My husband was shocked that this melt-in-your-mouth dinner only took 3 ingredients. The soda tenderizes the meat perfectly for a hassle-free meal

This slow cooker 3-ingredient cola roast beef is the kind of weeknight dinner that makes you feel like you put in way more effort than you actually did. The secret is using cola to slowly tenderize a budget-friendly chuck roast until it practically falls apart when you touch it with a fork.

I threw this together on a busy workday, and my husband was honestly shocked when I told him it was only three ingredients.

The soda reduces into a rich, sticky glaze that clings to the beef and onions, giving you that melt-in-your-mouth, comfort-food vibe with almost zero hands-on time.

Serve this cola roast beef piled high over creamy mashed potatoes, buttered egg noodles, or steamed white rice so all that dark, glossy sauce has something to soak into.

A simple green side like roasted green beans, a tossed salad, or steamed broccoli balances the richness.

Leftovers make amazing shredded beef sandwiches on toasted buns with a slice of provolone or cheddar, and you can spoon extra sauce over the top for a built-in au jus-style dip.

Servings: 6

3 to 3 1/2 pounds beef chuck roast

Pat the chuck roast dry with paper towels and trim any large, hard pieces of fat from the exterior, leaving some marbling for flavor and tenderness.

Place the roast into a 5- to 7-quart slow cooker, positioning it in the center so it sits as flat as possible.

Sprinkle the dry onion soup mix evenly over the top and sides of the roast, pressing it lightly so it sticks to the meat. Any mix that falls into the bottom of the slow cooker is fine—it will season the sauce.

Slowly pour the cola around the sides of the roast, avoiding pouring directly over the top so you don’t wash off too much of the onion seasoning. The liquid should come about halfway to three-quarters of the way up the sides of the roast.