There’s something utterly comforting about a hearty, tender pot roast simmered low and slow, especially when it’s got that zing of pepperoncini and a buttery, herby sauce. This Slow Cooker Mississippi Pot Roast Recipe is a classic for a reason—it’s simple, delicious, and perfect for a no-fuss dinner that feels like a warm hug on a plate.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
I’ve made this Slow Cooker Mississippi Pot Roast Recipe more times than I can count, and it never disappoints. There’s something magical about how the flavors meld during those long hours in the slow cooker—pepperoncini adding just the right bit of tang, buttery richness, and those delicate dried herbs that bring it all together. It’s a hands-off, crowd-pleasing meal you’ll want to revisit often.
- Effortless Slow Cooking: Throw everything in the slow cooker, walk away, and come back to melt-in-your-mouth beef.
- Uniquely Tangy Flavor: Pepperoncini and their juice give this roast a signature bright, savory kick you won’t forget.
- Rich Buttery Gravy: The homemade gravy thickened right in the slow cooker takes it from good to unforgettable.
- Versatile and Crowd-Friendly: Great for family dinners, meal prep, or even when you want to impress guests without fuss.
Ingredients & Why They Work
The magic of this Slow Cooker Mississippi Pot Roast Recipe comes down to simple, flavorful ingredients that marry perfectly in the slow cooker. The secret weapon? Those tangy pepperoncini peppers and their juice add a mellow heat and depth, while butter and herbs build a rich, layered flavor profile.
- Chuck roast: This cut is perfect for slow cooking since it becomes tender and juicy after hours in the crockpot.
- Beef stock: Adds a savory base; splitting it lets you deglaze and thicken the sauce later on.
- Low-sodium soy sauce: Boosts umami without overpowering the natural beef flavor.
- Dried dill & dried parsley: These dried herbs give fragrant, gentle earthiness that complements the rich beef.
- Garlic powder & onion powder: Essential aromatics that build savory depth with minimal effort.
- Black pepper & fine sea salt: Perfectly balanced seasoning to enhance all other flavors.
- Bay leaf: Adds subtle herbal notes when slow-cooked over time—just remember to remove before serving!
- Pepperoncini peppers + juice: The heart of this recipe, giving it a distinctive tang and mild heat that's impossible to mimic.
- Unsalted butter: Scattered over the roast, it melts slowly to create a velvety, rich sauce.
- Cornstarch: Mixed with beef stock to thicken the slow cooker juices into a luscious gravy.
Make It Your Way
One of the things I adore about this Slow Cooker Mississippi Pot Roast Recipe is how easy it is to tweak. You can customize the heat level, swap herbs based on what you have, or even add extra veggies for more texture and nutrition. Don’t be afraid to make it your own—it’s a forgiving recipe that handles personalization beautifully.
- Add Extra Veggies: I sometimes toss in carrots or baby potatoes at the start for a complete meal without extra pots to wash.
- Make it Spicier: For my spicy eats, I add a few red pepper flakes or swap out some pepperoncini for jalapeños.
- Gluten-Free Swap: Use a gluten-free soy sauce and cornstarch to keep it friendly for gluten sensitivities.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Slow Cooker Mississippi Pot Roast Recipe
Step 1: Gather and Season the Beef
I start with a nice 4-5 pound chuck roast—don’t skip on quality here because it’s the star of the show. Place it right into your slow cooker, then whisk together most of the beef stock, soy sauce, garlic powder, dried dill, parsley, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Pour this over the roast evenly—this creates that deep, flavorful bath for the beef to slowly soak in.
Step 2: Add Aromatics and Pepperoncini
Add the bay leaf for subtle herbal perfume and arrange the pepperoncini peppers around the beef. Pour in their juice too—this is where that signature tang comes from! Then, scatter diced butter over the top; it’ll slowly melt and make the sauce luscious and rich.
Step 3: Slow Cook to Perfection
Cover and set your slow cooker on low for 8-10 hours. If you’re pressed for time, high for 4-5 hours works too, but low and slow always yields the best melt-apart texture. You’ll know it’s done when the roast easily shreds with two forks—a true sign it’s been perfectly slow-cooked.
Step 4: Finish the Gravy and Shred
Carefully remove the roast to a plate and discard the bay leaf. Whisk the remaining beef stock and cornstarch until smooth, then stir it into the cooking liquid in the slow cooker. Crank the heat to high and cook 5-10 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly. Shred the beef with forks, return it to the pot, and toss it in that rich gravy. Adjust seasoning with salt, pepper, or soy sauce to taste.
Top Tip
From my kitchen to yours, here are the top secrets I've picked up to make this Slow Cooker Mississippi Pot Roast Recipe foolproof and full of flavor every time.
- Choose the Right Cut: Chuck roast is ideal because of its marbling and connective tissue, which melts during long cooking to tenderize the meat.
- Pepperoncini Juice is Key: Don’t skip the pepperoncini juice; it adds essential tang that brightens the rich beef and butter.
- Don’t Rush the Slow Cook: For best texture, plan for the full 8-10 hours on low. Shortening the time can leave it less tender.
- Shred with Two Forks: Shredding the meat while it’s still warm mixes more evenly with the gravy, making every bite juicy.
How to Serve Slow Cooker Mississippi Pot Roast Recipe
Garnishes
I like a sprinkle of fresh parsley over the top to add a pop of color and a fresh herbal note. Sometimes, I serve with a few sliced pepperoncini on the side for anyone who loves a little extra tang and mild heat. It really makes the presentation feel special and appetizing.
Side Dishes
Mashed potatoes or creamy polenta are my go-to partners because they soak up the buttery gravy beautifully. Roasted green beans, sautéed spinach, or crispy roasted carrots add a bright and healthy contrast to the rich beef. Classic dinner rolls or crusty bread are perfect for mopping up every last bit of sauce.
Creative Ways to Present
For holidays or dinner parties, I serve the pulled roast over buttered egg noodles with extra gravy drizzled on top and garnish with fresh dill for an elegant twist. Another favorite is loading the shredded meat into soft sandwich rolls topped with pickles and a little extra gravy on the side for dipping—comfort food elevated.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I usually let the leftover Mississippi pot roast cool down to room temperature before sealing it in an airtight container. It stores beautifully in the fridge for up to 3 days, and the flavors actually deepen overnight, making it even more delicious the next day.
Freezing
This recipe freezes incredibly well. I portion the shredded roast and gravy into freezer-safe zip bags or containers, label them, and freeze for up to 3 months. When I’m ready to enjoy, I thaw it overnight in the fridge and reheat gently on the stovetop or in the slow cooker to keep the meat tender.
Reheating
To reheat, I warm the shredded roast and gravy over low heat on the stovetop, stirring occasionally to keep the meat from drying out. If it thickened too much in the fridge, a splash of beef stock or water helps loosen the sauce back to that luscious consistency.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Chuck roast is best for this Slow Cooker Mississippi Pot Roast Recipe because it breaks down beautifully during slow cooking, becoming tender and flavorful. You can try brisket or rump roast, but the texture might be slightly different and could require adjusting cooking time.
Pepperoncini are the hallmark of this recipe's tangy flavor. If you can’t find them, pickled banana peppers can be a substitute, but the flavor won’t be quite the same. The juice is important too; use a splash of vinegar mixed with a little brine if necessary, though it’s best to stick to pepperoncini for authenticity.
Absolutely! You can sear the roast first on the sauté setting, then add all ingredients and cook on high pressure for about 60-70 minutes with a natural release. Just remember to thicken the sauce afterward using the cornstarch slurry on sauté mode.
Yes! This Slow Cooker Mississippi Pot Roast Recipe shines in meal prep. It keeps well in the fridge and freezer, making it easy to have a delicious, ready-made meal on busy days without extra effort.
Final Thoughts
This Slow Cooker Mississippi Pot Roast Recipe is one of those dishes I come back to again and again because it’s comfort food that doesn’t complicate my life in the kitchen. The tender beef, rich gravy, and that unmistakable tang make it feel special without any extra fuss. I really hope you’ll give it a try—set it up in the morning, go about your day, and come home to a dinner that feels like a celebration of simple, satisfying flavors.
Print
Slow Cooker Mississippi Pot Roast Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 hours
- Total Time: 10 hours 10 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Description
This classic Mississippi Pot Roast slow cooks a tender chuck roast in a flavorful broth with pepperoncini peppers, herbs, and garlic, finished with a rich buttery gravy. Perfect for a hearty, comforting meal that melts in your mouth.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 (4-5 pound) chuck roast
- 1 cup beef stock, divided
- 1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce
- 1 ½ teaspoons dried dill
- 1 ½ teaspoons dried parsley
- 1 ½ teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons onion powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1 bay leaf
- 12 whole pepperoncini peppers
- ½ cup pepperoncini juice
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, diced
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
Instructions
- Prepare the roast: Place the chuck roast in the bowl of a large slow cooker. In a small bowl, whisk together ¾ cup of the beef stock, soy sauce, garlic powder, dried dill, dried parsley, fine sea salt, onion powder, and black pepper. Pour this mixture evenly over the roast.
- Add seasonings and peppers: Add the bay leaf and arrange the pepperoncini peppers around the roast. Pour in the pepperoncini juice, then scatter the diced butter over the top of the meat.
- Slow cook the roast: Cover and cook on low for 10 hours, until the roast is fall-apart tender. If short on time, cook on high for 5 hours instead.
- Make the gravy: Carefully transfer the roast to a large plate and discard the bay leaf. Whisk together the remaining ¼ cup beef stock and cornstarch until smooth, then stir this slurry into the cooking juices in the slow cooker. Cover and cook on high for 10 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Shred and combine: Meanwhile, shred the beef with two forks, then return it to the slow cooker. Toss the shredded beef with the thickened gravy. Taste and season with additional salt, pepper, and/or soy sauce as needed.
- Serve: Serve warm, spooning extra gravy over each portion, and enjoy your flavorful, tender Mississippi pot roast.
Notes
- The low-sodium soy sauce helps deepen the flavor without too much salt.
- Cooking the roast low and slow ensures maximum tenderness and flavor infusion.
- If you prefer a thicker gravy, you can add an additional 1 tablespoon of cornstarch mixed with cold water at the end.
- Pepperoncini peppers add a tangy, slightly spicy kick that balances the richness of the beef and butter.
- This dish pairs well with mashed potatoes or buttered noodles to soak up the delicious gravy.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 4 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg
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