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Crack Chicken {Crockpot}
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Crack Chicken is a delicious combination of shredded chicken, cream cheese, Ranch seasoning, cheese and bacon! It’s slow cooked in your crock pot and is the perfect quick and easy sandwich filling for busy weeknight meals or quick lunches.
If you love easy slow cooker chicken recipes I think you’re going to love this Crack Chicken! Chicken simmered in a cheesy sauce flavored with bacon and ranch is always a favorite dinner at our house. I can pop the ingredients in the crock pot in the morning, let it simmer all day, and then we scoop it onto hamburger buns for a super easy dinner.
In case you’re wondering, it’s called Crack Chicken because the combination of bacon, ranch, and cheese is such an irresistible combination of flavors. Have you tried my Crack Potatoes? It’s the same idea except instead of cooking it in the oven the chicken is cooked in the crock pot. Same delicious bacon, cheese, and ranch seasoning flavors but served up as a main dish!
All you need for this easy slow cooker chicken are five simple ingredients and 10 minutes to get it prepped for the crock pot. We love it on hamburger buns, but you can also serve Crack Chicken over rice or pasta. It’s up to you!
WHAT DO I NEED TO IT?
If you’d rather skip my (very helpful, I think) tips and tricks, essential cooking info, and similar recipe ideas – and get straight to this delicious recipe – simply scroll to the bottom of the page where you can find the printable recipe card.
- Boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Ranch seasoning mix
- Cream cheese
- Bacon bits
- Cheddar cheese
How do I make Crack Chicken?
- Mix Ingredients – Place the chicken in the crock pot and top it with the ranch seasoning and cubed cream cheese.
- Cook – Turn the crock pot on low for 6 to 8 hours or on high for 4 hours.
- Finishing touches – Shred the chicken and add the bacon bits and cheddar cheese. Cover the crock pot and cook the chicken for 10 minutes more. Serve on hamburger buns.
How long is it good for in the fridge?
Store the Crack Chicken in an airtight container and it will keep for three to four days in the refrigerator. You can also freeze it! Just transfer it to a freezer-safe airtight container and it will keep for up to three months.
How do you shred chicken breast?
The easiest way to shred chicken is with a stand mixer! That’s right, throw your whole chicken breasts in there and turn it on low. Let it magically shred that chicken.
If you don’t have a stand mixer simply use two forks. Use one fork to hold the chicken in place and the other to shred the chicken into pieces. Once you’ve shredded the chicken you can add the bacon bits and cheddar cheese.
How do I boil chicken?
- Boiling chicken is very easy and a great way to cook it! Place boneless, skinless chicken breasts in a large pot. Cover them with water (you can also use chicken stock or broth) add seasonings like salt, pepper and dried herbs and bring the pot to a boil. Once boiling, lower the heat to maintain a simmer and cover the pot with a lid.
- Depending on how many chicken breasts you are boiling, the cooking time will vary. For two to three chicken breasts it will take approximately 8 to 15 minutes depending on how thick they are. The best way to tell if your chicken is done is with a meat thermometer. The internal temperature of the chicken should be 165 degrees F.
What should I serve with Crack Chicken?
Crack Chicken is great served on hamburger buns with potato chips or French fries on the side. Or, add a vegetable side dish like Broccoli Salad, Roasted Cauliflower or 7 Layer Salad. If you don’t want to serve it on hamburger buns, you can also serve it with pasta or rice. Or, roll it up in tortillas for easy wrap sandwiches.
More delicious Crock Pot Dinners!
I know your family is going to love this Crack Chicken – it’s one of our favorite slow cooker chicken recipes! Looking for more slow cooker dinner ideas? Be sure to check out some of my other favorite recipes.
- Crock Pot BBQ Chicken – Tender, juicy and delicious flavored with liquid smoke and smothered in barbecue sauce.
- Crock Pot Hot Ham & Cheese Sandwiches – Layers of tender ham, a cheese all cooked in your Crock Pot!
- French Dip Sandwiches – The roast beef is slow cooked all day in your crock pot so it’s falling apart tender when you pile it high in your toasted hoagie roll with melted provolone cheese.
WATCH THE STEP BY STEP VIDEO FOR THIS RECIPE BELOW:
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Crack Chicken
Quick and easy crack chicken recipe is made in the Crockpot! Tender, chicken with cream cheese, bacon, cheese and Ranch seasoning!
Print Pin RatePrep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 4 hours
Total Time: 4 hours 10 minutes
Servings: 8
Calories: 499kcal
Ingredients
- 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 oz packet ranch seasoning mix
- 2 packages cream cheese 8 oz each, cubed
- 2.8 oz bacon bits
- 1 c. shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Spray crock pot with non stick spray. Place the chicken breasts on the bottom of the crock pot. Top with ranch seasoning and cubed cream cheese.
- Cook on low 6-8 hours or on High for 4 hours.
- When cooking time is done shred the chicken with two forks. Then add the cheese and bacon. Stir to combine and cook on low for about 10-15 minutes or until cheese is melted.
- Serve on buns or how ever you would like to enjoy it!
Nutrition
Calories: 499kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 38g | Fat: 36g | Saturated Fat: 19g | Cholesterol: 176mg | Sodium: 933mg | Potassium: 577mg | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 1092IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 274mg | Iron: 1mg
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LEAVE A COMMENT
I made this for my family and it was so easy and super tasty. With a family of four I am all about quick easy and very good.
Glad you and your family enjoyed it!
Looks so yummy 😋. Can’t wait to try it, you always have the best recipes.
Enjoy!
Have you ever tried this in the insta pot?
I haven’t, I think you would need to add some liquid in order to pressure cook it.
I dont remember how I got to your site, but I love your recipes, I put it in my favorite sites.
Thanks Victoria! I’m glad you found it!
Love your site and your YouTube channel! Eager to try this recipe, but wondering if boneless, skinless thighs could also be used?
Yes they can!
John
I’m completely addicted to this crack chicken. I can’t get enough, and it’s becoming a problem! 😉
Hahaha it is definitely delicious! I’m glad you enjoy it so much!
I want to make this for thanksgiving, looks so good. tysm
You’re welcome! Hope you enjoy it!
This would make a great dish for a potluck! I think I’m going to add some Chopped celery and dried onion to the mix and cook. Then add some pimentos with the cheese and bacon for some color.
Sounds like a delicious twist! Hope you enjoy it!
Perfect dish for a potluck or weekend meals. Adding bacon takes the flavor over the top!
Doesn’t bacon make everything better?!
Hi.
The dish was absolutely delicious. Error on my part, I used slightly too much cheese. How can I make it creamier from here ? It’s far too chzy
Thank you
Personally, I love cheese so too cheesy is something I don’t usually have to deal with 😆 but I’m not sure how you would correct that one! Maybe try it again another time!
Maybe add more chicken, maybe even some cooked broccoli.
Tried this for the first time and it was so awesome
So happy you enjoyed it!
Made this tonight for our Sunday crockpot dinner! Used chicken tenderloins instead of breasts and only cooked for 3.5hr on HIGH and it was perfect. I also threw in some minced garlic at the beginning because we are garlic lovers. Such a good meal! And SO EASY! Thanks so much!!! We will be making again.
Hi Bethany – I’m so happy everyone enjoyed it! Thank you for the rating and review!
I made this last night using boneless skinless chicken thighs (which I cut up when they were cooked rather than shredded), otherwise followed the recipe, then at the end stirred in “mostly cooked” gluten free rotini pasta (about half a 12oz box). SO GOOD! I started it late, and it really cooked only for about 2-1/2 to 3 hours, but it was absolutely perfect. I’ll definitely be making this again. Thank you for a great recipe!
Hah! I just realized I totally forgot to put in the bacon. Well, it didn’t need it for perfection. LOL
Lol! Well next time you’ll have to try it with some bacon! Great idea to add the pasta, I’m so happy you enjoyed it!
So easy to make!! And the taste is phenomenal! The whole family loved it!
Wonderful!
This recipe is amazing. Last week was crazy with all the kids home, Christmas activities and basketball games. I put this all together in the crock pot last week for an “eat and run” type of meal. We love fiesta ranch, so I used that since I had it on hand. Everyone loved it. I made a double batch. Some loved it on a bun, as a dip with crackers or even just plain. Thank you for the great recipe!!
You’re welcome! I’m so glad it was a quick and easy meal for you and your family!
On another note…..this recipe really is good with anything. My girls wanted to try making sushi so I bought a kit to try this. I do not like seafood so they used this crack chicken in a sushi roll. It was so good and we were fighting for each slice 🙂
That’s awesome! I would have never thought to put this in a sushi roll but now I might have to try it!
I added chopped green chillies. Awesome!!
Perfect! Glad you liked it!
I fixed this today and it was delicious on a bun. Plan to cook it again and would highly recommend people trying this recipe.
Thanks Connie!
Excellent recipe and so easy to make. I served it on a bun. I’m wondering if anyone has tried it on a biscuit.
Glad you enjoyed it!
My son made this and it was not enough “liquidy” to cover the chicken. Is there water in this as well?
No there isn’t, the cream cheese should create the creamy sauce for the chicken.
I’m making this tomorrow. I’d sure love to know what a serving weighs approximately so I can simply weigh my portion on my kitchen scale and know my calorie intake. Could you help me with that? Pretty please?
I am not sure of the weight of one serving for this, sorry!
I know it says 8 servings what is the serving size
I don’t have the exact serving size, it would just be 1/8 of the entire dish. Sorry!