Mississippi Pot Roast (+Video)
Mississippi pot roast is a classic slow cooker recipe that is made with beef chuck roast, ranch dressing mix, onion soup mix, butter, and peperoncini peppers.
AN EASY, FLAVORFUL POT ROAST RECIPE
This Mississippi pot roast recipe might be the best you ever try! If you haven’t tried this recipe before, you absolutely must give it a chance. The meat comes out so tender and incredibly flavorful! Over the years, it has become my family’s go-to pot roast recipe! If you are looking for a serious comfort meal, then this Mississippi Pot Roast is for you!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ’S):
The recipe is believed to have originated in Mississippi, hence its name. It has become a popular dish in the United States and is a comforting and hearty meal.
Mississippi pot roast has a savory and slightly tangy flavor, thanks to the combination of ranch dressing mix, onion soup mix, and peperoncini peppers. The butter adds richness and depth of flavor to the dish.
No. Absolutely not. The meat comes out so tender and buttery by cooking it low and slow in the crock pot. Cooking it too quickly will result in a tough cut of meat that does not shred easily.
Of course not! Try making your own Homemade Ranch Seasoning and your own Homemade Dry Onion Soup Mix. You’ll need about 2 Tablespoons of the ranch seasoning and about 3 Tablespoons of the onion soup mix for this recipe. This will also help you control the amount of sodium in the recipe as well.
It’s not recommended. The butter adds a lot of flavor to this. Margarine is basically oil. Use the real stuff here.
Mississippi pot roast is delicious served with Crock Pot Mashed Potatoes, rice, pasta, or vegetables like carrots, green beans, or broccoli. You can also serve it with a side of crusty bread, Butter Swim Biscuits or rolls to sop up the flavorful cooking juices.
A sirloin tip or rump roast will work. You want a cut of meat that will shred after it is finished cooking.
They really add a lot of flavor to this dish so I wouldn’t skip them. It doesn’t add spiciness like you think it would. If you absolutely insist on substituting you can try using some dill pickles and a bit of pickle juice.
No. Do not add additional liquids. The meat itself along with peperoncini and the melted butter will produce enough juices.
Yes, you can add them in at the start of cooking.
It hasn’t cooked long enough or you opened the lid while cooking. Refer to my answer above about cooking this low and slow. Trust me, you just cannot rush this or you’ll be severely disappointed. And do not open the lid while cooking as this also disrupts the cooking process.
Leftovers can be frozen. Just place in a freezer safe bag and remove all of the air. It will keep frozen for up to 2 months.
INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (SEE RECIPE CARD BELOW FOR THE FULL RECIPE)
- chuck roast – the chuck roast needs to be fresh and not frozen. So if yours is frozen, you will need to defrost it first.
- salt and pepper – I will leave this up to your tastebuds. I lightly season both sides but if you don’t like the additional salt then leave it out.
- ranch dressing mix – if you are sensitive to salt or have dietary concerns about sodium, use a lower sodium option. If you really want to have full control over the salt levels, try making the Homemade Ranch Dressing Mix.
- onion soup mix (or au jus gravy mix) – the same applies for this mix. Go for a lower sodium option if necessary. You can also make Homemade Onion Soup Mix so you can control the amount of salt.
- salted butter – unsalted butter can be used. If you can find the Kerrygold garlic and herb butter, give that it try, it adds even more flavor. Do not use margarine – it has to be real butter.
- peperoncini peppers – these do not add spice, just flavor. If you want a bit of a kick of heat, try adding a bit of the juice from the peppers.
HOW TO MAKE MISSISSIPPI POT ROAST:
Heat up a large skillet on high. Add oil to hot skillet. You want it really hot here to brown or “sear” the beef quickly. Note: I have one of the Ninja slow cookers that has a “stovetop” option, which means I can brown the meat all right in my crock pot and not dirty up any other dishes. However, if you are in a rush, just skip the browning step altogether.
Take a paper towel and make sure you dry both sides of the pot roast (drying the meat helps it brown easier.) Then season with a little bit of salt and pepper. Once the skillet is nice and hot, add the roast. Allow the roast to cook for about 2-3 minutes until it is golden brown. The browning of the outside of the meat just adds flavor. Using tongs, flip the meat over and sear the other side of the roast for another 2-3 minutes.
Transfer meat to slow cooker. Sprinkle packets of dry ranch dressing and onion soup mixes over pot roast. Top with a stick of butter. Then place peppers on and around roast.
Note: This butter is a Kerrygold garlic & herb butter. The sticks were on sale at Kroger so I had picked up a bunch. But a regular stick of salted butter (not margarine) will still work perfectly in this. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours. You don’t add any other liquid to this. The meat will create it’s own juices at it cooks. DO NOT remove the lid while cooking.
Now all you need to do is take two forks and start shredding the meat. Discard any big fatty pieces. If you want, you can cut up the peppers and stir those into the meat mixture. I ate mine with the peppers but didn’t cut them up into the meat to serve. Serve on mashed potatoes, rice or on a roll with a slice of provolone or mozzarella cheese.
CRAVING MORE DELICIOUS RECIPES?
Originally published: April 2015
Updated & republished: Feb 2024
Mississippi Pot Roast (+Video)
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil (or vegetable oil)
- 2-3 pound chuck roast
- salt and pepper (to taste)
- 1 packet ranch dressing mix
- 1 packet dry onion soup mix (or au jus gravy mix)
- ½ cup (1 stick) salted butter
- 8 peperoncini peppers
Instructions
- Heat up a large skillet on high. Add 2 Tablespoons olive oil to hot skillet. You want it really hot here to brown or "sear" the beef quickly. This can also be done in your slow cooker if you have the sear or saute option.
- Take a paper towel and make sure you dry both sides of the 2-3 pound chuck roast. Season with a little bit of salt and pepper. Once the skillet is nice and hot, add the roast. Using tongs, flip the meat over and sear the other side of the roast for another 2-3 minutes.
- Transfer meat to slow cooker. Sprinkle 1 packet ranch dressing mix and 1 packet dry onion soup mix over pot roast. Top with 1/2 cup (1 stick) salted butter then place 8 peperoncini peppers on and around the roast.
- Cover and cook on low for 8 hours. DO NOT open the lid. It’s tempting but leave it alone!
- After it has cooked, take two forks and start shredding the meat. Discard any big fatty pieces. Then serve.
Video
Notes
- Please refer to my FAQ’s (Frequently Asked Questions) and ingredient list above for other substitutions or for the answers to the most common questions.
- Do not rush this recipe. Do not cook on high. This will only work when cooked slowly on low. And definitely do not open the lid (trust me, this makes a difference!)
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer
“The Country Cook” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
Hello, I make this often. Make the ranch powder from scratch. Going to start making the onion soup mix also. I usually just cut up a fresh onion. Family favorite. I also use a pork shoulder on occasion. Thanks for the recipes.
I may have commented before, but just made this yesterday.
Hey, I’ve had this Mississippi Roast pin forever and used to make it all of the time. I haven’t made it in a couple years now though. Has it changed? I could’ve sworn I used to put in onion soup mix, ranch, AND au jus (as opposed to “OR au jus” as in this current recipe.) Has it changed, or am I misremembering? I can’t decide how to make it now lol.
Hey! This is my version of the recipe, and I have never changed it in 10 years. There are other recipes that use that, but I never have. Hope that helps!
We use cheese Kiaser rolls with provolone cheese for a hot sandwiches with this and my kids love it!
do I add any liquid like beef broth wine I didn’t see any listen in the recipe maybe it’s assumed I’m slow
I answer that above in the FAQ section. No other liquid is added.
Mississippi Pot Roasts is one of my all time favorites! it’s super easy and always turns out amazing!!
Yuummmm I love everything about this recipe so much!!! I could eat this every single day. The tang from the pepperoncinis is my fave, and the Kerrygold garlic & herb butter really takes it over the top. I add garlic, onion, and baby carrots to mine, double the pepperoncinis, and serve with mashed potatoes, using another stick of the Kerrygold g&h in the potatoes. *chefs kiss*
That Kerrygold is bomb, right?! I love it so much! So glad you love this one and you were so sweet to take the time to come back and comment!
Didn’t have a roast once and tried it with chicken breasts. It came out delicious! I love the flavors the ranch, onion and peppers create in combination. Thank you for a wonderfully versatile recipe.
Love hearing that Vicki! Thanks so much!!
This is my favorite variation on Mississippi Pot Roast; you don’t need an artificial au jus or gravy, a nice chuck roast with the other ingredients as Brandie wrote it, is perfect! My family eats this recipe on hard rolls with slices of cheddar of provolone (we live in Wisconsin, cheese goes on almost everything) Thanks again for sharing & I recommend this recipe to everybody!!
Awww Amy – you’re the best! Ha! Love reading your comment – makes my day! I love that you eat it on rolls with cheese – that is perfection if you ask me! I hope you continue to love any other recipes on here you try
Can this be made without the peppers?
I actually answer that question up in my FAQ section above. You can but these really add a lot of flavor and don’t bring spiciness like you might think.
DELISH
If my slow cooker is currently out of commission, can I do this recipe in the oven? Do you have any tips for transferring it over to the oven?
Yes you could do it in the oven. I would brown it first to get some color on it. Then put it in a roasting pan. Add all the seasonings and cut up the butter and evenly spread it around on top. Cover with aluminum foil and bake at 300F degrees for about 2 1/2-3 hours.
Wow! Delicious! After one bite, my husband said “Twice a week ok?” You had us at Peperoncini! It’s now on our dinner menu, thank you!! (I followed the directions exactly. Next time I need to double the recipe) thank you!
Prior to finding this recipe, I had made Mississippi Pot Roast twice previously (in the Instant Pot) and just detested the taste of the finished product. Literally one bite in to those two recipes and I had to push the plate away b/c they were either too salty, too spicy or both. But your recipe actually made me a fan of Mississippi Pot Roast! I made my own Ranch seasoning (minus the powdered buttermilk) for the recipe and used a packet of gluten free brown gravy mix (I have celiac) along with the stick of garlic butter you suggested and half of a jar of sliced banana peppers and its brine. What a fabulous dinner! The recipe was not overly salty nor spicy and the flavor of the pot roast and gravy was just scrumptious! I’ll gladly make this recipe over and over again.
Super Good! Makes great sandwiches too!!
I happen to only have beef tenderloin chunks….can I sub this cut of meat instead of chuck roast?
I don’t see why not. I have found that this recipe works for most cuts of meat.
Made many Pot Roasts over the years, this recipe tops them all!
NO FEAR NO FAIL RECIPE THE BEST
Best pot roast I have ever made! SO flavorful, followed the recipe exactly except I cut the butter up in pads and spread them over the roast and put in probably about 12 peppers. I did the garlic bread and decided to make my husband a french dip with it, with the drippings as the dipping sauce- said it was the best he’s ever had! They peppers give an added kick to the dipping that he loved. Kids loved it too. Will go in the regular rotation!
Do I have to use ranch dressing mix ?
Yes if you want to make Mississippi pot roast
You can make your own version of it. She adds a link to one
I will only make roast this way from now on. Husband not a big fan of roast till this recipe. He ate 2 helpings. Definitely saving this.
We absolutely love this!! We like it hot so I use about 3/4 of a tall jar of sliced peperocini peppers. It’s great a a sandwich on large rolls of any kind or wrapper in a tortilla … Add more hot peppers or cheese or what pleases you. My whole family loves it and I’ve definitely passed it on!!
Oh my gosh that sounds so good on a tortilla! I love that idea!
Do I add peppers alone or with their juice?
That’s personal preference. It’s not required but some people like it to have more a “kick”. If that is the case for you, add some juice.
Very tender and juicy. This pot roast just melts in your mouth.
We made this with chuck roast and the meat wasn’t very tender. For what ever reason, our crock pot Low setting seems to be hotter than Low, could it have cooked too high of temp?
What type of beef do you recommend using in this dish? I’m also thinking it could’ve been the quality of meat.
Thanks.
Hi Edwin! My only guess would be the quality of meat. It definitely sounds like you did everything right. Most times a chuck roast (after being slowly cooked for so long) will just be fall apart tender. However, if it is a particularly rough cut of meat (which sometimes happens) it just won’t get tender no matter what you do. So I don’t think it was your slow cooker. Low and slow for 8-10 hours should’ve done the trick. I’m not suggesting you get a terribly expensive chuck roast but perhaps look for an Angus beef chuck roast. I have had very good luck with those. I hope you give this one another try!
I use angus
This is so easy and delicious. Everyone loves it and asks for the recipe. I’m is one of my go to recipes when have extended company because we can throw it in the crock pot and go about our day and return home to a tasty meal. I usually serve as sandwiches and put together a few sides and can feed plenty. Everyone is happy. Also for the sandwiches I serve with a horseradish sauce.
This recipe is AMAZING. I will eat this for the rest of my life! So good and easy-peasy.
Ha! I love hearing that Harold – thank you!