Instant Pot Mississippi Pot Roast (5 Ingredients!)

Name: Instant Pot Mississippi Pot Roast
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 90 min
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; 1 pack brown gravy mix; 2 lbs red potatoes; 8 oz light sour cream; 1/3 cup milk; 1 pack ranch dressing mix; 2 12 oz bags frozen steam-in-bag green beans; 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil; 2 tsp salt; 2 tsp pepper; 2 tsp garlic powder

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You won't believe the flavor in this Instant Pot Mississippi Pot Roast! With only 5 ingredients needed, this is an easy and delicious weeknight dinner.

Instant Pot Mississippi Pot Roast - close up.

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What is Mississippi Pot Roast?

Funny name, right? But if I have a go-to pot roast recipe, it is this Instant Pot Mississippi Pot Roast. I can't explain why packets of gravy mix, ranch seasoning mix, pepperoncini, & butter work well together. But they do.

When I first published this recipe on the blog, I kind of messed up. This recipe was in a series of the most popular Instant Pot meals from my blog. This was supposed to be a series of the most popular meals from the free plans I've published.

I was going to leave the recipes from the premium packs out (for now). But, this one slipped in. I didn't realize it was from a paid plan until I had it in the freezer. It was ready to test and photograph, so I decided to leave it in.

You guys get a preview of the premium Boot Camps today!

Why You'll Love This Recipe

This is one of the most asked-about recipes from the 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 and so delicious. It is one of the simplest to prep in this whole series; you dump a few things and lock on the lid). You won't believe the flavor in this recipe. It's very fitting to include this recipe since my family lives in Mississippi!

(And no, this recipe isn't a Mississippi tradition or anything. I have no idea where that name comes from.)

Check out a few more great dinner ideas: Rotel Chicken Spaghetti, Cheesy Chicken and Rice, and Chili Onion Crunch Pasta.

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 peppers, with liquid - don't worry about these making the roast too spicy! They add the perfect little bit of flavor.
1 stick butter - No need to melt, just put the stick of butter right in the Instant Pot!
1 pack ranch dressing mix
1 pack brown gravy mix

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Set Instant Pot to saute mode and add a tablespoon of olive oil. Sear roast on each side for 2-3 minutes, until lightly browned.

Instant Pot Mississippi Pot Roast before cooking, with butter and ranch dressing mix on top.

Step 2: Add pepperoncini peppers to Instant Pot; use a wooden spoon to scrape up brown bits from the bottom of the pot. Sprinkle gravy mix and dry ranch dressing mix over the roast. Add a stick of butter to the top of the roast.

mississippi roast on a plate in front of an instant pot.

Step 3: Seal the lid and set IP on the manual setting to cook on high pressure, 75 minutes. Once the cook cycle is up, allow pressure to naturally release for 10-15 minutes before releasing the remaining pressure.

Cooking Method Variations

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 green beans and potatoes (from the recipe card below) from the start of cooking when you prepare a roast in the slow cooker.

So, it comes down to how much time you have to prepare your meal. If you have all day, go for that crockpot slow cooker option. If you're a little strapped for time and need to get something on the table, go with the Instant Pot method.

I wouldn't recommend prepping a roast in the oven. I know that's blasphemy for a lot of people out there, but I'd never had luck with roasts in the oven…they always come out dry. If you're wanting to keep your roast super tender and juicy, stick with either the Instant Pot or the Crock Pot.

Perfect Pressure Cook Time for a Roast

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 Instant Pot 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 only Instant Pot Mississippi Pot Roast), 90 minutes is the number I'd aim for.

Side Item Options

I have the side items of ranch mashed potatoes and green beans written into the recipe card below. When I write a recipe like this, I usually like to make a whole meal, not only the main dish.

If you don't love potatoes, white rice also goes great with Instant Pot Mississippi Pot Roast.
Egg noodles are also great - think of a beef stroganoff.
If you're watching carbs or on a keto diet, use mashed cauliflower or cauliflower rice.

Leftover Storage

I like to shred the pot roast leftovers with two forks and store them in the refrigerator on top of mashed potatoes, 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 in the microwave when ready to serve.

Freezer Meal Option

Instant Pot Mississippi Roast makes a fabulous freezer meal for busy weeknights. (If you're prepping it without freezing the meal first, use the recipe card at the bottom of the post.)

Freezer Meal Ingredient List

If freezing, put the following in your freezer container:

3lb beef chuck roast (pork chuck roast can also be used)
6oz (half a jar) of pepperoncini peppers, with liquid
Stick of butter (no need to melt)
Pack of ranch dressing mix
Pack of brown gravy mix

Ingredients Needed For Serve Day

2lbs red potatoes
8oz light sour cream
⅓ cup milk
1 packet ranch dressing mix
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 12oz frozen steam-in-bag green beans
2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoon pepper
2 teaspoon garlic powder

(Includes side items: ranch mashed potatoes, steamed green beans)

(If Prepping From Frozen) On Serve Day…

Thaw your meal enough to pop out of the freezer container.
Add frozen meal and 1 cup water to IP. Seal the lid and set IP on the manual setting to cook on high pressure for 75 minutes. Once the cook cycle is up, allow pressure to naturally release for 10 to 15 minutes. Then, release the remaining pressure by turning the top valve.
Once the first cook cycle is over, add red potatoes. Set Instant Pot for another 20-minute cook cycle.
Steam the green beans in the microwave. Season with olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
Once the second pressure cooker cycle is finished, remove the potatoes. Mash potatoes with sour cream, milk, and an additional packet of dry ranch dressing mix.

FAQs

Mississippi Pot Roast is a delicious, flavorful roast that you can make with beef or pork. It is made by combining ranch seasoning, brown gravy mix, pepperoncini peppers, and butter with the roast.

This Mississippi Pot Roast recipe cooks for 75 minutes (plus time to pressurize) in the Instant Pot. You can also cook it in the Crock Pot for 6-8 hours on low.

I prefer mashed potatoes and a vegetable, usually green beans, with Mississippi Roast. You can also serve rice, cauliflower mash, or egg noodles with the roast.

I prefer using a beef chuck roast, but you can also rump roast. Another option for Mississippi Roast is a pork roast (Boston butt). Really any larger cut of meat works!

Video

If you're interested in checking out the series of recipes with which this Instant Pot Mississippi Pot Roast was originally published, I have a full pack of printables, recipes, and prep instructions to make all of these recipes at once for your freezer available: see my full freezer meal section.

More Instant Pot Recipes