomatoes, balsamic, and Italian seasoning combine with mushrooms and onions to create a rich, well-rounded gravy that complements the beef.
Quick and Easy Pot Roast
This recipe makes it easy to enjoy a tender, slow-cooked-style roast any night of the week using your Ninja Foodi or another electric pressure cooker. It’s a weekday-friendly alternative to traditional oven braising.
Comfort Food
A pot roast is the ultimate comfort dish: succulent beef, savory gravy, and warm vegetables make it perfect for chilly evenings or when you want something satisfying and homey.
Family-Friendly
This is a crowd-pleasing meal that suits most diets (aside from vegetarian). It’s easy to scale and serve to a family or a small gathering.
Low Carb and Keto
With approximately 6 g net carbs, 34 g fat, and 44 g protein per serving, this pot roast fits well into a ketogenic meal plan. To increase fat, add butter or olive oil; to reduce protein in a portion, serve more gravy and fewer slices of meat.
You can find full nutrition details in the recipe card below, but the key macros are:
34 g fat | 6 g net carbs | 44 g protein
🥗 How To Serve
I like to keep things simple: serve the pot roast sliced over mashed potatoes with a side salad or steamed vegetables. For a low-carb option, serve over riced cauliflower or mashed cauliflower. Drizzle the meat with pan juices and gravy and finish with grated Parmesan and fresh basil.
Other serving ideas include roasted potatoes, a fresh green salad, or steamed green beans.
📖 Variations
Here are a few ways to customize this pot roast:
- Add extra vegetables such as bell peppers, carrots, or baby potatoes. If adding carrots or peppers, sauté them with the mushrooms and onions; add baby potatoes when you return the roast to the pot and increase the liquid slightly.
- Switch to a Mexican flavor profile by replacing bouillon and Italian seasoning with a taco seasoning mix and adjusting salt and pepper.
- Try different herbs: rosemary, marjoram, basil, or oregano work well.
- Substitute cream of mushroom soup for tomato paste for a different, creamier gravy.
🥘 Ingredients and Tools
Below are the ingredients and tools used in this recipe.
Ingredients
See the recipe card below for exact quantities. Main ingredients include:
- Boneless chuck roast (3 to 4 lb)
- Butter and olive oil
- Sliced mushrooms and onion
- Diced tomatoes (with garlic and olive oil)
- Water and balsamic vinegar
- Tomato paste
- Beef bouillon, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper
- Xanthan gum (or cornstarch) to thicken
Tools
- Ninja Foodi or other pressure cooker
- Kitchen tongs
- Chef’s knife and cutting board
- Measuring cups and spoons
🔪 How To Make Pot Roast in Ninja Foodi
Summary of the method — full step-by-step instructions are in the recipe card below.
Prep and Assemble Ingredients
Pat the chuck roast dry and season with salt and pepper. Prepare the mushrooms and onion.
Sear Beef Roast (Optional)
For more flavor, use Sear/Sauté High, melt butter with olive oil, and brown the roast about 3 minutes per side until golden. Remove and set aside. This step can be skipped if you’re short on time.
Sauté Vegetables
Use Saute Medium and cook the sliced onion and mushrooms for 2–3 minutes until slightly softened.
Pressure Cook
Return the roast to the pot. Add diced tomatoes, water, balsamic vinegar, tomato paste, beef bouillon, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Secure the lid, close the valve, and pressure cook on High for 90 minutes. Allow the pressure to release naturally.
Thicken Pan Juices and Make Gravy
Remove the roast and keep warm. To thicken the juices, dissolve 1 tsp xanthan gum in 1 tsp olive oil or mix 2 tsp cornstarch with some pan juices. Stir into the pot and simmer on Saute Low until the sauce thickens.
Serve
Slice or shred the roast and serve with the gravy over riced cauliflower for a low-carb meal, or over mashed potatoes for a traditional pairing. Garnish with Parmesan and fresh basil.
💭 Top Tips
- Ninja’s guideline suggests about 1½ hours for a 3–4 lb roast. I find 90 minutes with a natural release yields tender meat.
- Searing is optional. It adds flavor but can be skipped to save time.
❓ FAQs
Can I use an Instant Pot?
Yes. The Instant Pot follows the same pressure-cooking method and times as the Ninja Foodi for this recipe.
How long to cook?
Cook a 3–4 lb boneless chuck roast on high pressure for 90 minutes, followed by a natural release for best tenderness.
Best cuts for pot roast?
Boneless chuck roast is ideal. You can also use bone-in chuck, shoulder pot roast, or brisket.
Cooking from frozen?
Yes. Place the frozen roast on a rack with 1 cup water or broth and pressure cook on high for 90 minutes. Skip searing when starting from frozen.
Pressure release methods
Natural release (regular) lets pressure drop on its own and keeps meat tender. Quick release vents steam immediately and is faster but can be less gentle on the meat.
Target temperature
Beef should reach at least 145°F for safety; pot roast is typically cooked to higher temperatures (around 180°F) to become fork-tender.
How much roast per person?
A 4 lb pot roast will typically serve about eight people with modest portions (around 3 oz meat each).
Slow cooker option
Yes — add ingredients to the crockpot (skip searing if you like) and cook on low for 8–10 hours until tender.
Freezing and reheating
This dish freezes well after cooking. Cool, portion into freezer-safe containers, and freeze up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge and reheat gently — the slow cooker on high works well to preserve moisture.
✔️ Related Recipes
Pressure Cooker Recipes
Try other pressure cooker favorites for low-carb meals and weeknight comfort food.
📖 The recipe
Ninja Foodi Pressure Cooker Pot Roast Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 pound boneless chuck roast (up to 4 lbs is fine)
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 8 oz sliced mushrooms
- 1 medium onion, thinly sliced
- 1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes with garlic and olive oil
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/8 cup balsamic vinegar
- 3 tbsp tomato paste
- 2 tsp beef bouillon
- 2 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 1 tsp xanthan gum dissolved in 1 tsp olive oil (or 2 tbsp cornstarch)
Instructions
- Pat the chuck roast dry and season with salt and pepper.
- Select Sear/Saute High. Add butter and olive oil. When the butter melts, sear the roast about 3 minutes per side until golden. Remove and set aside. (Optional step.)
- Select Saute Medium and add the sliced onion and mushrooms; sauté 2–3 minutes.
- Return the roast to the pot. Add diced tomatoes, water, balsamic vinegar, tomato paste, beef bouillon, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Secure the lid, close the valve, and pressure cook on High for 90 minutes. Allow pressure to release naturally, then remove the roast and keep warm.
- To thicken: dissolve 1 tsp xanthan gum in 1 tsp olive oil (or mix 2 tsp cornstarch with some pan juices). Stir into the pot, set to Saute Low, and simmer until the sauce thickens.
- Slice or shred the roast, serve with gravy, and garnish with Parmesan and fresh basil.
Kori’s Tips
- For a 3–4 lb roast, 90 minutes under high pressure with a natural release produces very tender meat.
- Serve over riced cauliflower for a low-carb meal or over mashed potatoes for a classic pairing.
Nutrition
© 2025 Seeking Good Eats™
Pressure cooker pot roast makes a satisfying one-pot meal with tender beef, mushrooms, tomatoes, and a flavorful tomato-based gravy. It’s simple to prepare in a Ninja Foodi or Instant Pot and works well for low-carb, keto, and gluten-free diets.