Skinny Mississippi Chicken
This Skinny Mississippi Chicken delivers all the zesty, savory, and tangy flavor of the classic dish without the butter. Lean chicken breast is slow-cooked until fork-tender in a light, flavorful broth of ranch seasoning, au jus mix, and pepperoncini peppers for a guilt-free comfort food experience.
Equipment
- Slow cooker (6-quart or larger)
- Two forks (for shredding)
- Cutting Board or Large Bowl
- Measuring cups
Ingredients
- 2.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- ½ cup whole pepperoncini peppers
- ¼ cup pepperoncini juice from the jar
- Optional: 1 tablespoon fresh parsley or chives, chopped for garnish
Instructions
- Place the boneless, skinless chicken breasts in a single layer at the bottom of your slow cooker.
- Pour the chicken broth and pepperoncini juice over the chicken.
- Sprinkle the dry ranch seasoning mix and the dry au jus gravy mix evenly over the top of the chicken.
- Scatter the whole pepperoncini peppers around the chicken in the pot.
- Secure the lid and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours or on HIGH for 3-4 hours, until the chicken is fully cooked and tender.
- Carefully remove the cooked chicken breasts from the slow cooker and place them on a cutting board or in a large bowl.
- Use two forks to shred the chicken completely.
- Return the shredded chicken to the slow cooker and stir it into the broth and juices. Let it sit for at least 10 minutes to absorb the flavors before serving.
Notes
Variations & Tips:
- For extra flavor, add a sliced onion and minced garlic to the bottom of the slow cooker before the chicken.
- For a touch of smokiness, add 1/2 teaspoon of smoked paprika.
- To increase the heat, add a pinch of red pepper flakes or a sliced jalapeño.
- Boneless, skinless chicken thighs can be used as a substitute for chicken breasts.
- Mild banana peppers can be used if you cannot find pepperoncini peppers. Important Pitfalls to Avoid:
- Do not substitute au jus mix with brown gravy mix, as it contains thickeners that will create a thick, sludgy sauce.
- Avoid overcrowding the slow cooker; ensure the chicken is in a single layer for even cooking.
- Do not skip the final 10-minute soak after shredding the chicken, as this step is crucial for making the meat juicy and flavorful.
- For extra flavor, add a sliced onion and minced garlic to the bottom of the slow cooker before the chicken.
- For a touch of smokiness, add 1/2 teaspoon of smoked paprika.
- To increase the heat, add a pinch of red pepper flakes or a sliced jalapeño.
- Boneless, skinless chicken thighs can be used as a substitute for chicken breasts.
- Mild banana peppers can be used if you cannot find pepperoncini peppers. Important Pitfalls to Avoid:
- Do not substitute au jus mix with brown gravy mix, as it contains thickeners that will create a thick, sludgy sauce.
- Avoid overcrowding the slow cooker; ensure the chicken is in a single layer for even cooking.
- Do not skip the final 10-minute soak after shredding the chicken, as this step is crucial for making the meat juicy and flavorful.