Julie Clark
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Slow Cooker Crack Chicken
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The dinner my kids come running for! Creamy Slow Cooker Crack Chicken with bacon, cheddar, ranch and jalapeños is perfect for potlucks and feeding a crowd.
Shredded chicken sandwiches are popular in Ohio any time of year. Remember our crack chicken pasta and crack chicken lasagna? We based that off of those creamy chicken recipes. Our version of bacon ranch chicken AKA Crack Chicken sandwiches uses a ranch seasoning mix, but also smoked paprika, garlic powder and chili powder for even more flavor.
The Creamy Chicken Sandwich Filling That Practically Makes Itself
I’ve realized that there are some family favorite recipes that I took too long to share with you. Cinnamon thing, baked tacos, antipasto salad…we make them so often that they don’t even feel like a “recipe”.
The one recipe that Kinslee and her friends request without fail is this creamy ranch chicken. It’s lovingly called slow cooker crack chicken and is a main request for a special birthday, small group gathering or picnic.
Love slow cooker chicken recipes? Try our chicken drumsticks, chicken spaghetti, chicken gnocchi soup, slow cooker butter chicken and slow cooker honey mustard chicken.
Enjoy! -Julie
Ingredients Needed
This crockpot crack chicken recipe calls for a few extra seasonings than just a ranch dressing mix, but they are worth it. The smoked paprika and chili powder add warmth to each bite.
- I prefer to use boneless skinless chicken breasts. Boneless skinless chicken thighs work well, but I’d leave out the chicken stock and add only if needed since they are juicier. . They are tender and so, so flavorful!
- Can you make crack chicken with canned chicken? You totally can do this, but canned chicken is already cooked so you don’t need to use the slow cooker. Just mix the ingredients together, spoon it into a casserole dish and bake at 350º Fahrenheit until the mixture is cooked through and creamy. Or put it in a pot on the stovetop and heat through, stirring often.
- Sharp cheddar cheese is my go-to, but monterey jack, pepper jack or colby cheese work, too.
- For a shortcut, use real bacon bits instead of having to cook the bacon
See the recipe card below for full ingredients and amounts.
Slow Cooker Crack Chicken
The dinner my kids come running for! Creamy Slow Cooker Crack Chicken with bacon and ranch is perfect for potlucks and feeding a crowd.
Servings 8
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 7 hours
Total Time 7 hours 5 minutes
Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken breasts about 4 breasts
- 3/4 cup chicken stock
- 8 ounces cream cheese room temperature
- 1 packet ranch seasoning mix
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 8 slices bacon cooked and crumbled
- 1/2 cup diced pickled jalapeños optional topping
- 1/4 cup green onions optional topping
Instructions
- Arrange the chicken breasts at the bottom of the slow cooker base. Pour the chicken broth over the breasts. Place the cream cheese right on top of the chicken and sprinkle with the ranch seasoning, smoked paprika, garlic powder, pepper and salt. 2 pounds chicken breasts, ¾ cup chicken stock, 8 ounces cream cheese, 1 packet ranch seasoning mix, ½ teaspoon smoked paprika, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon black pepper, ¼ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon chili powder
- Secure the lid and cook on low for 6-7 hours or on high for 4-5 hours.
- About 20 minutes before serving, remove the chicken breasts and shred. It should shred very easily with two forks. Mix the sauce well. Place it back into the sauce along with half the bacon and mix well. Cover the top of the chicken with the shredded sharp cheddar cheese and place the lid back on for about 20 minutes, until the cheese is melted. 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese, 8 slices bacon
- Top with the remaining bacon and chopped jalapeños and sprinkle on the green onions as well. Serve and enjoy. ½ cup diced pickled jalapeños, ¼ cup green onions
Notes
- Make sure to stir the sauce together before putting the chicken back in. It will look separated or curdled with the juices and cream, so mix it until it comes together in a smooth sauce.
- Possible Add-ins: green chilies, pimentos, Rotel tomatoes (drained), diced red onion
- Storage Instructions: Cover and place leftovers into the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat in the microwave or back in the slow cooker. Add a splash of chicken broth if it seems too thick upon heating. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 6 weeks.
- Refer to the article above for more tips and tricks.The calories shown are based on the recipe serving 8, with 1 serving being ⅛ of the chicken. Since different brands of ingredients have different nutritional information, the calories shown are just an estimate. **We are not dietitians and recommend you seek a nutritionist for exact nutritional information. **
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Nutrition
Calories: 398kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 33g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 0.04g | Cholesterol: 131mg | Sodium: 828mg | Potassium: 552mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 677IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 138mg | Iron: 1mg
How to Serve Crack Chicken
We almost always serve this chicken with hamburger buns (pretzel buns are especially popular in our house). But if you’re looking for something different, here are a few options:
- serve over orzo rice pilaf, mashed potatoes, baked potatoes, cauliflower rice or a lettuce wrap for a low carb option
- Use as a dip with tortilla chips
- wrap in flour tortillas
- open faced English Muffins
Frequently Asked Questions
Is crack chicken keto?
Yes! This recipe is considered low carb. It’s great for the keto diet!
Can you use low fat or fat free cream cheese?
Yes! Of course it won’t be as creamy, but you can use it if you’d like.
Can you add broccoli to crack chicken?
Yes. We’ve added small fresh broccoli florets to this recipe. If you are afraid that they will get too mushy, add them about half way through cooking.
I don’t have ranch seasoning. What else can I use?
Try this recipe with an Italian dressing seasoning packet. It changes the flavor slightly but is so good.
Can I use any kind of ranch because I just accidentally added chipotle ranch in the pot is that ok?
I don’t have a slow cooker. Can I still make the Slow Cooker Crack Chicken in a Lifetime pot on simmer?
Cracked Chicken is the absolute best recipe for chicken that I have tried in the past year. I.made this last week and shared the meal with a friend who share their portion with their family and now it is a hit in three families,
Thank you for a great recipe.
Dave
Anyway to reduce the calories without losing the flavor?
I am diabetic Type II, cannot handle caffeine, eat mostly non-processed foods as I can eat very little salt. For the salt alone, I would subtract most of the cheese, the processed flavor packets, eat one bread/cereal per day = calories and salt and sugar. But I would use the chicken breasts and thighs, some plain yogurt, a little chicken stock(homemade and frozen usually) and my own choice of herbs and spices. Serving it with riced cauliflower is a good idea plus a green salad with veggies, fruit, nuts, olive oil, herbs. But I have lost a lot of the… Read more »
Thx this sounds great I’m trying different recipes lately being inside more these days. I’m going to try this ,I can’t use ranch dressing it has soy in it I’m allergic to it so I’ll see what I can do to replace it thx again