• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Serene Trail
  • All Recipes
  • Categories
  • About
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • All Recipes
  • Categories
  • About
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Main Dishes

    Vegan Pot Roast

    Published: Dec 20, 2022 by Bonnie · Modified: Dec 20, 2022 · This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    39 shares
    Jump to Recipe

    Just like the classic, this Vegan Pot Roast is comforting and full of savory flavor! All in one pot, hearty vegetables and jackfruit are roasted to perfection in a rich gravy. Everyone will love this traditional favorite, especially during the holidays!

    Vegan pot roast.

    You will not believe how close this plant-based veggie roast tastes to the original, even though it's meatless!

    It’s full of rustic flavors, plump root vegetables that melt in your mouth, and an irresistible smoky sauce. 

    This jackfruit roast is a satisfying, wholesome meal that's perfect for chilly winter nights! It's almost like a stew but with a thicker gravy instead of a broth. 

    Veggie pot roast serving.

    The aroma alone truly takes me back to my Christmas memories from many years ago. 

    My favorites to add to this vegan roast are potatoes, jackfruit, carrots, and mushrooms, but this recipe is totally customizable!

    Reasons To Love This Recipe

    • Easy to make
    • Freezer friendly 
    • Hearty and satisfying 
    • Perfect for special occasions or anytime!

    Ingredients and Substitutions

    Labeled ingredients for pot roast.
    • Oil - Use olive or any oil to sauté the onions, or make it oil-free with ¼ cup of water. 
    • Onion - Sweet onion is best here for its subtle flavor but other types work. 
    • Garlic - Fresh garlic is unbeatable.
    • Tomato Paste - Tomato paste can be replaced with ¼ cup tomato sauce or 1 tablespoon ketchup.
    • Deglaze - Either vegan red wine or pomegranate juice (my preference) is used to deglaze the pot and add a fruit-acid depth and dark color. Broth works if you don't have these. 
    • Worcestershire - Vegan Worcestershire such as Annie’s or Whole Foods 365 are delicious here. The ingredients to look out for are anchovies or any other fish. 
    • Soy Sauce - Low-sodium soy sauce or liquid aminos adds a delightful umami flavor. 
    • Corn Starch - Cornstarch, tapioca starch, arrowroot powder or even flour work to thicken the gravy. 
    • Bouillon or Broth - Use bouillon plus water or low-sodium vegetable broth. I like to use No Beef or Vegetable from Better than Bouillon.
    • Herbs - Fresh sprigs of rosemary and thyme are so flavorful! You can certainly use the dried versions if needed. 
    • Seasoning - Feel free to adjust the amounts of salt, pepper, and oregano according to your preferences. 
    • Jackfruit - Canned jackfruit works as a great meat replacement. I don't suggest you use fresh jackfruit as that tends to be tougher and sweeter. You can also replace this with more vegetables or mushrooms. 
    • Mushrooms - I use cremini (baby bella) but others such as white, portobello, or shiitake would work just fine. 
    • Potatoes - I have found a medley of baby potatoes or yukon gold to be equally delicious. No need to peel them unless you want to.  
    • Carrots - My suggestion is to peel and cut regular carrots. You can certainly use baby carrots as they are quite convenient. However, my concern with them is that they are treated and preserved with added chemicals. 
    Pot roast with herbs.

    How to Make a Vegan Pot Roast

    Here are some quick visual steps. Find the full recipe with exact measurements on the recipe card below.

    Position one of the racks in the middle of the oven, making sure there's enough room for your dutch oven. Preheat it to 400°F. 

    If you don't have an Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven available, simply start with a medium pot and then transfer everything to a casserole dish with a fitted lid (or foil) before roasting. 

    Cut the onions, garlic, potatoes, and carrots into chunks. The mushrooms can be left whole if they are smaller. Drain and rinse the jackfruit really well. Look through the pieces and remove any seeds you see. It's okay if you don't get them all. 

    Heat your pot over medium-high heat. Then sauté the onions in the olive oil until they are slightly browned. 

    Add the garlic and tomato paste to the pot. Stir as the paste spreads and cooks for 1-2 minutes.

    Pour in the pomegranate juice or red wine. Deglaze the pot by scraping the bits off of the bottom. 

    Mix the cornstarch into the soy sauce in a small container until it's smooth. 

    Stir in the soy sauce mixture, bouillon, Worcestershire, salt, pepper, oregano, and water to the pot. 

    Bring the gravy to a boil, then reduce the heat and let it simmer for 3-4 minutes. 

    First set of steps for veggie roast.

    Add the potatoes, carrots, mushrooms, jackfruit, and herbs to the pot. 

    Stir everything to coat it in the sauce, cover the dish, and cook it in the oven for 50-60 minutes. Give it a stir halfway through and add a bit more water if it looks like it's drying out. 

    The pot roast is done when the vegetables are fork-tender. Remove the herb stems and enjoy!

    Second set of roast steps.

    If I'm setting this out as a festive meal, I like to serve it in a separate casserole dish. This is because the dutch oven will be very hot and the walls will look a little messy. I do this by transferring all of the food to the dish with a slotted spoon and then drizzling the gravy over it. 

    You can also shred the jackfruit before serving it. 

    Recipe Variation Idea

    Use vegetables of your choice such as green beans, asparagus, sweet potatoes, cauliflower, etc. 

    Jackfruit pot roast.

    Storage & Reheating

    Refrigerate the pot roast for 4 days or freeze it for 3 months. Reheat it in the oven or microwave until heated through. 

    More Vegan Holiday Favorites 

    • Tiramisu 
    • Stuffed Shells
    • Cinnamon Rolls
    • Breakfast Casserole
    Pinterest pin of vegan pot roast.

    I hope you love this recipe! Please consider leaving a star rating and comment below. You can get my latest recipes sent directly to your inbox. Click here to subscribe to my email list!

    Up close image of pot roast.

    Vegan Pot Roast

    Just like the classic, this Vegan Pot Roast is comforting and full of savory flavor! All in one pot, hearty vegetables and jackfruit are roasted to perfection in a rich gravy. Everyone will love this traditional favorite, especially during the holidays!
    5 from 5 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 1 hour
    Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 276kcal

    Ingredients

    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 1 large sweet onion, cut into chunks
    • 4 medium garlic cloves, chopped
    • 2 tablespoon tomato paste
    • ¼ cup pomegranate juice, or red wine
    • ¼ cup soy sauce low-sodium
    • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
    • 2 teaspoon bouillon (no beef or vegetable) + 2 cups water, or vegetable broth
    • 2 tablespoon vegan worcestershire sauce
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon pepper
    • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
    • 1 lb baby potato medley
    • 4 medium carrots, peeled, cut into 1-inch pieces
    • 20 ounces jackfruit, canned, drained, rinsed
    • 8 ounces cremini mushrooms, whole or halved
    • 3 sprigs thyme
    • 1 sprig rosemary

    Instructions

    • Position one of the racks in the middle of the oven, making sure there's enough room for the dutch oven. Preheat it to 400°F.
    • Cut the onions, garlic, potatoes, and carrots. The mushrooms can be left whole if they are smaller. Drain and rinse the jackfruit really well. Look through the pieces and remove any seeds you see. It's okay if you don't get them all.
    • Heat your pot over medium-high heat. Sauté the onions in olive oil until they are slightly browned. Add the garlic and tomato paste to the pot. Stir as the paste spreads and cooks for 1-2 minutes.
    • Pour in the pomegranate juice or red wine. Deglaze the pot by scraping the bits off of the bottom.
    • Mix the cornstarch into the soy sauce in a small container until it's smooth. Stir in the soy sauce mixture, bouillon, water, Worcestershire, salt, pepper, and oregano.
    • Bring the gravy to a boil, then reduce the heat and let it simmer for 3-4 minutes.
    • Add the potatoes, carrots, mushrooms, jackfruit, and herbs to the pot. Stir everything to coat it in the sauce. Cover the dish and cook it in the oven for 50-60 minutes. Give it a stir halfway through and add a bit more water if it looks like it's drying out.
    • The pot roast is done when the vegetables are fork-tender. Remove the herb stems. *Note: If I'm setting this out as a festive meal, I like to serve it in a separate casserole dish. This is because the dutch oven will be very hot and the walls will look a little messy. I do this by transferring all of the food to the dish with a slotted spoon and then drizzling the gravy over it. You can also shred the jackfruit before serving it.

    Video

    Notes

    If you don't have an enameled cast iron dutch oven available, simply start with a medium pot and then transfer everything to a casserole dish with a fitted lid (or foil) before roasting. Here's the one I use and love: Lodge Dutch Oven

    Nutrition

    Calories: 276kcal | Carbohydrates: 62.1g | Protein: 4.9g | Fat: 2.9g | Saturated Fat: 0.5g | Sodium: 1016mg | Potassium: 1126mg | Fiber: 5.2g | Sugar: 16.6g | Calcium: 99mg | Iron: 2mg

    The nutrition information is estimated and can vary depending on brands and measurements used.

    Did you try this recipe? I would love to see it!Tag @serene.trail on Instagram!

    You Will Also Love

    • Vegan Tiramisu
    • Vegan Stuffed Shells with Spinach and Zucchini
    • Vegan Cinnamon Rolls Without Yeast
    • Just Egg Breakfast Casserole
    « Vegan Skillet Cookie
    Vegan Pozole Rojo »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Teresa

      January 24, 2023 at 12:14 am

      5 stars
      I have made it once already, making it again right now. It is delicious and so close to the real thing❤️❤️❤️

    2. Bonnie

      January 24, 2023 at 1:47 am

      Hi Teresa! I'm so happy to hear that you like this jackfruit pot roast!!

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    about Bonnie

    Hi, I'm Bonnie! I'm so happy you've stopped by Serene Trail! You'll find delicious recipes and great vegan lifestyle tips here. My hope is to share ways to make your vegan journey peaceful and uncomplicated.

    More about me →

    Featured Posts

    • Tofu Quinoa Bowl
    • Vegan Enchilada Soup
    • Sriracha Mayo (Vegan)
    • Vegan Zucchini Banana Bread

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Privacy Policy

    About Me

    Contact

    Copyright © 2023 Serene Trail | Simple Vegan Life | Bonnie Conner