Mississippi Pot Roast

Sep 21, 2026

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This famous Mississippi Pot Roast recipe uses just 5 ingredients to make melt-in-your-mouth tender beef with tangy peppers and plenty of flavor. It’s the perfect cozy dinner that isn’t boring!

If you love a good, cozy pot roast recipe, you’re in the right place. You’ll also want to try my Dill Pickle Pot Roast or Worcestershire Pot Roast. Both have a stick of butter as well.

tongs taking out some of the slow cooker Mississippi pot roast.

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

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What is Mississippi Pot Roast?
Why This Recipe is a Keeper
The Ingredients
How to make Mississippi Pot Roast in a Slow Cooker
Why is Mississippi Pot Roast So Salty?
Sarah's Tips & Variations
How to Serve Mississippi Pot Roast
Is Mississippi Pot Roast Spicy?
Why is My Pot Roast Tough?
How to Store and Reheat
My Other Slow Cooker Pot Roast Recipes
Mississippi Pot Roast Recipe

What is Mississippi Pot Roast?

I first came across this recipe in my Crockpot Facebook Group, where it’s wildly popular. A woman named Robin Chapman from Mississippi created the recipe, and we have her to thank for sharing this wonderful creation.

This recipe has a unique blend of flavors, including butter, pepperoncini peppers, ranch, and gravy mix. It’s definitely not your usual pot roast.

Some people call it the Mississippi Mud Roast, Memphis Roast, or even the Forbidden Roast because it's so popular on social media. Here's how I make Robin's famous roast, and I hope you make it in your slow cooker as soon as possible!

Why This Recipe is a Keeper

It’s an easy dump-and-go slow cooker recipe with very little prep work. And it's only 5 ingredients!
This is my most popular recipe to date and my readers' favorite, with over 2.5 million views!
Great for a unique Sunday dinner - everyone in my family looks forward to this!

The Ingredients

Let’s break down what goes into this flavor-packed roast.

ingredients for slow cooker Mississippi pot roast on a table.

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 flavor. I use it instead of au jus because it has significantly less sodium.

Ranch Dressing Mix: It adds garlic and onion flavor without being overpowering.

Pepperoncini Peppers: Don’t skip these! They give the roast a tangy, vinegary flavor that balances the richness. They also add a very mild kick.

Pepperoncini Juice: Adds extra tang and helps flavor the cooking liquid. You can leave it out if you prefer a milder pepperoncini flavor.

Unsalted Butter: Makes the roast extra rich and adds a buttery taste.

How to make Mississippi Pot Roast in a Slow Cooker

Place the chuck roast into the slow cooker. No need to sear!

ranch and gravy packet over roast in slow cooker.

Add the seasoning packets on top.

Butter and pepperoncinis added on top of roast in slow cooker.

Add the stick of butter, peppers, and juice.

2 forks shredding mississippi pot roast.

Cook the roast until it falls apart, then shred and serve.

Why is Mississippi Pot Roast So Salty?

Mississippi Pot Roast can turn out too salty depending on the seasoning packets you use. I prefer brown gravy mix because it contains significantly less sodium than the au jus and onion soup mixes I compared.

3 seasonings packets with text overlay showing how much sodium is in each.

McCormick Brown Gravy (entire packet): 1,360mg sodium - This is the one I use.
Lipton Recipe Secrets Onion Soup Mix (entire packet): 2,800mg sodium
McCormick Au Jus Gravy Mix (entire packet): 3,600mg 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.

overhead shot of Mississippi pot roast in a slow cooker.

Sarah's Tips & Variations

Butter: The butter adds a rich flavor, but many people reduce the amount in half 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 chicken thighs work great too. Use pork gravy or chicken gravy mix instead. See my Mississippi Chicken recipe for a change-up!

Add Vegetables: Add potatoes, carrots, and onions to the slow cooker to turn this into a complete one-pot meal. Do this at the beginning of the cooking time.

Gravy: For a thicker gravy, you can make a pot roast gravy by whisking in a cornstarch slurry made from cold water and cornstarch.

overhead shot of slow cooker Mississippi pot roast in a bowl with mashed potatoes.

How to Serve Mississippi Pot Roast

This roast is very versatile! Serve with one of these options or try a different way to enjoy the leftovers.

Mashed potatoes: Nothing beats a bite of the roast with mashed potatoes (my favorite way to serve). Try it with a side of my Slow Cooker Baby Carrots!
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!

slow cooker Mississippi pot roast on slider rolls on a plate.

Is Mississippi Pot Roast Spicy?

If you can eat a pepperoncini pepper without thinking it's spicy, you will find this recipe mild. Pepperoncini peppers aren't hot peppers; they have more of a vinegary bite than heat.

Why is My Pot Roast Tough?

This is a common question I get from beginner crockpotters. The roast takes a long time to become tender in the slow cooker, often longer than you would think.

If you’ve opened the lid during cooking, add more time, since heat escapes each time you open it. Some slow cookers also cook more slowly than others.

If your roast is still tough, keep the lid on and continue cooking until it’s tender.

How to Store and Reheat

Store leftover pot roast in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days or freeze for up to three months. Reheat individual servings in the microwave until hot, but don't overheat the meat or it can become tough.

My Other Slow Cooker Pot Roast Recipes

For classic comfort, you can’t go wrong with Crockpot Pot Roast, 3 Envelope Pot Roast, or tender Slow Cooker London Broil; each one is rich, hearty, and perfect for a filling dinner.

For something different, my Mississippi Pork Roast uses the same buttery ranch flavors with pork instead of beef.

And for a little extra heat, the Spicy Mississippi Pot Roast adds just the right kick!

If you tried this Mississippi Pot Roast recipe or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it goes in the 📝 comments below. Happy Slow Cooking!

Mississippi Pot Roast

4.88 from 114 votes

Prep Time: 15

Cook Time: 10

Total Time: 10 15

Servings:

By: Sarah Olson

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Mississippi Pot Roast is rich, decadent, and totally irresistible; the internet-famous recipe that's taken Crockpot lovers by storm.

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How to Video

Equipment

Slow Cooker- 6 quart or larger (I own and use this one from Crock-Pot)

Ingredients

▢ 4 lb. chuck roast, (3-5 lbs will work)
▢ 1 oz. ranch packet, (original ranch, ranch dip, or spicy ranch will work)
▢ .87 oz. brown gravy packet, (I use McCormick; see substitutions in the notes below)
▢ 1/2 cup unsalted butter, (1 stick)
▢ 10 or more whole pepperoncini peppers
▢ 1/4 cup pepperoncini juice, (optional, but adds more tang 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

Brown Gravy Substitute: You can use a Lipton Onion Soup mix or an Au Jus packet, though both have more sodium.

Butter: Salted butter can be used, but unsalted is preferred since the seasoning packets already contain plenty of sodium.

Does liquid need to be added? The unsalted butter will melt and will be the liquid for the flavorful pot roast recipe. Do not add water or broth. The meat will also cook down and make more liquid.

Alternate Cooking Methods:

Instant Pot: Sear the roast if desired right in the instant pot, then add 1 cup of beef broth, and all my ingredients listed. Cook on high pressure for 60 minutes with a 15-minute natural release.

Dutch Oven: Sear the roast, then add the rest of the ingredients. Cover and bake at 300°F for 3½ to 4 hours, or until fork-tender.

Stovetop: Brown the chuck roast in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add remaining ingredients plus ½ cup water or broth. Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 3-4 hours until tender.