This easy crock pot crack chicken is one of my favorite keto meals because it takes just minutes to prep and always turns out juicy and flavorful.
You'll love how simple this slow cooker crack chicken is to make. With boneless skinless chicken breasts, ranch seasoning, cream cheese, bacon, and cheddar, it's a creamy keto friendly dinner that works for meal prep, sandwiches, salads, or casseroles.
What Is Crack Chicken?
Crack chicken is a popular slow cooker recipe made with chicken, cream cheese, cheddar cheese, bacon, and ranch seasoning. Everything cooks together in the crock pot until tender, then gets shredded into a creamy, savory mixture.
It's called crack chicken because of its addictive flavor, but you can think of it as shredded chicken bacon ranch. The creamy texture and bold flavor make it a family favorite that fits into a low carb or keto lifestyle. It can be served as a casserole, over rice or pasta, or on a bun.
If you enjoy this recipe, you'll also love our Easy Keto Parmesan Crusted Chicken, Chicken Cordon Bleu (No Breading), and Chicken with Alfredo Sauce (No Pasta).
Why This Slow Cooker Crack Chicken Works
- Full of flavor - Tastes like savory chicken bacon ranch!
- Great for meal prep! Eat it as a casserole, on a bed of lettuce as a salad, or as a sandwich on the bun. You'll never get bored with leftovers!
- Super moist and juicy - Cooking crock pot crack chicken means the chicken meat stays tender, juicy, and super moist.
- Great for our readers on a low carb or keto diet too!
Ingredients list
- Boneless skinless chicken breasts: Lean and high protein. Chicken thighs or tenders work too.
- Chicken broth: Adds moisture while cooking.
- Ranch seasoning mix: Choose a low carb brand without added sugar. Our favorite is Trader Joe's Ranch seasoning in a spice jar or the Simply Organic brand sold at places like Kroger since they're both made without artificial ingredients.
- Cream cheese: Creates the creamy texture. Full fat works best for keto. You can also use low fat cream cheese if preferred
- Bacon (cooked and crumbled): Adds savory flavor and texture.
- Sharp cheddar cheese: Shred from a block for best melting. Don't use pre-shredded cheddar cheese since it's coated with starch and doesn't melt as well.
- Green onions: Fresh flavor and color.
Please see the recipe card below for exact quantities.
How to Make Crack Chicken
Step 1: Add chicken breasts and broth to the slow cooker. Sprinkle ranch seasoning over the top and add cubed cream cheese. Cover and cook on high for 4 to 5 hours or low for 6 to 7 hours.
Step 2: While the chicken cooks, prepare the bacon until crispy. Crumble and set aside.
Step 3: Shred the chicken directly in the crock pot. Stir to combine with the cream cheese mixture. Top with shredded cheddar, bacon, and green onions. Cover and heat on low until the cheese melts.
Step 4: Serve warm with hamburger buns, tortillas, with tortilla chips, or on a bed of lettuce.
Recipe notes
- This recipe is intentionally mild to make it kid friendly. For extra heat, add sliced pepperoncini, banana peppers, red pepper flakes, or Rotel.
- The mixture thickens as it cools. Add a splash of broth when reheating if needed.
- You can use boneless skinless chicken thighs in place of breasts.
- Be sure to shred your cheddar cheese from a block, pre-shredded cheese adds starch and it doesn't melt as well.
- If you're eating low carb, look for an organic Ranch seasoning packet that doesn't add sugar.
- Gluten Free - make sure the ranch seasoning packet you buy doesn't contain gluten.
What to Serve with Crack Chicken
- Serve as a casserole over roasted vegetables with a side salad.
- Make crack chicken sandwiches or sliders.
- Use as a dip with vegetables, low carb crackers, bread slices, or pretzels.
- Serve on lettuce for an easy cold lunch.
- Turn it into crack chicken soup by thinning with broth and cream.
Storing leftovers
- Store: Store leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- Freeze: You can freeze the chicken for up to 3 months in the freezer. Defrost in the fridge and then reheat it using one of our methods mentioned below!
- Reheat: Warm on the stove over medium low heat or in the slow cooker on low (for 1-2 hours) until heated through.
FAQ
Our easy crack chicken recipe also works with a keto or low carb diet! It's important to use full fat dairy products that are 0 or near 0 carbs. Also shred your cheese from a block since pre-shredded cheese adds potato starch to keep it from sticking.
Check the back of the Ranch packet to make sure it's low in carbs as well.
Actually, no. You shouldn't cook frozen chicken in a slow cooker. The frozen chicken combined with the slow heat of the crock-pot, isn't heating the chicken fast enough to prevent bacteria from forming.
If you want to use frozen chicken, you should make it in an Instant pot, on the stove, or in the oven.
I wouldn't use a rotisserie chicken with this recipe simply because it's salty and since there's already broth and Ranch mix in this recipe, it could make your recipe too salty!
More Keto Chicken Recipes
- Spinach Stuffed Chicken Breast Recipe
- Keto Buffalo Chicken Dip
- Crock Pot Butter Chicken
- Easy Keto Chicken Enchiladas
- Easy Chicken with Mushroom Sauce
- 50 Simple Keto Chicken Breast Recipes
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Recipe
Easy Crack Chicken Recipe (Slow Cooker)
Ingredients
- 2 lbs. boneless skinless chicken breasts
- ½ cup chicken broth
- 1 oz. packet ranch seasoning mix
- 8 oz. cream cheese softened and cut into cubes
- 6-8 bacon slices cooked and crumbled
- 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese from a block not pre-shredded
- ½ cup sliced green onions
Instructions
- Add the chicken and the broth to your crockpot. Sprinkle the chicken with the ranch seasoning mix and add the softened cream cheese cubes to the pot.
- Cover and cook the crack chicken for 4-5 hours on high or 6-7 hours on low.
- While the chicken is cooking, cook the bacon, crumble it, and set it aside until the chicken is done.
- Shred the chicken right in the pot. Sprinkle the chicken with shredded cheddar cheese, crumbled bacon, and sliced green onions. Put the lid back on the pot and heat it on low until the cheese melts.
- Serve the Ranch cream cheese chicken with buns, tortillas, with tortilla chips, or on a bed of lettuce. Enjoy!
Notes
Joie says
We loved this! Thank you!
WholeLottaYum says
We're so happy you enjoyed the crack chicken! Jen
Vicki says
Best crack chicken ever!! First time making it and we love it. Thanks for the recipe.
WholeLottaYum says
I'm glad you loved the crack chicken, Vicki! Jen
Barbara says
I did not use a crockpot and that may have been the difference in taste. The meal was disappointing. It was bland, at best. No doubt it was user error. Thanks for sharing.