The 5-Ingredient Pot Roast I Make Every Sunday

Sunday suppers at my grandmother’s house in Starkville, Mississippi, always meant two things. Papa would say a long, heartfelt prayer while my cousins all tried to make each other laugh. And my grandma would have a tender, juicy, flavor-packed pot roast waiting in the slow cooker.

I’ve carried on this tradition in my own home and make pot roast often on Sunday afternoons, sharing it with friends and neighbors. I make it a little different every time, trying out new spices and herbs. So when I discovered a recipe for “Mississippi Pot Roast,” I knew I needed to add it to my Sunday rotation. Now I can't stop making it.

What Is Mississippi Pot Roast?

Mississippi Pot Roast was created in 2001 by Robin Chapman and quickly rose to internet fame, becoming one of the most viral recipes of all time. You just place a chuck roast in the slow cooker and top it with a packet of ranch dressing mix, a packet of au jus gravy mix, a stick of butter, and half a jar of peperoncini and their juices, and cook it for six hours.

This simple recipe is a family-friendly main dish perfect for weeknights or weekends. 

The Ingredients

• The meat: If chuck roast isn’t available, round roast or sirloin tip roast also work great in this recipe. 
• The peppers: If you’re looking for something a little more mild than peperoncini, use banana peppers. They are just as tangy, but not quite as spicy. On the other hand, if you want to add more spice, jalapeños also work. Just be mindful not to add too many as you don’t want them to overpower the flavor of the dish. 
• The ranch dressing: My favorite ranch to use for this recipe is Hidden Valley seasoning dressing & recipe mix. Hidden Valley also has other flavors that work well with roast like Spicy Ranch or Garlic Ranch.

Serving Suggestions

My favorite way to serve Mississippi Pot Roast is on top of garlic mashed potatoes. To keep this recipe as simple as possible, I recommend Bob Evans microwaveable mashed potatoes in the Original or Garlic flavor. This roast also tastes great over white or brown rice.

Sometimes I like to add veggies like carrots or onions to the roast as it cooks. They add flavor and some extra nutrition to the meal. And I always serve canned green beans or peas on the side. 

What to Make With Leftover Roast

One of the best things about pot roast is that there are almost always leftovers. I love making simple tacos with the leftover roast by tucking it into flour tortillas and topping it with a Mexican cheese blend. The roast also makes great sandwiches, especially on sourdough bread.