Description
Mississippi Chicken is a flavorful, tender chicken dish featuring skin-on thighs simmered in a rich blend of ranch seasoning, au jus gravy, pepperoncini juice, and butter. The slow cooking in the oven creates fall-apart tender chicken that shreds easily, making it perfect to serve over creamy garlic mashed potatoes for a comforting meal.
Ingredients
Chicken and Seasoning
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 pounds skin-on chicken thighs
- Kosher salt, to taste
- Fresh cracked pepper, to taste
Seasoning Mix and Sauce
- 1 packet ranch seasoning (approximately 1 ounce)
- 1 packet au jus gravy mix (approximately 1 ounce)
- 1/4 cup pepperoncini juice (from jarred pepperoncini)
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, sliced
- 10 whole pepperoncinis
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Heat your oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit to prepare for slow cooking the chicken.
- Heat the Oil and Sear Chicken: Place a large sauté pan over medium-high heat and add 1 tablespoon olive oil. Pat chicken thighs dry with paper towels, then season generously on all sides with kosher salt and freshly cracked pepper. Sear chicken thighs in the hot oil until a dark golden-brown crust forms on all sides, which locks in flavor and juices.
- Prepare the Sauce Mixture: In a small bowl, combine the ranch seasoning packet, au jus gravy packet, pepperoncini juice, and water. Stir well until the mixture is evenly blended.
- Assemble for Baking: Pour the prepared seasoning mixture over the seared chicken in the pan. Distribute slices of butter on top of the chicken pieces, then nestle whole pepperoncinis around the chicken, adding tangy flavor and spice.
- Cover and Slow Cook: Cover the pan with a tight-fitting lid or foil and place it in the preheated oven. Cook for approximately 1.5 to 2 hours, or until the chicken is fall-apart tender and shreds easily with a fork. This slow cooking melds flavors and produces moist, tender chicken perfect for shredding.
- Serve: Remove the chicken from the oven and shred it using two forks. Serve the Mississippi Chicken atop garlic mashed potatoes for a comforting and hearty meal. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired.
- Enjoy and Review: Enjoy your flavorful Mississippi Chicken! If you loved the recipe, leave a 5-star rating and review to share your experience.
Notes
- Using skin-on chicken thighs ensures juicy, flavorful meat and crispy skin after searing.
- Pepperoncini juice adds a unique tangy and slightly spicy flavor; do not substitute with vinegar.
- This dish pairs beautifully with creamy mashed potatoes or rice to soak up the juices.
- Leftovers store well and can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 2 months.
- Ensure the pan is well covered while baking to retain moisture and prevent drying out.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 50 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
