Mississippi chicken has no business being this good for something that basically involves dumping everything into a pot and walking away. Ranch seasoning, au jus, pepperoncini and butter turn simple chicken into a tender, savory dinner with plenty of flavorful juices for spooning over mashed potatoes, rice or noodles.

Make it low and slow in the Crockpot, or use the Instant Pot when you forgot about dinner until dinner.

Slow cooker Mississippi chicken on a white plate on the counter.

Serves: 8
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Slow Cook Time: 6-8 hours
Instant Pot Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients

10-12 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
¼ cup jarred pepperoncini pepper juice plus 8-10 peppers
1 ranch seasoning packet
1 au jus seasoning packet
¼ cup unsalted butter
½ cup chicken broth

Boneless skinless chicken thighs, pepperoncini peppers and juice, ranch seasoning, au jus seasoning, butter and chicken broth on the counter.

Get the full printable instructions with measurements at the bottom of the post in the recipe card.

Slow Cooker Directions

Step 1: Add the chicken thighs to the slow cooker. Pour in the pepperoncini juice and ½ cup chicken broth, then add the pepperoncini peppers.

Step 2: Sprinkle the ranch and au jus seasoning evenly over the chicken and top with slices of butter. Cover and cook on LOW for 6–8 hours, or until the chicken is tender and easily pulls apart with a fork.

Chicken thighs with pepperoncini peppers, ranch and au jus seasoning, and butter in a slow cooker.

Step 3: Shred the chicken directly in the slow cooker using two forks and stir it into the cooking juices. Serve over rice or mashed potatoes.

Instant Pot Directions

Step 1: Add all ingredients to the Instant Pot. Secure the lid and set the valve to sealing. Cook on High Pressure for 20 minutes. We used the Poultry setting, which automatically cooked for 20 minutes.

Step 2: Allow a 10-minute natural release, then carefully release the remaining pressure. Shred the chicken and stir it back into the juices before serving.

🍋 Simply Made Suggestions and Swaps

Don’t skip the pepperoncini. They give Mississippi chicken its signature tangy flavor without making it overly spicy.
Bone-in thighs work, too. You can use bone-in, skinless chicken thighs without changing the cooking time or directions. Just remove and discard the bones when shredding the chicken.
Shred it in the pot. Stir the chicken back into the cooking liquid so it soaks up all that flavor.

🐢 Before You Go…

Looking for more meals that practically cook themselves? Explore our favorite slow cooker and easy chicken dinner ideas.