Drive it with your left foot on the brake pedal. This is an extremely common problem that occurs on all Chrysler products. Standard practice is to perform a test-drive any time the battery has been disconnected, or to explain to the customer the need to do that. The Engine Computer relearns sensor personalities and fuel trim data without you even noticing, but it has to see a very specific set of conditions for it to relearn "minimum throttle". Those conditions are met by coasting for at least seven seconds, about half of a typical off-ramp. Until that is done, the engine may not start unless you hold the accelerator pedal down 1/4". You won't get the nice "idle flare-up" to 1500 rpm at start-up, and it will tend to stall at stop signs.
If you have a scanner, you can verify minimum throttle hasn't been relearned yet by observing the idle "step" the computer has set the automatic idle speed motor to. It has a range from step "0" to step "256". For a properly-running engine, you'll find it near step 32. With a single misfiring cylinder, step 50 is common. When the computer hasn't relearned minimum throttle, it will be on step "0".
You know the alternator didn't fail simply from running the battery dead.
Monday, January 20th, 2020 AT 1:12 PM