Name: Best Crockpot Venison Roast
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 480 min
Total time: 495 min
Ingredients: 2-3 pound venison roast; 6 tablespoons all-purpose flour (divided); 2 tablespoons olive oil; 1 large yellow onion ( largely diced); 4 garlic cloves (peeled and smashed); 1 cup red wine (or beef broth); 4 sprigs fresh thyme (or 1/2 teaspoon dried); 2 sprigs fresh rosemary (or 1/2 teaspoon dried); 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar; 1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce; 1 tablespoon dijon mustard; 2 cups beef broth (or venison broth); 1/2 teaspoon salt (plus more for seasoning roast); 1/4 teaspoon black pepper (plus more for seasoning roast); 4-5 large carrots (peeled and cut into 2-inch pieces); 1.5 pounds baby yellow potatoes (or regular yellow potatoes cut into 2-3 inch pieces)

The most flavorful, juicy, and perfectly tender venison roast made in the slow cooker with potatoes, carrots, and an insanely delicious gravy that thickens while the roast cooks. Fresh herbs and red wine add rich flavor, creating a roast that the whole family will love!

venison roast pulled apart in a serving dish with carrots, potatoes and gravy

Easy venison slow cooker recipe

I love a good crockpot recipe during the fall and winter months! The delicious smell radiates through the house and it makes for an easy dinner. You just need 15 minutes of prep time, then let the slow cooker do the rest of the work!

Aside from the super tender and flavorful venison, what I especially love about this recipe is the gravy! It's the perfect consistency, full of flavor and it thickens while the roast cooks - it doesn't require any extra work!

If you're looking for an oven-braised roast, you also have to make my very popular Beer Braised Venison Roast with Carrots and Mashed Potatoes!

Why you'll love this deer roast recipe

Minimal prep work required. All you need is 15 minutes of prep time to sear the roast and deglaze the skillet, then transfer everything to the crockpot to slow cook.
The gravy thickens while the roast cooks. No need to thicken the gravy on the stove after the roast is finished. This really sets this recipe apart from others. I like to add flour to the broth, so the liquid thickens slightly as the roast cooks, creating a delicious gravy that's ready when the roast is!
Perfect blend of flavors. Red wine, fresh herbs, dijon mustard and balsamic vinegar all come together to create the most delicious roast and gravy!
Fork tender venison roast. After 6-8 hours the roast will be fork tender and the vegetables will be perfectly cooked.

The best way to cook venison roast

The best way to cook venison roast is always low and slow, whether that be in a crockpot or the oven. This means you cook the roast slowly using low heat for an extended period of time.

The slow cooker is a great method for making roast, vegetables, and gravy all at once. It's also a great make-ahead dinner. Take 15 minutes to prepare everything in the morning and you'll have a delicious dinner ready for you at the end of the day.

I also love a braised venison roast. Braising is a method of slow cooking in the oven with a small amount of liquid over a few hours. My Beer Braised Venison Roast is one of the most popular recipes on my website! It has a rich flavor and an onion gravy that's insanely delicious served over mashed potatoes.

Ingredients

Venison roast
All-purpose flour
Olive oil
Yellow onion
Garlic cloves
Red wine (or beef stock)
Fresh thyme (or dried)
Fresh rosemary (or dried)
Balsamic vinegar
Worcestershire sauce
Dijon mustard
Beef stock or broth (or venison stock or broth)
Salt
Black pepper
Large carrots
Baby yellow potatoes (or regular yellow potatoes)

Scroll down to the recipe card for the full ingredient list.

venison roast seared in a cast iron skillet — Sear venison roast in a skillet on all sides until a deep golden brown crust forms.

How to make an easy slow cooker venison roast with vegetables

Slow cooker venison roast requires only minimal hands-on prep work, then set it and forget it!

Step 1: Prep the roast. Season with salt and pepper and sprinkle with flour. This helps to create a nice crust when searing.
Step 2: Sear the roast. Sear the venison roast on all sides until it's a nice golden brown color. This creates flavor, so I highly recommend doing this if time allows! You only need about 5 minutes to sear the roast.
Step 3: Deglaze the skillet. Add your chopped onion and herbs to the same skillet and cook until soft, then deglaze the skillet with red wine (or beef broth). You want to scrape all those browned bits off the bottom of the skillet while the red wine simmers to make sure you don't leave behind any flavor!
Step 4: Whisk together broth and flour. This will go right into the skillet to thicken the liquid slightly, creating a delicious gravy.
Step 5: Add the remaining ingredients. Add the remaining broth and vegetables to the skillet on top of the roast.
Step 6: Slow cook the roast. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or until fork tender, then enjoy!

Scroll down to the recipe card for the full instructions.

Crockpot venison roast with gravy

In my opinion, you can't have a roast without vegetables and gravy!

I like to mix flour with the broth before adding the broth to the slow cooker. As the roast cooks, the liquid thickens slightly, creating the perfect gravy consistency! The best part? The gravy is ready when the roast is! There's no need to pull the liquid out of the slow cooker and thicken it on the stove with cornstarch as most venison roast recipes call for.

Sauté onion and garlic with fresh herbs and deglaze skillet with red wine.

Peeled carrots cut into 2-inch pieces and baby yellow potatoes cook perfectly in the slow cooker.

Frequently asked questions

What cut of meat is deer roast?

Roasts can come from the rump, neck, or shoulder of the deer. Deer roasts can be bone-in or boneless. My favorite is the boneless rump roast, but this is also a great recipe for creating fall-apart tender bone-in neck or shoulder roasts.

Should I sear my roast before putting it in the crockpot?

Searing a venison roast before adding it to the slow cooker creates a nice golden brown crust and more complex flavors. While this isn't absolutely necessary, it will give your roast and gravy more flavor.

Is it better to cook roast on high or low in the slow cooker?

Cooking roast low and slow will typically yield more tender results.

How do you tenderize a venison roast?

Cooking a venison roast low and slow, meaning a low temperature over a long period, usually 6-8 hours, will break down the connective tissue creating a fork-tender roast.

Does cooking venison longer make it more tender?

The longer you slow cook your venison roast the more tender it will become. But once the roast is fork tender, you want to stop the cooking process otherwise the roast will dry out and become tough again.

How do you keep a roast moist in a slow cooker?

To keep the roast from drying out, you need to create a moist environment in the slow cooker. The meat and vegetables don't need to be covered in liquid, just a couple of cups will be enough. Since the slow cooker is covered with a lid, it traps the moisture inside.

Does roast in a crockpot need to be covered in liquid?

You there's no need to completely cover the roast and vegetables with liquid in the crockpot. You only need a couple of cups of liquid to create moisture inside the crockpot.

cooked potatoes and carrots drizzled with gravy in a serving dish

Recipe tips for the best venison roast

Sear the roast. Searing the roast in a hot skillet creates a deep golden brown crust, adding delicious flavor to the roast. This flavor also carries through to the gravy.
Use a semi-dry red wine. I like to use a red blend that's around the $10-15 price point. There's no need to use an expensive wine when it comes to cooking, but you still want to choose one that you would enjoy drinking.
Place the carrots and potatoes on top of the roast. Placing the vegetables on top of the roast prevents them from getting mushy and falling apart. It's OK if the vegetables aren't sitting in liquid.
Cook on low. It can be tempting to set the slow cooker too high, but I recommend cooking on low for the best results. You'll find that the roast comes out more tender and moist. Turn your slow cooker on in the morning and let it do all the work.

Troubleshooting

Why is my roast still tough?

If your roast isn't coming out fork tender, you likely just need to cook it longer. Depending on the size of your roast, it may require more than 6-8 hours. If time allows, I recommend cooking on low versus high because this will also yield more tender results.

What happens if you slow cook a roast too long?

If you cook a roast too long the fat and gelatin will run out of the meat, causing the roast to become dried out and tough. Once the roast is fork tender, enjoy the roast or turn your slow cooker to warm until you're ready to eat.

Storage & reheating

The venison roast, vegetables and gravy can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. One thing I love about this recipe is that the gravy reheats super well! It doesn't turn into a thick gelatin blob.

If reheating individual portions, I find that the microwave is the best way to do it, but if you're reheating a large amount, you can reheat in the oven at 350 degrees until warm.

This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my privacy policy for details.