If you’re looking for a comfort food to cheer you up on these cold days of winter, you’ll love this crock pot recipe for Crack Chicken! The slow cooker takes does all the work for you, so you can come home to a hearty, fully cooked dish at the end of a long day.
Tender chicken breasts are seasoned with dry ranch dressing, then slow cooked in broth. The meat is shredded and combined with cream cheese, then topped with cheddar cheese, bacon, and green onions slices. This keto-friendly dish can be served over cauliflower rice, traditional rice, pasta, or can be served as a hot dip. No matter how you serve it, you’ll love it!
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What Is Crack Chicken?
Crack chicken is comfort food at its best. Shredded chicken is slow cooked in broth and ranch dressing, then mixed with cream and cheddar cheeses, bacon, and green onions for an addicting, keto-friendly meal or dip. I love it over rice (cauliflower rice for a keto meal–learn how to make your own cauliflower rice here) or pasta for a hearty meal, but you can also use it to add a savory layer to a salad. Another great use is to serve it hot with crackers or pita chips for a dip that will whet guests’ appetites for more
Crack chicken takes its name from crack dip, which is a flavorful appetizer made from the same ingredients, except for the chicken. Like many dishes with the word “crack” in the name, both the dip and the entree are super-addictive. It reheats well, so it makes a perfect lunch the next day.
Can This Be Made on the Stovetop?
Yes! And it only takes about 45 minutes!
You’ll need the same ingredients, plus extra water.
First place the chicken, chicken broth, and packet of ranch seasoning in a large saucepan. Add enough water to cover the chicken. Bring to a boil, then cover the pot and reduce heat to medium. Simmer for 20 minutes.
Remove the pot from heat. Drain, reserving about 1/2 cup of the liquid. Shred the chicken breasts and mix in the reserved water and cream cheese. Stir until melted. Top with shredded cheddar, bacon, and green onions. Cover and heat on low to melt the cheese. Serve hot.
How Can I Make This a Healthier Dish?
While this is a great dish for those following a keto diet, it is definitely not a heart healthy recipe! There are some things you can do to make it a little healthier.
Instead of eating a whole bowl of crack chicken over pasta or rice, eat a smaller portion as part of a salad. You could also omit the cheeses and enjoy the ranch-seasoned chicken with bacon and green onions.
Another idea is to substitute heavier ingredients for lighter ones, like turkey bacon instead of pork bacon, or neufchatel cheese instead of cream cheese.
Directions
- Pour enough chicken broth into slow cooker to cover the bottom. Lay chicken breasts in broth and sprinkle with ranch seasoning.
- Cover and slow cook on LOW for 5 hours or on HIGH for 2 1/2 hours.
- Shred chicken with two forks.
- Cut cream cheese into smaller portions. Mix cream cheese and 1 cup of the shredded cheddar into shredded chicken. Stir until melted.
- Top with remaining 1 cup of cheese. Cover until cheese is melted. You may need to reset the setting to HIGH if your slow cooker is in WARM mode.
- Sprinkle with bacon and green onion slices. Serve hot over cauliflower rice, traditional rice, or pasta.
Looking for More Slow Cooker Recipes?
- The unique flavor of Mississippi Pot Roast can’t be beat
- Stuffed Green Peppers have been one of my favorites for years
- You’ll never want Beef Carnitas any other way after making them in your slow cooker
Slow Cooker Crack Chicken
Course: Chicken, Cook, Keto-Friendly, Slow Cooker8
servings5
minutes5
hoursChicken is seasoned with dry ranch dressing, slow cooked, then mixed with two cheeses, bacon, and green onions for an addicting, keto-friendly meal.
Ingredients
About 1/2 cup chicken broth (enough to cover bottom of slow cooker)
4 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 8 oz each)
1- 1 oz. package ranch seasoning mix
8 oz. cream cheese
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
1/2 pound bacon, cooked and crumbled
3/4 cup chopped green onions
Directions
- Pour enough chicken broth into slow cooker to cover the bottom. Lay chicken breasts in broth and sprinkle with ranch seasoning.
- Cover and slow cook on LOW for 5 hours or on HIGH for 2 1/2 hours.
- Shred chicken with two forks.
- Cut cream cheese into smaller portions. Mix cream cheese and 1 cup of the shredded cheddar into shredded chicken. Stir until melted.
- Top with remaining 1 cup of cheese. Cover until cheese is melted. You may need to reset the setting to HIGH if your slow cooker is in WARM mode.
- Sprinkle with bacon and green onion slices. Serve hot over cauliflower rice, traditional rice, or pasta.
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