Mississippi chicken chili takes the seasonings of a Mississippi pot roast, ranch mix, au jus gravy mix and pepperoncini, and turns them into a creamy slow cooker chili with chicken, cannellini beans and green chiles.
It is fifteen minutes of work, then 4 to 6 hours on Low in the crockpot, or 2 to 3 on High, with cream cheese stirred in once the chicken is shredded.
Why This Recipe Works
- Two seasoning packets do the work of a long ingredient list. Between them they bring buttermilk tang, dried herbs, onion, a deep savoury base and most of the salt.
- Pepperoncini brine is the ingredient that makes this. A cup of sliced peppers seasons unevenly; a quarter cup of their brine seasons the whole pot.
- Cream cheese added after shredding, rather than at the start, gives a creamy chili instead of a split one. It has ten minutes of gentle heat rather than five hours.
- Lime and cilantro at the very end are doing what long cooking cannot — a slow cooker rounds everything off, and this puts a point back on it.
Which Lever to Pull
There is no technique in this recipe — everything goes in at once and the crock does the rest. What there is instead is a seasoning stack, and knowing which part of it to adjust when the bowl tastes wrong.
- Salt and savourRanch packet, au jus packet, broth
- Two one-ounce seasoning packets are carrying almost all the salt in this pot, which is why the broth is low-sodium and the kosher salt is "to taste" rather than a fixed amount. Taste before adding any — this is a dish it is easy to over-salt at the end.
- Tang and heat1 cup pepperoncini plus 1/4 cup brine
- The defining note, and the reason this reads as Mississippi-style rather than as a plain chicken and bean chili. The brine is a separate quarter cup on top of the peppers themselves — it seasons the whole pot evenly in a way the sliced peppers cannot.
- Richness4 tbsp butter, 4 oz cream cheese
- Butter goes in at the start and melts into the liquid; cream cheese goes in after shredding and is what turns a brothy chili creamy. Adding the cream cheese early would only let it split over four hours.
- Lift at the endJuice of 1/2 lime, fresh cilantro
- Both go in off the heat, after the cream cheese. Four and a half hours of slow cooking flattens everything; this is the step that puts an edge back on it, and skipping it is the most common way this ends up tasting heavy.
Consistency is the fifth lever and it is yours to set: too thick, add a splash of warm broth; too thin, cook uncovered on High for 10 to 15 minutes. Do this before you adjust the salt, since reducing concentrates it.
Ingredient Notes
- Chicken breasts or thighs
- Two pounds, boneless and skinless. Thighs are the alternative and are more forgiving over a long cook — breasts go stringy if pushed well past done.
- Pepperoncini and their brine
- A cup sliced plus a quarter cup of brine. Both, not one — they are listed as a single line but they are two ingredients doing two jobs.
- Au jus gravy mix
- One packet, or gluten-free brown gravy mix. It brings the deep savoury base that ranch seasoning on its own does not have.
- Cream cheese
- Four ounces, softened and cubed, stirred in after shredding. Cubed and soft is the difference between creamy and lumpy.
How to Make It
Load the slow cooker
Layer the chicken in a 5 to 6 quart slow cooker. Add the onion, garlic, ranch seasoning, au jus mix, pepperoncini and brine, beans, tomatoes with green chiles, green chiles, corn if using, butter, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, black pepper and 1 1/2 cups of broth. Stir to combine, keeping the chicken mostly submerged.
Cook
Low for 4 to 6 hours, or High for 2 to 3, until the chicken shreds easily with two forks.
Check and shred
Before shredding, check that an instant-read thermometer in the thickest breast reads 165°F (74°C). Then shred the chicken directly in the slow cooker, add the cream cheese and stir until melted and the chili turns creamy.
Finish and adjust
Stir in the lime juice and cilantro, and adjust the salt to taste. If it is too thick, add a splash of warm broth; if too thin, cook uncovered on High for 10 to 15 minutes.
Serve
Ladle into bowls and garnish with cheddar, sour cream, scallions, avocado or crushed tortilla chips as you like.
Success Tips
- Check the temperature before you shred. Once the chicken is in pieces there is no thick part left to read.
- Keep the chicken mostly submerged when you load the pot.
- Do not salt until the very end. Two packets plus brine is a lot of salt already.
- Fix the consistency first, then taste for salt — reducing makes it saltier.
Serving Ideas
Top with shredded cheddar, sour cream, scallions, avocado and crushed tortilla chips. Chips and avocado are the two that add something the bowl does not already have: crunch, and something cool and fatty against the tang.
Storage and Reheating
Refrigerate
Refrigerate in airtight containers for up to 4 days, using shallow containers so it cools quickly. Do not leave it out at room temperature for more than 2 hours.
Freeze
Portion into freezer bags or containers and freeze for up to 3 months. Pressing the bags flat helps them thaw faster.
Reheat
Warm gently on the stovetop over medium-low, adding a splash of broth if needed, or microwave in short bursts, stirring between. Avoid boiling, which is hard on the texture.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes it Mississippi chicken chili?
The seasoning. A ranch seasoning packet, an au jus gravy mix and pepperoncini with their brine are the same trio that flavours Mississippi pot roast, and here they go into a chili with white beans, green chiles and cream cheese.
Can I use chicken thighs instead of breasts?
Yes. The ingredient list calls for 2 lb of boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, and thighs stay juicy in the slow cooker and shred easily.
Is it spicy?
It is mild, with a tangy bite from the pepperoncini. For more heat, add a jalapeño or extra green chiles.
How do I thicken Mississippi chicken chili?
Cook it uncovered on High for 10 to 15 minutes. Do this before you adjust the salt, since reducing concentrates it.
Can I make it on the stove?
Yes. Simmer shredded rotisserie chicken with the remaining ingredients for 20 to 25 minutes, then finish with the cream cheese and lime.
Is there a gluten-free swap for the au jus packet?
The recipe lists a gluten-free brown gravy mix as a swap for the au jus packet. Look for a certified gluten-free ranch seasoning as well, and check both labels.
