Slow Cooker Crack Chicken


948 Comments


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Slow Cooker Crack Chicken has everything that is good and addicting in it! Filled with bacon, cheese, cream cheese, and ranch dressing mix.

Who doesn’t love a recipe with cream cheese in it! If you have extra cream cheese also try my olive garden chicken pasta or artichoke mushroom chicken.

shredded creamy chicken with bacon and cheese on top.

I finally got around to trying this Slow Cooker Crack Chicken recipe. My neighbor told me about this crack chicken, though she makes instant pot crack chicken.

This crack chicken recipe is a creation by Shelly from the website Cookies and Cups. I am so glad I gave this recipe a try the flavors go so good together and go great over white rice which helps take away a bit of the saltiness.

raw chicken with ranch dressing mix and 2 blocks of cream cheese top.

How to make Crack Chicken:

I start with chicken thighs instead of breasts. I feel the thighs have more moisture, and the overall dish turns out decadent with the thighs. I also only use one ranch packet to cut back on the sodium.

You will need these ingredients:

  • Chicken thighs – trim off excess fat
  • Ranch dressing seasoning mix (can use dip mix if that’s what you have)
  • Cream cheese
  • Cheddar cheese
  • Cooked bacon
  • Green onions
cooked chicken, ranch dressing and cream cheese in slow cooker.
  • Add the chicken to the slow cooker.
  • Top with the ranch packet and cream cheese. Wait to add the other ingredients.

How long do I cook?

  • Place the lid on the slow cooker
  • Cook on low for 7 hours and do not open the lid during the cooking time.
Finished crack chicken in slow cooker with bacon, cheese and green onion on top.
  • After the cooking time is up, shred the chicken with 2 forks. I do this right in the slow cooker, no need to remove the chicken and dirty a plate.
  • Add the cooked bacon then top with the cheddar cheese. Place the lid back on to let the cheese melt. Sprinkle over green onions if desired.
shredded creamy chicken with cheese, bacon and green onion on top, in the slow cooker.

What to serve this with

  • Over white rice (my favorite option)
  • Eat it as is if you are on a low carb or keto diet
  • Over-toasted hamburger buns
  • Mashed potatoes
  • Inside of baked potatoes
  • With crackers; serve as a dip
  • Add a salad on the side with any of the above options
shredded chicken with cheese on top over rice on plate.

This dish is so rich and creamy! I am dreaming about making it again this week. Such a fun recipe to try for a Sunday dinner or even to entertain guests. Give this recipe a try and let me know how you like it. Have a great week.

crack chicken over rice with salad on side on speckled plate

Here are my other favorite slow cooker chicken recipes:

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shredded creamy chicken with bacon and cheese on top.

Slow Cooker Crack Chicken

4.37 from 275 votes
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 7 hours 10 minutes
Total Time: 7 hours 20 minutes
Servings: 6
Slow Cooker Crack Chicken is made of everything addicting and delicious! This chicken has bacon, cheese, cream cheese and flavored with ranch dressing seasoning mix.
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How to Video

Ingredients 
 

  • 2 lbs. boneless skinless chicken thighs, (trim off excess fat if desired)
  • 1 oz. packet ranch seasoning mix
  • 16 oz. cream cheese
  • 8 slices bacon, (sliced, cooked and drained)
  • 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1/2 cup sliced green onions

Instructions 

  • Add the chicken thighs to the slow cooker. Sprinkle over the ranch seasoning mix. Place the cream cheese on top of the chicken.
  • Cover and cook on LOW for 7 hours without opening the lid during the cooking time.
  • Shred the chicken, I do this right in the slow cooker with 2 forks. Stir the cooked cream cheese into the shredded chicken and also stir in the bacon. Spread out into an even layer. Sprinkle over the cheese. Cover for 10 more minutes to allow the cheddar cheese to melt.
  • Serve over rice and sprinkle over the green onions. Enjoy! Other great ways to serve is over a baked potato or on sandwich rolls. 

Sarah’s Notes

Can I use chicken breasts in this recipe?
Yes, chicken breast do work with this recipe if you prefer them.
Can I use more than 2 lbs of chicken?
More chicken can be used in this recipe without changing the other ingredients and still will turn out great!
Can I make this spicy?
Use a spicy ranch packet or add 1 jalapeno to this recipe for added spice.

Nutrition

Calories: 690kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 44g | Fat: 53g | Saturated Fat: 26g | Cholesterol: 275mg | Sodium: 1102mg | Potassium: 583mg | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 1430IU | Vitamin C: 1.6mg | Calcium: 297mg | Iron: 1.9mg

Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.

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Recipe Rating




948 Comments

  1. Tiffany says:

    1 star
    My kids love ranch, cream cheese and bacon so I thought they would love this. It was not for our taste. My sweet boy even said- no offense mom but please don’t make this again. You really have to eat it over something. I tried to eat some plain but I really needed bread with small volume of the chicken. I can see this as being a good dip/ appetizer with having a small volume on something else.

    1. katherine says:

      5 stars
      I mean, the recipe says to eat it over something.

  2. RoJo says:

    I’m making this today and following the recipe but added mushrooms and plan to add spinach when I put in the bacon. Has anyone else done this? Can’t wait to have dinner tonight. It’s gonna be yummy!!

    1. Stacey g. says:

      I added spinach when I added the bacon and green onions and it was so good! I make it like that everytime

  3. Stiles says:

    Other recipes similar to this all call for thighs instead of breasts, and suggest adding 1/2 a stick of butter to avoid dryness if using breasts. Is that needed or could use a low sodium condensed soup like French onion or cream of mushroom instead of butter?

    1. Sarah Olson says:

      Even if you use chicken breasts in this recipe won’t be dry, the cream cheese has just as much fat as butter. I don’t recommend cream of mushroom or french onion soup in this recipe.

      1. Susan says:

        Hi! Would adding a small can of green chips make it too spicy, and when would I add them. Thanks in advance for the recipe!

      2. Sarah Olson says:

        Green chiles? You can add those at the beginning of the cooking time.

  4. Tara_ nichole says:

    5 stars
    I made this, i didnt have time to make it in the crock pot, so i baked it. I didnt shred it, just left it whole. If it was that amazing baked, i CANT WAIT to try it in the crock pot shredded! Im going to try it this weekend and make it into a warm dip. Thanks for this! my boyfriend CRAVES it now!

  5. Deb says:

    Mine was very dray had to make a cream sauce to go with it….,thank God I had time

    1. Ryan says:

      I want to make a Buffalo version of this recipe. What would you recommend? I’ve made this many times and everyone LOVES it.

  6. Gina says:

    Wondering if I could alter this a little and exclude one of the cream cheese bricks (8oz) and replace it with a can of cream or chicken and use it more as a gravy or add some veggies and make it like a deconstructed pot pie filling?

    1. Sarah Olson says:

      Yes, I think that will work great. You may need to add some chicken broth to make it thinner if it’s too thick.

  7. Rita Ferguson says:

    Can you cook this recipe on high for 4hrs vs low for 7hrs?

    1. Sarah Olson says:

      Yes!

  8. Anonymous says:

    Is this for thawed or frozen chicken?

    1. Sarah Olson says:

      All my recipes use thawed meat.

  9. Kari J says:

    5 stars
    Delicious! Eazy to make! Guests will love it!

  10. Leah says:

    Would you add the jalapeno at the end?

    1. Sarah Olson says:

      I would at the beggining.