Home/Recipes/Crockpot Mississippi Pot Roast

Crockpot Mississippi Pot Roast

The most tender, flavorful pot roast with just 5 ingredients! This viral slow cooker recipe creates fall-apart beef in a rich, tangy gravy.

Easy
490 mins
👥 8 Servings
🔥 420 Cal

The Viral Mississippi Pot Roast

Mississippi Pot Roast has taken the internet by storm, and for good reason - it's arguably the easiest, most foolproof pot roast recipe ever created. With just 5 ingredients and zero liquid added, this recipe produces fork-tender beef swimming in the most incredible gravy you've ever tasted.

The Magic Ingredient Combination

The magic happens from the combination of ranch seasoning, au jus mix, pepperoncini peppers, and butter. As the roast cooks low and slow, these ingredients meld together to create a gravy that's savory, tangy, slightly spicy, and utterly addictive. The pepperoncini peppers add a subtle heat and acidity that cuts through the richness of the beef and butter.

Impossibly Simple Method

What makes this recipe viral-worthy is its impossible simplicity. There's no searing required, no browning, no complicated steps. You literally dump everything in the slow cooker and walk away. Eight hours later, you have a restaurant-quality dinner that looks like you slaved over it all day. The beef becomes so tender it falls apart with just a fork.

Don't Skip the Butter

The butter might seem excessive, but it's essential. It creates that luscious, silky gravy that this recipe is famous for. As it melts and mingles with the seasoning packets and pepper brine, it transforms into liquid gold. Don't skip it or reduce it - trust the process.

Serving Suggestions

This pot roast is incredibly versatile. Serve it over mashed potatoes (the classic choice), egg noodles, rice, or even polenta. The gravy is so good that people have been known to drink it straight from the bowl (we don't judge). Leftovers make incredible sandwiches, tacos, or can be shredded and mixed back into the gravy for Mississippi beef sandwiches.

Perfect for Meal Prep

The recipe scales beautifully - use a bigger roast and increase cooking time, or make two smaller roasts for a crowd. It's perfect for meal prep since it reheats wonderfully and actually tastes better the next day. Many people make it on Sunday and eat it throughout the week.

Customization Options

Some cooks add baby carrots and baby potatoes for the last 2-3 hours of cooking, turning it into a complete one-pot meal. Others serve it with a simple green vegetable to balance the richness. Either way, this recipe has converted thousands of people who claimed they didn't like pot roast.

Why Pepperoncini?

The pepperoncini are crucial - don't substitute with jalapeños or other peppers. Their specific flavor profile is what makes Mississippi pot roast taste like Mississippi pot roast. You can find them in the pickle aisle at any grocery store.

Recommended Kitchen Equipment

Shop on Amazon

Recommended kitchen tools for this recipe:

🛈 As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

Advertisement

Loading ad...

Ingredients

8
servings
  • 3-4 lbs chuck roast
  • 1 oz ranch seasoning mix packet
  • 1 oz au jus gravy mix packet
  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
  • 5-7 peppers + 1/4 cup juice pepperoncini peppers

Nutrition (Total)

Calories
420
Protein
45g
Carbs
4g
Fat
26g

Equipment Needed

  • 6-quart slow cooker
  • Serving platter
  • Two forks for shredding
  • Ladle for gravy
  • Fat separator (optional)
Tender Mississippi pot roast with pepperoncini peppers in rich gravy

Before You Start

  • Use unsalted butter to control salt
  • Do not skip the pepperoncini juice
  • No need to sear or brown the roast
  • Let roast sit 5 minutes before shredding

Advertisement

Loading ad...

Shop Fresh Ingredients

Shop on Amazon

Get fresh ingredients delivered to your door:

🛈 As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

Instructions

1

Prepare the roast

Pat chuck roast dry with paper towels. Place in slow cooker. No need to sear or brown - just place it in raw. This is what makes this recipe so easy!

Step 1: Prepare the roast
2

Add seasonings

Sprinkle ranch seasoning packet evenly over roast. Then sprinkle au jus packet over top. Do not mix with water - use the dry packets as-is. This creates an incredibly flavorful crust.

Step 2: Add seasonings
3

Add butter and peppers

Place whole stick of butter on top of roast (do not melt it first). Add pepperoncini peppers around the roast and pour in 1/4 cup of the pepper juice from the jar. Do not add any other liquid.

Step 3: Add butter and peppers
4

Slow cook

Cover and cook on LOW for 8 hours, or HIGH for 4-5 hours. The roast is done when it is fork-tender and easily shreds. Do not peek! Lifting the lid releases heat and extends cooking time.

Step 4: Slow cook
5

Shred and serve

Remove roast to cutting board. Shred with two forks. Return shredded beef to slow cooker and stir into the gravy. Let sit 5 minutes to absorb flavors. Serve over mashed potatoes, rice, or noodles with extra gravy ladled over top.

Step 5: Shred and serve

Advertisement

Chef's Tips

  • Gravy tastes even better the next day
  • Freeze leftovers in gravy for up to 3 months
  • Use gravy for Mississippi beef sandwiches
  • Add a splash of pepperoncini juice when reheating

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I really not add any liquid?

Correct! No water, no broth - just the pepperoncini juice. The roast releases its own juices as it cooks, combined with the butter and pepper juice, creates plenty of gravy. Adding liquid dilutes the incredible flavors.

Can I use a different cut of beef?

Chuck roast is best because it has the perfect fat content for slow cooking. You can use a different roast like rump or bottom round, but chuck produces the most tender, flavorful results. Avoid lean cuts like sirloin - they will dry out.

The gravy is too salty, what happened?

Make sure you are using unsalted butter, not salted. The seasoning packets already contain plenty of salt. If your gravy still tastes too salty, add 1-2 cups of beef broth to mellow it out, or serve over plain mashed potatoes which will absorb some salt.

Can I add vegetables?

Yes! Add baby carrots and baby potatoes for the last 2-3 hours of cooking on LOW (or last hour on HIGH). Do not add them at the beginning or they will turn mushy. Cut vegetables into large chunks so they hold their shape.

How do I make this less spicy?

Use fewer pepperoncini peppers (start with 3) and less juice (2 tablespoons). You can also remove the pepper seeds which contain most of the heat. The peppers themselves are not very spicy - most of the flavor is tangy rather than hot.

Why is there so much fat in the gravy?

The butter and beef fat create that rich gravy. You can skim some fat off the top with a spoon or use a fat separator if you prefer. However, the fat carries a lot of flavor - removing all of it makes the gravy less tasty.

Can this be made in an Instant Pot?

Yes! Place all ingredients in Instant Pot. Cook on HIGH pressure for 60-75 minutes (depending on roast size). Natural release for 15 minutes, then quick release remaining pressure. Shred beef and return to pot. Use Sauté mode to thicken gravy if needed.

What should I serve with this?

Classic choice is mashed potatoes to soak up the gravy. Also great over egg noodles, rice, polenta, or mashed cauliflower for low-carb. Serve with a simple green vegetable like green beans, broccoli, or a salad to balance the richness.

Tags

Slow CookerBeefComfort FoodEasyViralKeto

Advertisement

Reviews (0)

Sort by:

Sign in to leave a review and rating!