You won't believe the flavor in this Instant Pot Mississippi Pot Roast! With only 5 ingredients, it turns out fall-apart tender every time.
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🌶 What is Mississippi Pot Roast?
Funny name, right? But if I have a go-to pot roast recipe, it is Mississippi Pot Roast.
This is a pot roast recipe that combines the flavors of gravy mix, ranch dressing mix, pepperoncini peppers, & butter as seasonings for a chuck roast. I can't explain why these flavors work well together, but they do!
(And no, this recipe isn't a Mississippi tradition or anything. As a resident of Mississippi, I have no idea where that name comes from.)
💚 Why You'll Love This Recipe
- This is one of the most asked-about recipes from my premium Instant Pot freezer meal plans. You're going to see lots of variations for Mississippi pot roast recipes out there - this is the version I've stuck to for years. We love it so much in our family!
- It's so easy to make. The prep work takes minutes - you dump a few things and lock on the lid.
- You won't believe the flavor in this recipe. The ingredient combo is kind of strange, but they all come together to make a pot roast that has a tiny bit of spice and loads of richness.
🥩 Ingredients
- 3 lb beef chuck roast - Pork roast can also be used. Really any cut of meat works - the Instant Pot is great at tenderizing even the roughest cuts of meat.
- 6 oz jarred pepperoncini (banana) peppers, with liquid - Don't worry about these making the roast too spicy! They add the perfect hint of flavor. I prefer using the sliced variety so that flavor gets into every bit of the roast, but you can also use the whole ones with similar results.
- 1 stick butter - No need to melt, just put the stick of butter right in the pot.
- 1 pack ranch dressing mix - If you're using a homemade variety or a large shaker, this is the equivalent of about 3 tablespoons.
- 1 pack brown gravy mix - Also about 3 tablespoons of mix.
Variations and Additions
- Use different cuts of meat. You can use any kind of roast in this recipe. Pork roasts (Boston butt), sirloin roasts, or even a beef/pork tenderloin are great in this recipe.
- Add veggies. You can add veggies at the end of cooking to make this a complete meal. Follow the instructions on the recipe card, then add any veggie you'd like (green beans, broccoli, or carrots) and pressure cook for an additional 2-3 minutes.
Check out a few more great dinner ideas: Cheddar Bacon Ranch Chicken Chili, Easy Instant Pot Salsa Chicken, and Chili Onion Crunch Pasta.
👩🍳 How to Make Instant Pot Mississippi Pot Roast
Step 1: Sear chuck roast.
Set the Instant Pot to the sauté setting and add a tablespoon of the stick of butter. Once butter is melted, sear chuck roast on each side for 2-3 minutes, until lightly browned. (Optional: lightly season with salt and pepper on each side.)
Step 2: Add remaining ingredients.
Add 6oz pepperoncini peppers and juice to the pressure cooker; use a wooden spoon to scrape up brown bits from the bottom of the pot (don't skip this; you'll get a burn notice when trying to cook the roast if you leave the bits!).
Sprinkle 1 pack of gravy mix and 1 pack of dry ranch dressing mix over the roast. Add a the remaining butter to the top of the roast.
Step 3: Pressure cook.
Seal the lid on the Instant Pot and set it to manual to cook on high pressure for 75 minutes. Once the cook cycle is up, allow pressure to naturally release for 10-15 minutes before releasing the remaining pressure.
Perfect Roast Cooking Time
The total cook time for this recipe when pressure cooking in the Instant Pot is 75 minutes (plus 10-15 minutes of pressurizing time).
I know that sounds like a lot, but I've found that to get a roast (beef or pork) tender, around 90 minutes is the magic number. With more than 90 minutes your roast gets tough, less than 90 minutes your roast might not cook through.
Less than 90 minutes also doesn't give the pressure cooker time to break up the fat/connective tissue in the meat. Breaking that up is what makes the roast tender. There's a common misconception that the longer you cook the more tender a roast gets…not always true! It can get tough if overcooked.
If you're wondering why your pot roasts are coming out tough, it might be that you're not hitting the right time. If you're cooking any kind of roast (not just this one), 90 minutes is the number I'd aim for.
Alternate Method: Slow Cooker
While this is an Instant Pot recipe, you can change it from an Instant Pot recipe to a slow cooker recipe.
My “magic number” for a roast (beef or pork) in the Crock Pot slow cooker is 6-8 hours on low. This gives the roast enough time to mellow out and become super tender. You can also add in the optional veggies from the start of cooking when you prepare a roast in the slow cooker.
It comes down to how much time you have to prepare your meal. If you have all day, go for that Crock Pot option. If you're a little strapped for time and need to get something on the table, go with the pressure cooker method.
🎞 Step-by-Step Recipe Video
🍽 How to Serve
I prefer this Mississippi Pot Roast with mashed potatoes - it seems to be the best complement to the roast! However, there are plenty of options...
- If you don't love potatoes, white rice also goes great with this recipe.
- Egg noodles are also great - think of a beef stroganoff.
- If you're watching carbs or on a keto diet, use cauliflower rice.
- This meat is great in sandwiches! Just put the meat (no juice) on a hoagie roll.
- It's also delicious in quesadillas.
Serving Tip
If you like a thicker gravy with your roast, remove the meat from the pot, leaving just the cooking liquid. Add 2 tablespoons of cornstarch and whisk well. This will thicken the sauce, making a perfect gravy consistency.
🥡 Leftover Storage
I like to shred the pot roast leftovers with two forks and store them in the refrigerator on top of mashed potatoes or rice, gravy and all. That remaining cooking juices give the mashed potatoes an extra pop of flavor!
I use these glass storage dishes for leftovers. They are so handy for making leftover makes that you can pop them in the microwave when ready to serve.
❄️ Freezer Meal Option
This roast makes a fantastic freezer meal!
Simply put all of the ingredients from the ingredient list above in a gallon-sized freezer-safe bag. When ready to serve, put the contents of the freezer meal and 1 cup of water in your Instant Pot and cook as directed.
Note: the overall cook time will be a little bit longer if your meal is frozen. It will take longer for your pot to come to pressure, since there are frozen contents preventing the steam from pressurizing the pot.
🤔 FAQs
Making this recipe? I'd love to see it! Tag me in your recipe pictures 📸 on social media (@lambertslately). I'd also love if you'd rate the recipe below! ⭐️
Instant Pot Mississippi Pot Roast
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Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 lb beef chuck roast (pork roast can also be used)
- 6 oz jarred pepperoncini peppers (with liquid)
- 1 stick butter (no need to melt)
- 1 pack ranch dressing mix (about 3 tablespoons)
- 1 pack brown gravy mix (about 3 tablespoons)
Instructions
- Set Instant Pot to saute mode and add a tablespoon of butter. Once butter melts, sear roast on each side for 2-3 minutes, until lightly browned.
- Add 6oz of pepperoncini peppers (with juice) to Instant Pot; use a wooden spoon to scrape up brown bits from bottom of the pot. Add 1 pack of gravy mix, 1 pack of ranch dressing mix, and the remaining butter to the Instant Pot.
- Seal the lid on and set the Instant Pot on the manual setting, on high pressure, for 75 minutes. Once cook cycle is up, allow pressure to naturally release for 10-15 minutes before releasing remaining pressure.
Notes
- This roast makes a wonderful freezer meal! Simply put all of the ingredients from the ingredient list above in a gallon freezer-safe bag. When you're ready to cook it, put the contents of the bag and 1 cup of water in your Instant Pot and cook as directed.
- This can be converted to a slow cooker meal. Add roast ingredients to a slow cooker and set on low for 6-8 hours to have one of the best roasts you'll ever eat.
- I prefer this roast with mashed potatoes, but you can also serve with rice, cauliflower rice, or egg noodles.
Nutrition Facts
Leslie Lambert is a lifestyle writer and content creator specializing in home organization, family recipes, and intentional living. With 16 years of experience in blogging and digital storytelling, she helps busy women create calm, purposeful homes they love.
