Easy Tender Mississippi Chicken Crockpot Recipe Perfect for Busy Weeknights
A simple and comforting slow cooker chicken recipe featuring tender chicken thighs or breasts cooked in a rich, buttery sauce with ranch seasoning and pepperoncini peppers. Perfect for busy weeknights with minimal prep.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 to 7 hours (low) or 3 to 4 hours (high)
- Total Time: 6 hours 10 minutes to 7 hours 10 minutes (low) or 3 hours 10 minutes to 4 hours 10 minutes (high)
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American, Southern
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts
- 1 packet (1 ounce or 28g) ranch seasoning mix (recommend Hidden Valley)
- 1 packet (1 ounce or 30g) au jus gravy mix
- 4 tablespoons (60g) unsalted butter, cut into pieces
- 4–6 pepperoncini peppers with about 2 tablespoons of their juice
- Optional: 2-3 fresh garlic cloves, minced
- Optional: chopped parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Pat 2 pounds of boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts dry with paper towels.
- In a small bowl, combine 1 packet ranch seasoning mix and 1 packet au jus gravy mix; stir to blend evenly.
- Place the chicken in a mixing bowl or directly in the crockpot. Sprinkle the seasoning blend over the chicken and toss gently to coat every piece thoroughly.
- Cut 4 tablespoons of unsalted butter into pieces and evenly distribute over the seasoned chicken.
- Add 4 to 6 whole pepperoncini peppers on top of the chicken along with about 2 tablespoons of their juice.
- Cover and cook on low for 6 to 7 hours or on high for 3 to 4 hours until the chicken is fall-apart tender and the sauce has thickened slightly.
- Check that the chicken’s internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C). It should shred easily with a fork but remain moist.
- Remove pepperoncini peppers if desired for less heat. Serve chicken and sauce over rice, mashed potatoes, or your favorite side. Garnish with chopped parsley if desired.
- If sauce is too thin, uncover crockpot and cook on high for 15-20 minutes to thicken.
Notes
Pat chicken dry before seasoning to prevent watery sauce. Optional searing of chicken before slow cooking adds flavor but is not necessary. Avoid overcrowding crockpot. Use thawed chicken for even cooking. Adjust pepperoncini quantity to control heat. Sauce can be thickened by cooking uncovered on high for 15-20 minutes after slow cooking.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: Approximately 1/6 of
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 1
- Sodium: 700
- Fat: 12
- Saturated Fat: 7
- Carbohydrates: 3
- Fiber: 0.5
- Protein: 35
Keywords: Mississippi chicken, crockpot chicken, slow cooker recipe, easy chicken dinner, tender chicken, ranch seasoning, pepperoncini, comfort food, weeknight dinner