Mississippi Pot Roast


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This famous recipe for Mississippi Pot Roast features only 5 ingredients and makes melt-in-your-mouth tender beef, made with a few packets and tangy peppers. A perfect Cozy dinner that isn’t boring!

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

Recipe Highlights

  • I first came across this recipe in my Crockpot Facebook group, where it’s wildly popular.
  • Some people refer to the roast as Mississippi Mud Roast, Memphis Roast, or even the forbidden roast because it’s so popular on social media.
  • Great for a unique Sunday dinner – everyone in my family looks forward to this!
  • This is my most popular and favorite recipe among my readers, with over a million views!
ingredients for slow cooker Mississippi pot roast on a table.

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

  1. Add everything to the slow cooker—no need to sear the meat.
  2. Let it cook low and slow until fall-apart tender.
  3. Shred the beef right in the pot to soak up all the flavor.
3 seasonings packets with text overlay showing how much sodium is in each.

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.

overhead shot of Mississippi pot roast in a slow cooker.

Sarah’s Tips & 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.)
overhead shot of slow cooker Mississippi pot roast in a bowl with mashed potatoes.

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!
slow cooker Mississippi pot roast on slider rolls on a plate.
overhead shot of Mississippi pot roast in a slow cooker.

Mississippi Pot Roast Recipe

4.87 from 104 votes
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 hours
Total Time: 10 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 10
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

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

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.

Nutrition

Calories: 418kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Cholesterol: 150mg | Sodium: 452mg | Potassium: 607mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 307IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 34mg | Iron: 4mg

Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.

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294 Comments

  1. Valerie Whitney says:

    5 stars
    Has anyone ever used a Venison (deer) roast??? If so, any tips???

    1. Amanda says:

      I have, just follow the same instructions it’s amazing

  2. Sheila says:

    Could I use a trip tip roast for this recipe?

    1. Sarah Olson says:

      Yes! That will work fine.

  3. Rachel Marley says:

    5 stars
    What about adding cut up- potatoes, carrots, and onions to this Mississippi Pot Roast recipe?

    1. Sarah Olson says:

      Should work great! I’ve heard of people doing this with great results.

    2. Mike says:

      I would add carrots and one quartered onion. If you are going to add potatoes, wait until the last three hours or so, or they will get mushy.

  4. christine jason says:

    I only used half of each packet and wonder if that will be okay? It seemed like so much.

    1. Sarah Olson says:

      Yes, it will be great. Some think its way too salty.

      1. Alan Kalleberg says:

        I use Knorr Au Jus. 1100 mg sodium per package. Works great.

  5. Amanda says:

    How does yours have so much juice? I think I got the wrong kind of meat. I got a beef chuck bit doesn’t have any fat in it like at all and it also says tender beef chuck roast. Could that be why? Should I add water or something? Or beef stock? It doesn’t even cover my roast at all

    1. Sarah Olson says:

      You may not be cooking it long enough. You can add a little water.

  6. Mary says:

    Hi chuck roast, is it stew beef? Or a good piece of beef. I am in UK and not sure of the cut, many thanks Mary.

    1. Sarah Olson says:

      It’s a good whole piece of beef. In the U.S. stew beef is chunks of a roast.

    2. Ellen Drake says:

      In the U.S., Chuck roast is one of the cheapest cuts of beef. It has a lot of fat marbling in it. It’s from the lower neck- upper shoulder of the cow.

  7. Dawn Guadagno says:

    5 stars
    This was one of the most delicious and easiest recipes to make! I am a mom to 2 teenaged boys and the absolutely loved it!
    Definitely passing this along to my friends!

  8. Ken Nottingham says:

    How about using tamed jalapenos?

    1. Sarah Olson says:

      Hi! Are you talking about the jarred ones? I bought some last week for a nacho bar and they seemed hotter than peppercininis to me.

  9. LCS says:

    5 stars
    It’s the best pot roast ever! I make it quite often. Makes a great po boy sandwich too!

  10. Karla Salsbury says:

    Not a fan of pepperoncinis. Will it be just as good if I leave those out?

    1. Sarah Olson says:

      They are part of the recipe, the vinegar in them makes the recipe. You can but it won’t be the same.