Mississippi pot roast is just maybe the best pot roast ever created! It’s a delicious, fall-apart-tender, fix it and forget it, crockpot wonder that only uses 5 ingredients. It’s much more flavorful than a standard pot roast and just as easy, if not easier, to put together.

If you’ve had this Mississippi roast, you know how incredibly delicious it is. Try my juicy Mississippi chicken or when you’re in a hurry, you can’t beat my instant pot Mississippi pot roast.

Looking for more really, really delicious crockpot recipes? Try more of my favorites! Trust me, these aren’t your run of the mill crockpot recipes.

What is Mississippi Pot Roast?

Mississippi pot roast is a recipe created by a mom named Robin Chapman from Ripley, Mississippi. Her goal was to recreate a less spicy version of her aunt’s pot roast for her kids.

It’s a crockpot cooked beef chuck roast that is seasoned with a packet of dry Au Jus Gravy mix, ranch seasoning mix, whole pepperoncini peppers, and a stick of butter. The recipe became a huge internet sensation, making regular appearances on Facebook, Instagram and even the New York Times published a version of it.

Why Is It Called Mississippi Pot Roast?

Because the recipe originated in Mississippi! Home cook Robin Chapman adapted a recipe given to her in the 1990s and history was made!

What Does Mississippi Pot Roast Taste Like?

A little bit zesty, tangy, wonderfully rich, and beefy.

The Best Cut of Beef to Use:

The best cut of meat for this recipe is a chuck roast. The slow, extended cooking time melts the collagen and fat within the roast and produces a delicious melt-in-your-mouth piece of meat. You might see other recipes call for a bottom-round roast. I don’t like to use it because it’s a lot leaner than a chuck roast and can easily come out a bit dry. Stick with a chuck roast!

What You Need To Make This Recipe

A Large Crockpot – Mine is a 6 quart
Chuck Roast- Use a 3-5 pound well-marbled roast for this recipe. I try to use a 5 pounder because this dish is so popular in my house.
Pepperoncini Peppers – Make sure you use the whole pepper in this recipe rather than the slices because the slices will fall apart given the long cooking process.
Unsalted Butter – This dish tends to be a bit salty because of the au jus and ranch packets. Using unsalted butter, rather than regular, helps to reduce the overall saltiness.
Au Jus Gravy
Ranch Dressing Mix
Fresh Parsley

Frequently Asked Questions:

Do you have to sear a pot roast before slow cooking? Nope! In this recipe, there is no need to sear the meat before placing it in the slow cooker. It’s one of those amazing dump-and-cook recipes!
Is this spicy? No. The pepperoncini peppers add a lot of flavor without adding heat to the roast and gravy. The pepperoncini will of course be hot and spicy if you eat them.
Can you cook this on high? Yes, you can cook this on high in your slow cooker for about four hours.
Can you add potatoes and carrots to this? Yes absolutely. Add potatoes and carrots that have been cut into 1 1/2 inch pieces at step #2 in the recipe instructions below
Can you make a Mississippi pot roast without pepperoncini? Well sure but you’ll miss out on a key flavor element of this recipe. The acidity from the peppers also helps cut through the richness of the meat and gravy.
Can you make a Mississippi pot roast with pork? Yes, and it’s absolutely delicious. Choose a 3 1/2–4-pound boneless pork shoulder roast instead of roast beef. This pork roast version is a wonderful change to add to your dinner rotation.
How to thicken Mississippi pot roast gravy? The gravy is on the thin side when the roast is finished cooking. To thicken, remove the roast to a platter, turn the crockpot on “high,” and make a simple cornstarch slurry. In a small bowl, whisk together 2 tablespoons of cornstarch with 4 tablespoons of the cooking liquid. Slowly stir the slurry into the crockpot, adding just enough of the slurry to achieve the desired thickness. You may not need to add all of it.
Is this keto-friendly? Yes, if made as written below without thickening the gravy or adding any optional carrots and potato carbs. To serve it as a low-carb meal, serve it over cauliflower rice or mashed cauliflower.

How To Make Mississippi Roast In The Oven?

Preheat oven to 275°F.
Place the roast in a Dutch oven.
Sprinkle the Au Jus Gravy mix and ranch seasoning mix over the roast.
Place the stick of butter and Pepperoncinis on top and pour 1/2 water around the roast.
Bake in preheated oven for 4-5 hours, or until the roast is fork-tender and falling apart. Turn roast halfway through cooking.

Storing + Freezing + Make-Ahead

How Long Can You Keep This In The Fridge? Your roast will stay fresh and delicious in the fridge for up to 3-4 days but don’t expect it to sit around that long. All you have to do is cover it tightly with aluminum foil or cling wrap….or you could transfer to an airtight container. The thing is, this pot roast is so tasty people will come looking for it as it makes fantastic sandwiches!

Can You Freeze This? Yes! You can freeze your cooked pot roast or just the leftovers for 2-3 months. Let it cool completely before preparing it for the freezer (but not more than 2 hours). Store it in a freezer-safe bag with the juices to prevent the meat from drying out. Slow thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
Make-Ahead Tips: You can toss everything in the crockpot, cover it up and leave it in the fridge overnight. That way the next day all you have to do is grab the insert and turn it on. Of course, you can always go the freezer route but it’s just so good fresh!
Leftovers: Any leftover shredded Mississippi roast also makes great sandwiches. Pile some on top of your favorite toasted hamburger bun or hoagie roll, along with some homemade buttermilk ranch dressing and extra sliced pepperoncini, or maybe some melted mozzarella and thin-sliced, sweet onion.
Food Safety: If you’d like more info on food safety check out this link.

Serving Recommendations

I like to serve this slow-cooker dish over mashed potatoes, rice, or egg noodles to soak up the gravy. A few of my favorite pot roast sides are my Bisquick biscuits, roasted broccoli and brown sugar carrots. They round out the meal nicely.

More Favorite Crockpot Comfort Meals:

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