Slow Cooker Mississippi Chicken

Slow Cooker Mississippi Chicken is an easy dinner option that’s full of flavor. This dish combines chicken with ranch and au jus seasonings, butter, and pepperoncini peppers, all cooked in your crock pot. With just a few ingredients and little prep time, you can have a tasty meal ready when you get home.

This recipe is great for busy days. The slow cooking makes the chicken tender and flavorful. It’s versatile, too; you can use it for sandwiches, tacos, or serve it over rice or potatoes.

I love making Slow Cooker Mississippi Chicken for my family! The prep is so quick, I can toss everything in the crock pot before work and have dinner ready when I get home.

I usually serve Slow Cooker Mississippi Chicken over rice or mashed potatoes. The gravy that forms during cooking is great for spooning over the sides. Sometimes I’ll shred the leftover chicken and use it for sandwiches or wraps later in the week. 

This recipe, like most slow cooker recipes, can really save you time on busy evenings. Instead of scrambling to figure out dinner or relying on takeout, you can have a home-cooked meal waiting to go on the dinner table!

Ingredient Notes

See the printable recipe card below for all ingredients, specific measurements, and complete instructions.

• Chicken breasts: I used boneless, skinless chicken breasts for this recipe. You can also use thighs if you prefer.
• Au jus gravy mix: This packet is key for flavor. Don’t substitute it with other gravy mixes, as they may change the taste and consistency.
• Ranch seasoning mix: This adds a tangy, herby taste to the dish. I used Hidden Valley, but other brands work well too.
• Unsalted butter: I recommend using unsalted butter in this recipe. The au jus and ranch mixes already contain salt, so unsalted butter helps balance the flavors.
• Pepperoncini peppers: These give the dish a nice kick. You can use pre-sliced peppers from a jar or slice whole ones yourself.
• Water: The recipe calls for a small amount of water to help create the sauce. This combines with the juices from the chicken as it cooks.

How To Make Slow Cooker Mississippi Chicken

Start by preparing your slow cooker. Lightly grease the inside with cooking spray or a bit of oil to prevent sticking.

Next, place the boneless skinless chicken breasts in the bottom of the crock pot. Make sure they’re in a single layer and not overlapping. This helps them cook evenly.

Now it’s time for the seasonings. Sprinkle the au jus gravy mix and ranch dressing mix evenly over the chicken breasts. Don’t worry about mixing them together first – they’ll blend as the dish cooks.

For the butter, slice it into thin pieces. Place these slices on top of the seasoned chicken breasts. The butter will melt during cooking, adding richness to the sauce.

Add the sliced pepperoncini peppers next. If you’re using whole peppers, slice them thinly, stopping just below the stem. You don’t need to remove the seeds.

Finally, pour the water into the bottom of the crock pot around the chicken breasts. This small amount of liquid will combine with the chicken juices and seasonings to create a flavorful sauce.

Set your slow cooker to low and let it cook for 6-8 hours. The chicken is done when it’s tender enough to shred easily with a fork.

Once the cooking time is up, use two forks to shred the chicken right in the crock pot. Stir well to combine the shredded chicken with the gravy that’s formed.

Your Slow Cooker Mississippi Chicken is now ready to serve! Enjoy it over rice, mashed potatoes, or your favorite side dish.

Storing and Freezing

Store: You can keep leftover Mississippi Chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. To reheat, microwave individual portions for 1-2 minutes, stirring halfway through. You can also reheat it in a pan on the stove over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally until it’s hot throughout.

Freeze: Slow Cooker Mississippi Chicken freezes well. Allow it to cool completely, then transfer to a freezer-safe container or bag. It will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months. To reheat, thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then warm in the microwave or on the stove. If the sauce has thickened after freezing, you can thin it out with a little chicken broth or water while reheating.

Recipe Tips

• Make sure you use au jus gravy mix for this recipe. Chicken gravy or regular brown gravy packets may not turn out, as they have different levels of thickeners in them.
• If you don’t have unsalted butter, you can skip it entirely. This recipe works well even without butter.
• For the pepperoncini, you can use pre-sliced peppers from a jar if available. If using whole pepperoncini, slice them thinly, stopping just below the top of the pepper. There’s no need to core or seed the peppers.
• For easier cleanup, you can use a slow cooker liner before adding the ingredients.

Are pepperoncini peppers the same as banana peppers?

Pepperoncini and banana peppers look alike, but they’re not the same. Pepperoncini are usually a bit smaller and have a little more heat. If you can’t find pepperoncini, banana peppers will work fine in this recipe.

Slow Cooker Mississippi Chicken is a tasty, simple meal that’s perfect for busy days. It has tons of flavor but only needs a handful of ingredients. With hardly any prep time and your slow cooker doing most of the work, you can have a delicious homemade dinner without any of the stress.