Instant Pot Mississippi Pot Roast

Name: Instant Pot Mississippi Pot Roast
Cook time: 60 min
Total time: 60 min
Ingredients: 3-4 pounds beef (chuck roast); 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1 teaspoon pepper; 1 large yellow onion ((Diced)); 1 cup beef broth; 4 tablespoon butter; 1 (1 oz) packet of Ranch Dressing Mix ((approximately 1 ½ tablespoon)); 1 (1 oz) packet of Au Jus Gravy Mix ((approximately 1 ½ tablespoon)); 5-6 pepperoncini peppers (and ¼ cup of it's juice); 1 tablespoon cornstarch

Published: Nov 6, 2019 · Modified: Mar 20, 2023 by Quynh · This post may contain affiliate links · 29 Comments

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This flavorful Instant Pot Mississippi Pot Roast is a great low-carb dinner that will melt in your mouth! Tender roast in a delicious, tangy gravy made with just a few simple ingredients.

Not just for weekends anymore, you can make this deliciously flavored and melt-in-your-mouth Instant Pot Mississippi Pot Roast in a fraction of the time of traditional cooking methods.

Serving bowl of Instant Pot Mississippi Pot Roast.

When you think of food from Mississippi, a Mississippi Mud Pie is likely the first thing to come to mind. Mississippi is also home to a famous pot roast that is genuinely one of a kind. While variations of this recipe have been found across the South, the real origin of this recipe dates back to Mississippi. The source of this delicious recipe comes from Robin Chapman from Ripley, Mississippi who had adapted a recipe that was given to her back in the late 1990s.

Robin Chapman was trying to make her aunt’s pot roast recipe a little less spicy for her children, and ended up developing a whole new pot roast recipe! Her family ended up loving this recipe, and so Robin Chapman shared it with her friends, and well, the rest is history!

Gone are the days of waiting 6 or more hours for a tasty pot roast meal made in your slow cooker, oven, or stovetop. Pot roast is not a wait-until-the-last-minute type of meal. I don't know about you, but I can barely get out the door on a busy morning, so prepping a pot roast for a home-cooked meal is not on my A.M. to-do list, even on a weekend.

Good news! No need to prep when you own an Instant Pot. And if truth be told, I prefer this Instant Pot Mississippi Pot Roast over the other traditional preparation methods. Your pressure cooker will tenderize this meal to succulent perfection as well as infuse the awesome flavors right into the meat. The best part is it only takes about 1.5 hours from start to finish. Plus, it's a great recipe for Instant Pot beginners. Win-win!

If you have leftovers, they're perfect for using as another meal later in the week or even freezing. Intentional leftovers are my number one secret to weekly meal planning. Make it once, and eat it twice!

WHAT IS MISSISSIPPI POT ROAST?

Before you think about making this delicious Mississippi pot roast, you may be asking "what is it?". A Mississippi roast is typically made using a slow cooking method in either a crockpot or a slow cooker. However, you can use your Instant Pot to speed up this recipe! To make this recipe, you cook your chuck roast in under a little bit of butter, ranch dressing mix, au jus mix, and pepperoncini.

What you get is a roast that is fork-tender and doesn’t require much prep work! I’m not sure if it’s the butter or the combination of the au jus gravy and ranch dressing mixed together, but the gravy from the pot roast is unlike anything I’ve ever tasted before! I love eating my Mississippi pot roast with mashed potatoes and gravy from this pot roast.

IS MISSISSIPPI POT ROAST SPICY?

Not at all! The pepperoncini peppers give this recipe a tangy taste to balance out the fatty meat, but it's not spicy. If you're worried, add fewer peppers but don't skip the juice. The pickled juice is used to tenderize the meat.

INGREDIENTS FOR INSTANT POT MISSISSIPPI POT ROAST

⬇️ Please scroll down to the recipe card to see the full ingredient amounts and instructions ⬇️

Ingredients needed for Instant Pot Mississippi Pot Roast.

Chuck roast - 3-4 pounds, 1-2 inches thick. If your beef is thicker, you may need to increase the pressure cook time.
Oil - olive oil, vegetable oil, canola oil, or avocado oil are all fine
Ground pepper - seasoning that gives it a little heat
Onion (diced) - for flavoring that's infused with the broth
Beef broth - for flavoring the meat. I use Better Than Bouillon Beef Soup Base.
Butter - use unsalted
Ranch Dressing Mix - for flavoring
Au Jus Gravy Mix - for flavoring
Pepperoncini peppers (and juice) - are integral to the recipe. The acidity helps tenderize the meat and gives it flavor. It does not make the dish spicy.

WHAT KIND OF MEAT SHOULD I USE?

Chuck roast is a popular choice for pot roasts since it’s so affordable and easily found in most grocery stores. It’s a lean meat with lots of connective tissue and very little fat. You’ll want to look for a chuck roast that has lots of marbling throughout. When this cut of meat is braised for a long time, the high amount of collagen breaks down and tenderizes the meat. This makes the meat super juicy, tender, and delicious!

WHAT CAN I SUBSTITUTE FOR AU JUS GRAVY MIX?

Make your own Au Jus Gravy Mix:

4 tablespoon beef bullion granules (or 12 cubes)
4 teaspoon onion powder
2 teaspoon parsley
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
4 tablespoon cornstarch

Put it all in a food processor or blender until the mix is a fine powder. Use 1 ½ tablespoons for this recipe and store the rest.

WHAT CAN I SUBSTITUTE FOR PEPPERONCINI PEPPERS?

If you can't find pepperoncini peppers at your local store, you can substitute them with any type of pickled peppers. Banana peppers are a great alternative.

If you can’t find pickled peppers, 2-3 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar or pickle juice might work.

HOW TO MAKE MISSISSIPPI POT ROAST IN THE INSTANT POT

Process of seasoning beef and searing for Instant Pot Mississippi Pot Roast.

Prep the chuck roast. Add ground pepper to each side of your chuck roast. To the Instant Pot, press [Sauté]. Wait until the pot display says "hot". Add olive oil into the pot and sear each side of the beef for 3-4 minutes, until golden brown. Remove from the Instant Pot and set aside.

Process of removing the seared beef and sautéing onions.

Sauté And Deglaze. Add and sauté the chopped onion for 2 minutes, until tender. Deglaze the Instant Pot by adding the beef broth and scraping the bottom of the pot to get up all the brown bits of beef and onion.

Process of deglazing pot and layering in the ingredients for Mississippi Pot Roast.

Layer In The Ingredients. Add the chuck roast back in, followed by the ranch dressing mix, au jus gravy mix, butter, and pepperoncini peppers (and its juice).

Close, Seal, And Pressure Cook. Place the lid on, turn the pressure release valve to the "sealing" position, and press [Pressure Cook] on high for 60-70 minutes. When done, let the pressure naturally release until the pin drops down and the lid can be opened.

Thickening gravy and shredding beef for Instant Pot Mississippi Pot Roast.

Thicken The Gravy. In a small bowl, mix together 1 tablespoon of cornstarch and 1 tablespoon of water. Remove the beef. Whisk in the cornstarch mixture with the broth. Press sauté and let it simmer for 1-2 minutes until thickened.

HOW DO I THICKEN THE GRAVY?

Once the roast has finished cooking and you've removed it from the Instant Pot, turn the sauté function on. The liquid should start to simmer.
Make a cornstarch slurry by adding 1 tablespoon of cornstarch and an equal amount of cold liquid in a small bowl. Stir until a smooth paste forms and then add this mixture into the Instant Pot and simmering liquid.
Stir well until thickened. Use more cornstarch, if needed, by using a 1-to-1 ratio of cornstarch and water. Turn the Instant Pot off and serve the gravy over the shredded beef and over mashed potatoes or rice.

FAQ

HOW TO ADD VEGETABLES TO IT?

Different vegetables cook at different times. I usually cook the roast as directed and stop the pressure cooking time 5 minutes before it ends to add in the vegetables.

Here is an example of what I do when I add veggies: The pressure cook time is 60 minutes, so I set it for 55 minutes. When the cooking time ends, I let it naturally release pressure for at least 10 minutes and then release the remaining pressure (this prevents the meat from drying out). I add the vegetables to the pot and pressure cook for 5-6 more minutes, letting it naturally release pressure. If you're short on time, let it naturally release pressure for at least 10 minutes before venting the pressure.

WHAT VEGETABLES CAN I ADD TO MISSISSIPPI POT ROAST?

Some popular vegetables for pot roast are potatoes, carrots, mushrooms, onions, and celery. These can be pressure cooked in the instant pot with the roast in the last 5 minutes.

If you prefer to cook your vegetables separately, try mashed or roasted potatoes, green beans, Brussels sprouts, or asparagus. The vegetables taste amazing with the gravy poured on top.

CAN I MAKE THIS WITH A FROZEN ROAST?

Yes, but you will skip the searing step since you can't sear/brown frozen meat. For a frozen roast, you'll need to add an extra 10 minutes to the cooking time.

HOW TO MAKE MISSISSIPPI POT ROAST IN A SLOW COOKER?

Using the same ingredients, sear the pot roast on the stovetop in a skillet before adding it to the slow cooker. Follow the directions for layering all the ingredients, cover, and cook on high for 4-5 hours or low for 8-10 hours. Low and slow is always the best method when slow cooking.

HOW TO MAKE MISSISSIPPI POT ROAST IN THE OVEN?

Using the same ingredients, sear the pot roast on the stovetop in a skillet before adding it to a deep, heavy pot such as a Dutch oven or deep baking pan. Cover tightly with the oven-safe lid of the Dutch oven. If you're using a baking pan, cover it with foil. Bake at 300°F for about 1 hour per pound, or until the beef shreds easily with a fork.

WHAT TO SERVE WITH INSTANT POT MISSISSIPPI POT ROAST

Any comfort food vegetable will be an awesome accompaniment to this beef meal. You'll want one of them to be a veggie that will be the perfect vehicle for the gravy and juices!

Mashed Potatoes
Baked Potato
Rice
Egg Noodles,
Riced Cauliflower
Roasted Vegetables (such as cauliflower, broccoli, carrots, or Brussels sprout)
Green Beans
Peas
Bread, rolls, or cornbread
or make them into Mississippi pot roast sliders.

If you want something Keto-friendly, try mashed cauliflower or cauliflower rice.

TIPS FOR MAKING THE BEST INSTANT POT MISSISSIPPI POT ROAST

Look for a well-marbled chuck roast.
Searing the meat helps it stay juicy and tender. While this step isn't necessary, it only takes a few minutes, so I usually make sure and do it.
Beware of hidden salt. The ranch and au jus packets already contain sodium, so use unsalted butter and low-sodium beef broth. Add salt at the end if you find you need to.
Make sure you deglaze by scraping the bits and pieces off the bottom of the Instant Pot when you pour in the beef broth. This will avoid the “burn” error message!
Here's how to calculate how long to cook the roast, based on its size: 60 minutes for 3 pounds of chuck roast. Add an extra 10 minutes of cook time for every pound. (3 lbs = 60 minutes, 4 lbs = 70 minutes). The thickness of the roast matters, too. This recipe is for a roast around 1 ½ to 2 inches thick. If yours is thicker, round the cooking time up and add an extra 10 minutes.
For the most tender meat, let the Instant Pot naturally release once it’s done cooking.

HOW DO I STORE LEFTOVERS?

Leftovers will keep in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Cool completely before tightly sealing beef and any gravy/juices and adding them to the fridge.

You can also freeze the leftovers for up to 2 months. Cool completely before tightly sealing beef and any gravy/juices and storing them in the freezer.

LEFTOVER SERVING IDEAS

I love re-running the meal just like we ate it the first time, but sometimes it's fun to change things up. Here are some delicious ways to use your leftover pot roast and any gravy.

The shredded beef is perfect for tacos, burritos, or even quesadillas.
Make it into a Philly cheesesteak with cheese, caramelized onions, and peppers.
Make a roast beef sandwich and dip it in the leftover gravy or make an open-faced roast beef sandwich with gravy over the top.
Turn it into beef stroganoff and serve it over noodles.

Easy prep with easy steps will earn this Instant Pot Mississippi Pot Roast a place in your regular meal planning. Simple, yet incredibly tender, this beef recipe will quickly become a family favorite.

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