Mississippi Pot Roast
294 Comments Apr 08, 2025
Updated Jun 18, 2025
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This famous recipe for Mississippi Pot Roast is full of flavor and features melt-in-your-mouth tender beef made with a few packets and tangy peppers. It’s a surprisingly comforting meal that you must try.
I first came across it in my Crockpot Facebook group, where it’s wildly popular. Some people even call it Mississippi Mud Roast, Memphis Roast, or the forbidden roast because members keep posting photos of it repeatedly. Whatever you call it, this recipe is a keeper!
Key Ingredients
Let’s break down what goes into this flavor-packed roast.
- Chuck Roast – A well-marbled cut of beef that’s perfect for slow cooking.
- Brown Gravy Mix – This handy little packet thickens the sauce and gives it a hearty beef base.
- Ranch Dressing Mix – It adds garlic and onion flavor without being overpowering.
- Unsalted Butter – Makes the roast extra rich.
- Pepperoncini Peppers – Don’t skip these! They give the roast a vinegary, zesty pop that balances out all the savory flavors. These do add a touch of spicy kick.
How to make Mississippi Pot Roast
- Add everything to the slow cooker—no need to sear the meat.
- Let it cook low and slow until fall-apart tender.
- Shred the beef right in the pot to soak up all the flavor.
Why is Mississippi Pot Roast So Salty?
Many of my readers believe the Mississippi Pot Roast recipe is too salty. I have found that when they say that, they are using one of the saltier packets. Compare the options if you prefer to use Au Jus or Onion Soup mix instead of my recommended brown gravy mix.
- McCormick Brown Gravy (entire packet): 1360mg sodium – This is what I use
- Lipton Recipe Secrets Onion Soup Mix (entire packet): 2800mg sodium
- McCormick Au Jus Gravy Mix (entire packet): 3600mg sodium
If you want to use onion soup mix or au jus, I recommend using half a packet or serving over something plain like white rice.
Sarah’s Notes & Variations
Here are some easy ways to switch things up:
- Butter: The butter adds a rich flavor, but many people reduce the amount or skip it entirely without issue.
- Meat Swap: Instead of chuck roast, consider using a beef bottom round or rump roast. Pork roast, chicken breasts, or thighs work great too—use pork gravy or chicken gravy mix instead.
- Make it a Complete Meal: Add cubed potatoes and carrots.
- Gravy – For a thicker gravy, you can make a pot roast gravy by whisking in a cornstarch slurry made from cold water and cornstarch
- Not a fan of pepperoncini peppers? You can use jarred pickled red onions or baby dill pickles instead—don’t forget to pour in some of their juice for that tangy kick! (See my Dill Pickle Pot Roast, or Georgia Pot Roast, which have the same recipe concept.)
How to Serve
This roast is very versatile! Serve with one of these options or try a different way to enjoy the leftovers.
- Mashed Potatoes are my go-to. Nothing better than a bite of the roast and mashed potatoes together.
- Steamed white rice – The roast can be on the salty side and rice is one way to tone that down.
- On hoagies, hamburger buns, or slider buns – Don’t forget the French fries!
Alternate Cooking Methods
Instant Pot: Sear the roast if desired right in the instant pot, then add 1 cup of beef broth, seasonings, pepperoncini, and butter. Cook on high pressure for 60 minutes with a 15-minute natural release.
Dutch Oven: Sear the roast, then add the seasonings, pepperoncini, and butter. Cover and bake at 300°F for 3½ to 4 hours, or until fork-tender.
Featured Comment
“I just love this recipe! This is my 3rd time making it and I used all the same ingredients as you did. Perfection! I placed the shredded meat over roasted garlic potatoes..MMMMM!”
– julia
Mississippi Pot Roast Recipe
How to Video
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 lb. chuck roast, 3-5 lbs will work
- 1 oz. ranch packet, (can use original packet, dip packet or spicy packet)
- .87 oz. brown gravy packet, (I use McCormick) See substitutions in notes below
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, (1 stick) can use salted
- 10 or more peperoncini peppers,
- 1/4 cup peperoncini juice, (optional but adds more tanginess and flavor)
Instructions
- Add the roast to the slow cooker. You can brown the meat in a skillet on the stovetop if desired but I do not.
- Add the ranch packet and brown gravy packet on top of the roast.
- Add the stick of butter, peppers and pepper juice.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 8-10 hours or HIGH for 6-7 hours. Do not open the lid while the roast cooks.
- Shred with two forks right in the slow cooker. Remove any fatty pieces.
Sarah’s Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
More Comfort Food Recipes:
- For classic comfort, you can’t go wrong with Crockpot Pot Roast, 3 Packet Pot Roast, or tender London Broil—each one is rich, hearty, and perfect for a filling dinner.
- If you’re in the mood for something tangy and bold, the Mississippi Chicken and Mississippi Pork Roast deliver big flavor with a buttery ranch twist.
- And for a little extra heat, the Spicy Mississippi Pot Roast adds just the right kick!
Can I use Taziki mix instead of the ranch? Mix also the gravy mix I got is very low sodium like a Whole Foods brand also, I could not find jar pepperchini peppers I bought fresh instead because that’s all they had. Will this still turn out fine
The tzikiki mix will be fine. The vinegar from the jarred peppers are what makes the recipe, I don’t think it will be the same. The low sodium gravy packet is a great idea, will be fine.
Should I just add some vinegar to it then
I can’t say without testing it. I apologize. Could try some white vinegar.
Just amazing & so easy to make!
Used sliced pepperoncinis instead of whole and served over rice. Made sandwiches on hogie rolls with the leftovers.
My new go to dish!
Awesome!!!!!!!!!!!
Any way to cut the salt in the leftovers? Loved the recipe but just too salty for our taste.
May sound weird, but you could put half of it in a strainer and rinse or serve with some plain white rice.
My roast is only 1.68 lbs. how long should we cook it? Also, we don’t have any dry gravy or soup packets. What else could we use? Just seasonings?
I would do 8 hours on low. Yes, you can use seasonings, it will still be great.
So you have nothing for the recipe. You literally don’t need to be on this page asking this lol
I’ve made this recipe before with pork roast. My grandmother who was 98 years old at the time, and was never a big eater ate at least a pound of it on her own. She passed away last year just shy of 102, but I know she was full the night she ate that.
Awe that’s great to hear. I glad she enjoyed it.
I accidentally used your ingredients for a 2lb toast. Will it be nasty ?
It should be fine, you will want to serve it over something plain like rice or lighty salted mashed potatoes. Don’t stress.
If I want carrots in the roast do I need to add any other ingredients
Nope! Adding the carrots is fine!
It was good, however mine didn’t create enough gravy. Not sure if it was due to fat content on roast? Any suggestions? I know my slow cooker also runs a little bit hotter than normal for a low setting so think too.
That can happen depending on the roast, you can always add a can of beef broth or consumme next time.
Is adding onions too much?
Onions would be a great addition.