Looking for an easy meal that only requires a few simple ingredients? This Easy Mississippi Chicken Recipe is here to bring all of the flavor to your busy weeknights! With Minimal prep and maximum flavor, this easy weeknight meal is a family favorite and no actual cooking required!
For more easy dinner recipes, Mississippi Pot Roast and Oven Baked Chuck Roast!
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Ok so if you have tried my Mississippi Pot Roast recipe, you're going to LOVE this Crockpot Mississippi Chicken! It's a super easy chicken recipe that only calls for a handful of ingredients. Best part, it's a crockpot chicken recipe - meaning that it's a set it and forget kind of meal!
The ranch seasoning mix with the juicy chicken and gravy mix make this chicken version of a mississippi roast unforgettable. It's one of my favorite recipes because of how flavorful and easy it is.
Next time you're looking for an easy recipe, make this. It's perfect for meal prep, back to school, or just when you want something easy and delicious!
Ingredients
- Chicken - boneless skinless chicken breasts and bone-in chicken thighs were used in this recipe for a nice mix of
- Ranch dressing mix - ranch mix makes for the most flavorful chicken! It adds flavor
- Brown gravy mix - most recipes call for au jus mix, but it's a bit salty in my opinion! So, like my Mississippi Pot Roast recipe, I use brown gravy mix instead.
- Tangy Pepperoncini Peppers - these mild peppers add a delicious zest to the flavor of the meal. We're using both whole pepperoncinis and pepperoncini juice (it's just the juice from the jar). I get mine from the grocery store, but if they're out, banana peppers work here too.
- White Onion - this ingredient is optional but I love adding onion to enhance that Mississippi chicken taste.
- Chicken Broth - adding chicken broth helps to tenderize the chicken and make sure that it's nice and juicy. It's not typically added to crock pot Mississippi Chicken but SO worth it.
- Butter - it makes everything better right? Right! Butter also brings together all of the flavors or the ranch dip mix and the gravy packets by creating a gravy in the crockpot as it cooks. Unsalted butter works best if you're watching your salt intake.
Pro Tips
- Start by placing the chicken at the bottom of the slow cooker. Sprinkle the ranch seasoning mix and au jus gravy mix evenly over the chicken. Top it with a few pats of butter (around 4 tablespoons) to add richness to the dish. Finally, add the desired amount of pepperoncini peppers and pour in a bit of the pepperoncini juice for added tanginess.
- Adjusting spice level: If you prefer a milder flavor, you can use fewer pepperoncini peppers or remove the seeds from them. For a spicier kick, you can add additional peppers or even some red pepper flakes.
- Cooking time and temperature: Cook the chicken on low heat for 6-8 hours or on high heat for 3-4 hours. The slow cooking allows the flavors to meld together and the chicken to become tender and juicy.
- Shredding the chicken: Once the cooking time is complete, use two forks to shred the chicken directly in the slow cooker. The chicken should be tender and easy to pull apart. Stir the shredded chicken in the flavorful juices to ensure it's well coated.
- Adjusting the sauce consistency: If you prefer a thicker sauce, you can remove the chicken from the slow cooker and transfer the liquid to a saucepan. Simmer it on the stovetop until it reduces and thickens to your desired consistency.
Remember to adjust the seasoning to your taste and preferences. You can add salt, pepper, or other herbs and spices if needed. Enjoy the delicious and tangy Mississippi Chicken!
How to make Mississippi Chicken
Place boneless chicken and chicken thighs on the bottom of the slow cooker. Add in sliced onion, pepperoncini peppers, pepperoncini juice, chicken broth, salted butter, ranch seasoning, and brown gravy mix. Cover with a lid and cook on low for 6-8 hours, until fork tender. (Image 1)
Use a fork to shred the cooked chicken and remove bones. Serve over a bed of rice and with veggies. (Image 2)
What to Serve with Mississippi Chicken
Some of my favorite sides to enjoy with slow cooker Mississippi Chicken for a delicious dinner are green beans and white rice or riced cauliflower (for my low carb friends!).
Mashed potatoes or egg noodles are also yummy with this dish. It's simple, easy, and such a classic and cozy meal.
You can also serve stuff it into sandwiches or wraps with a little melted provolone cheese, or even use it as a filling for tacos or enchiladas. The flavorful juices can also be spooned over the chicken for added moisture and taste.
Other Cooking Methods
- Instant pot Mississippi Chicken: if you're looking for an instant pot recipe, it's pretty simple. Simply add chicken and all of the ingredients to the inner pot of the pressure cooker, cover with the lid, and seal the steam release knob. Set the instant pot to pressure cook and cook for 10 minutes. Let the cooker sit for 5 minutes, then release the steam release knob to vent.
- Baked Mississippi Chicken (Oven method): preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Add chicken to a 9x13 baking dish and top with ranch seasoning packet, brown gravy mix, salt, and pepper. Nestle pepperoncini peppers, sliced onion, and butter on top. Pour pepperoncini juice over the chicken. Omit the chicken broth. Bake for 25-30 minutes, until chicken is fully cooked and browned.
Storing and Making Ahead
Storing: You'll want to store this crockpot meal in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
Freezing and Thawing: Place in a freezer safe bag or container and freeze for up to 2 months. When you're ready to thaw, place in the fridge to thaw, then warm in the stove or microwave until heated through.
Making Ahead: This is the perfect meal to make ahead of time. It's especially great for meal prep! You can make Mississippi Chicken up to 2 days in advance, prior to serving for the best flavor.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, Place in a freezer safe bag or container and freeze for up to 2 months. When you're ready to thaw, place in the fridge to thaw, then warm in the stove or microwave until heated through.
It has a tiny kick but it isn't spicy. For reference, I feed this dish to my one year old and he has no issue with the spice level. If you're worried about spice, use less pepperoncini peppers.
Mississippi Chicken has a unique flavor profile that combines tangy, savory, and slightly spicy elements.
Yes! It's an ideal meal for those who are following a low carb diet.
More Slow Cooker Recipes
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Mississippi Chicken Recipe
Equipment
- Slow Cooker
Ingredients
- 1 lb Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
- 2 lbs Bone-In Chicken Thighs
- 1 White Onion (sliced)
- 8 Pepperoncini Peppers
- ¼ cup Pepperoncini Juice
- 1 cup Chicken Broth
- 4 tbsps Salted Butter (sliced)
- 1 Packet Ranch Seasoning
- 1 Packet Brown Gravy Seasoning
- Salt and Pepper (as desired)
Directions
- Place boneless chicken and chicken thighs on the bottom of the slow cooker. Add in sliced onion, pepperoncini peppers, pepperoncini juice, chicken broth, salted butter, ranch seasoning, and brown gravy mix. Cover with a lid and cook on low for 6-8 hours, until fork tender.
- Use a fork to shred the cooked chicken and remove bones. Taste for salt and pepper and season as desired. Serve over a bed of rice and with veggies.
Notes
- Start by placing the chicken at the bottom of the slow cooker. Sprinkle the ranch seasoning mix and au jus gravy mix evenly over the chicken. Top it with a few pats of butter (around 4 tablespoons) to add richness to the dish. Finally, add the desired amount of pepperoncini peppers and pour in a bit of the pepperoncini juice for added tanginess.
- Adjusting spice level: If you prefer a milder flavor, you can use fewer pepperoncini peppers or remove the seeds from them. For a spicier kick, you can add additional peppers or even some red pepper flakes.
- Cooking time and temperature: Cook the chicken on low heat for 6-8 hours or on high heat for 3-4 hours. The slow cooking allows the flavors to meld together and the chicken to become tender and juicy.
- Shredding the chicken: Once the cooking time is complete, use two forks to shred the chicken directly in the slow cooker. The chicken should be tender and easy to pull apart. Stir the shredded chicken in the flavorful juices to ensure it's well coated.
- Adjusting the sauce consistency: If you prefer a thicker sauce, you can remove the chicken from the slow cooker and transfer the liquid to a saucepan. Simmer it on the stovetop until it reduces and thickens to your desired consistency.
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