This Mississippi pot roast is a chuck roast that’s seared to golden brown, then slow cooked with pepperoncini peppers, gravy and seasonings until tender. A unique recipe that’s easy to put together and is perfect for feeding a crowd!
You can never go wrong with pot roast, it’s always a crowd pleaser. This Mississippi version is loaded with flavor, and simmers in the crock pot all day long. Serve your pot roast with garlic mashed potatoes and green beans for a satisfying meal.
Why is it called Mississippi pot roast?
This recipe originated from a home cook who lives in Mississippi. That being said, the home cook never referred to it as a Mississippi pot roast, she simply called it a roast. As the recipe became popular among her friends and family, it spread to other regions in the South, and eventually hit the internet. The recipe was then coined as “Mississippi Roast” and is still known by that name today.
How do you make Mississippi pot roast?
This dish starts with a chuck roast, which is gets seasoned with salt and pepper. Sear the meat until browned on both sides, then place it in a slow cooker. Sprinkle a packet of dry ranch dressing mix and a packet of au jus gravy mix over the top of the meat. Add slices of butter and whole pepperoncini peppers on top of the roast. The next step is to add a little pepperoncini juice to the crock pot. Cover your pot, and let the meat cook on low heat for 8 hours. Shred the meat with two forks, add a sprinkle of parsley and dinner is served.
Tips for the perfect pot roast
- I recommend browning the meat before it goes into the slow cooker because this step adds a lot of flavor. That being said, if you’re in a hurry, you can skip this step.
- Be sure to go easy on the salt when you season your roast, as the dry ranch dressing and au jus gravy mix contain plenty of salt.
- You can add more pepperoncinis to this dish for a little more kick.
- Serve your meat shredded over mashed potatoes or rice to soak up the sauce.
- Any roast labeled as chuck will work for this recipe. You can use a boneless or bone-in roast, they both will work just fine.
How do you freeze pot roast?
This recipe is a great candidate for the freezer. Simply place your cooked meat and gravy in a resealable freezer safe bag. Flatten the bag and remove any excess air, then seal and store in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw the meat in the refrigerator overnight, then reheat on the stove top in a pan until warmed though.
Pot roast variations
This dish is delicious exactly as it’s written, but you can add other flavors to the mix to customize it to your tastes.
- Protein: Not in the mood for beef? This recipe also works well with chicken thighs, pork shoulder or pork loin.
- Vegetables: You can add some vegetables such as onions, mushrooms or bell peppers. It’s best to add vegetables during the last 2-3 hours of the cooking time so that they don’t get mushy.
- Seasonings: For a different flavor, try using an Italian dressing packet instead of ranch. Instead of au jus gravy, try a packet of french onion soup mix.
This Mississippi roast is a must-make recipe when those times that you’re craving comfort food without a lot of work involved. Once you try this one, you’ll find yourself making it on a regular basis.
More slow cooker recipes you’ll enjoy
- Ham Bone Soup
- Salisbury Steak
- Slow Cooker Turkey Chili
- Crock Pot Chicken Tacos
- Slow Cooker Chicken Tortellini Soup
Mississippi Pot Roast Video
Mississippi Pot Roast
![A slow cooker filled with shredded Mississippi pot roast.](https://www.dinneratthezoo.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/mississippi-pot-roast-4-400x400.jpg)
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- salt and pepper to taste
- 4 pounds chuck roast
- 1 packet ranch dressing mix
- 1 packet au jus gravy mix
- 1/4 cup butter sliced
- 4 pepperoncini peppers
- 1 tablespoon pepperoncini pepper juice from the jar
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large pan over medium high heat. Season the roast with salt and pepper to taste.
- Place the meat in the pan. Cook for 4-5 minutes per side or until browned.
- Place the roast in a slow cooker. Sprinkle the ranch dressing mix and au jus gravy mix over the top.
- Place the butter slices and pepperoncini peppers on the roast.
- Pour the pepperoncini juice into the pot.
- Cover and cook on low for 8 hours. Shred the meat with two forks. Sprinkle with parsley, then serve.
What size slow cooker did you make this in? I have a large oval one and find that many recipes don’t work well unless I add a bunch of liquid and that’s not ideal for a roast.
You can use a 6 quart oval slow cooker if that’s what you have on hand. I think an 8 quart oval would be too large.
Loved this recipe! Always looking for something a little different and this nailed it!! My husband and I loved this! I could hardly keep the leftovers because I was sampling it before it went in the container. Lol It is a bit salty but I wouldn’t change it.
Oh my goodness this was so delicious!!! I’m so tired of making the same old pot roast with carrots and potatoes, etc. THIS FLAVOR WAS OUTSTANDING! I would never expect to combine pepperoncini/juice with a roast, but it just gives the beef such a lovely depth of flavor. This one goes on regular rotation – thanks for such a great recipe. PS: I probably added like a half cup of the juice instead of a tablespoon because I only had like two whole peppers. It really made a nice gravy!
Sara, my name is Babchia (grandmother). I’m 67, single and like so many others on a fixed limited income. I love love food and I love love every single recipes that I have tried from your website which is 17 so far. Spending money on new recipes can be a risky chance. . …So far I can say that not one single penny that I have spent on your recipes have been a waste of money. Thank you I am truly grateful that you share your food at the zoo. Mississippi Pot DELISH
Hello there!
I enjoy pot roast with a some veggies. I would love to add onions and mushrooms. Would you recommend these additions or is it better to leave them out? Please advise.
Thank you in advance!
Yes that should work!
A tad salty. Otherwise, the meat was very tender. A nice change and very easy to put together.
This was incredibly easy to make and was absolutely delicious!! Both of my children enjoyed it, so that’s a win/win!! Will definitely be making this again, thank you for sharing it!!