Southern Mississippi Chicken Recipe Everyone Loves

Slow-cooked mississippi chicken brings comfort right to your dinner table with minimal effort and maximum flavor.

Tender meat falls apart effortlessly under a rich, savory sauce that promises pure satisfaction.

Southern-style cooking rarely gets more straightforward or delicious than this simple dish.

Home cooks appreciate how quickly ingredients blend into something magical.

Weeknight meals become extraordinary when you combine just a few pantry staples.

Juicy chicken bathes in tangy seasonings that create an irresistible aroma throughout your kitchen.

One bite convinces you this recipe will become a permanent favorite in your meal rotation.

What Makes Mississippi Chicken So Popular

• Dump chicken breasts into the slow cooker and let it work its culinary wonder without hours of complicated cooking techniques.
• Create a crowd-pleasing meal that satisfies picky eaters and busy parents with its easy preparation and tasty results.
• Transform basic chicken breasts into a mouthwatering dish that can be served over rice, in sandwiches, or alongside your favorite sides.

What You Need for This Mississippi Chicken

• Chicken Breasts: Tender and lean meat that becomes juicy and flavorful when slow-cooked, best when fresh and boneless.

• Ranch Seasoning Mix: Adds zesty and herbal flavor profile to the chicken.
• Au Jus Gravy Mix: Provides rich, savory depth and helps create a delicious sauce.

• Butter: Adds richness and helps keep the chicken moist during slow cooking, unsalted preferred for better flavor control.
• Pepperoncini Peppers: Brings tangy, slightly spicy notes and creates a unique sauce, jarred peppers work best.

How to Make Mississippi Chicken in Just a Few Steps

Step 1: Prepare Slow Cooker

Grab your slow cooker and get ready for a mouthwatering meal that’ll have everyone asking for seconds.

Step 2: Layer Chicken

• Chicken breasts

Place the chicken breasts in a single layer at the bottom of the slow cooker, making sure they’re spread out evenly.

Step 3: Add Pepperoncini Peppers

• Whole pepperoncini peppers

Scatter the tangy pepperoncini peppers over and around the chicken, creating a zesty flavor base.

Step 4: Sprinkle Seasoning Mix

• Dry ranch seasoning mix
• Dry au jus gravy mix

Generously sprinkle both seasoning mixes directly onto the chicken and peppers, ensuring complete coverage.

Step 5: Add Butter

• Unsalted butter

Cut the butter into small pieces and distribute them across the top of the chicken. The butter will melt and create a rich, luxurious sauce.

Step 6: Slow Cook to Perfection

Cover the slow cooker and set it to low heat. Let the chicken cook for 6-7 hours or on high heat for 3-4 hours until the meat is tender and easily shreds.

Step 7: Shred and Serve

Use two forks to shred the chicken right in the slow cooker, allowing it to soak up all the delicious juices. Serve hot over rice, mashed potatoes, or in sandwiches.

Tips for Juicy, Flavorful Mississippi Chicken

• Choose Quality Chicken: Select fresh, boneless, skinless chicken breasts for the most tender and flavorful Mississippi Chicken.
• Adjust Seasoning Levels: Customize the ranch and au jus packet amounts to match your taste preferences, using less for a milder flavor or more for intense seasoning.
• Prevent Dryness: Cook on low heat for 6-8 hours to ensure the chicken remains moist and falls apart easily, avoiding overcooking which can make the meat tough.
• Shred with Ease: Use two forks to gently pull the chicken apart after cooking, allowing it to absorb the delicious cooking liquid and create a perfect texture.
• Make It Lighter: Swap regular ranch packet for a low-sodium or Greek yogurt-based ranch to reduce calories and create a healthier version of this classic dish.

Storage Tips for Keeping Mississippi Chicken Tender

• Store leftovers in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking, keeping them fresh for 3-4 days in the refrigerator.
• Transfer cooled chicken to freezer-safe containers or zip-lock bags, removing excess air to prevent freezer burn. Properly stored, the chicken maintains quality for up to 3 months.
• Preheat to 350°F, place chicken in a baking dish with a splash of broth, cover with foil, and warm for 15-20 minutes until heated through.
• Place chicken on a microwave-safe plate, add a tablespoon of broth, cover with a damp paper towel, and heat in 30-second intervals, stirring between each to ensure even warming.

Serve Mississippi Chicken with These Sides

• Pair with cool, tangy ranch dressing to balance the rich, savory flavors of the Mississippi Chicken, creating a creamy contrast that enhances each bite.
• Serve alongside roasted green beans or steamed broccoli to add a fresh, light crunch that cuts through the dish's hearty profile and provides nutritional balance.
• Select a light-bodied white wine like Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc, whose crisp acidity and subtle fruit notes will beautifully complement the chicken's bold, pepperoncini-infused taste.
• Include a slice of crusty French bread or homemade garlic toast to soak up the flavorful juices, adding textural variety and allowing you to enjoy every delicious drop of the chicken's sauce.

Mississippi Chicken Variations You’ll Enjoy

• Lean Protein Switch: Replace chicken breasts with turkey breasts for a lower-fat alternative that maintains similar cooking methods and flavor profiles.
• Vegetarian Transformation: Substitute chicken with firm tofu or jackfruit chunks, using the same seasoning blend to create a plant-based version of the dish.
• Spicy Kick Variation: Add diced jalapeños or sprinkle red pepper flakes for those who enjoy a more intense heat in their Mississippi Chicken recipe.
• Low-Sodium Option: Use reduced-sodium ranch and au jus packets to decrease salt content while preserving the original recipe's core taste.

FAQs on Mississippi Chicken

• What makes Mississippi Chicken different from regular chicken recipes?

Mississippi Chicken stands out with its rich, tangy flavor profile created by combining ranch seasoning, pepperoncini peppers, and butter, which gives the chicken a unique and moist taste compared to traditional chicken dishes.

• Can I use different cuts of chicken for this recipe?

While chicken breasts are most common, you can also use chicken thighs or chicken tenders. Bone-in or boneless options work well, but cooking times might slightly vary depending on the cut.

• Is Mississippi Chicken spicy?

The dish has a mild kick from pepperoncini peppers, which add a tangy flavor rather than intense heat. If you prefer less spice, you can reduce the number of peppers or choose mild pepperoncini.

• What are the key ingredients that define this recipe?

The essential ingredients are chicken, ranch seasoning mix, pepperoncini peppers, and butter. These components create the signature Mississippi Chicken flavor that makes the dish so popular and delicious.

Mississippi Chicken Recipe

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4.8 from 15 reviews

• Total Time: 8 hours 5 minutes
• Yield: 34 1x

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Description

Mississippi chicken delivers a mouthwatering twist on classic slow-cooker comfort food. Rich ranch and pepperoncini peppers meld together, creating a zesty, tender protein perfect for sandwiches or over rice that keeps you craving more.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Protein:

• 3–4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or thighs)

Seasoning Mixes:

• 1 packet (1 ounce / 28 grams) ranch seasoning mix
• 1 packet (1 ounce / 28 grams) au jus gravy mix

Complementary Ingredients:

• ½ cup (1 stick / 113 grams) butter, sliced
• 6–8 pepperoncini peppers (plus 2 tablespoons of juice for extra flavor)

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Instructions

1. Layer chicken breasts evenly across the bottom of a slow cooker, ensuring they are flat and not overlapping.
2. Sprinkle ranch seasoning mix uniformly over the chicken surface, creating a consistent coating.
3. Liberally scatter pepperoncini peppers around and between the chicken pieces, distributing them for balanced flavor infusion.
4. Drizzle melted butter across the entire layer, ensuring complete coverage of the chicken and seasonings.
5. Cover the slow cooker and set to low heat, allowing the ingredients to gently meld and tenderize for 6-7 hours.
6. Once cooking time is complete, use two forks to shred the chicken directly in the slow cooker, mixing it with the accumulated flavorful liquid.
7. Let the shredded chicken rest in the cooking juices for an additional 10-15 minutes to absorb maximum flavor.
8. Serve hot over rice, inside sandwich rolls, or as a standalone protein, spooning extra pepperoncini and sauce on top for added zest.

Notes

• Opt for boneless, skinless chicken breasts to ensure even cooking and easier shredding.
• Use a meat thermometer to check internal temperature reaches 165°F for safe consumption.
• Choose low-sodium ranch and au jus packets to control salt levels and make the dish healthier.
• Experiment with different protein options like turkey or pork for variety in the recipe.

• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 6-8 hours (LOW) or 4 hours (HIGH)
• Category: Dinner, Lunch
• Method: Slow Cooking
• Cuisine: Southern American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 34
• Calories: 210
• Sugar: 0 g
• Sodium: 800 mg
• Fat: 15 g
• Saturated Fat: 7 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 1 g
• Fiber: 0 g
• Protein: 20 g
• Cholesterol: 70 mg