Slow Cooker Crack Chicken
914 Comments Aug 05, 2020
Updated Oct 17, 2024
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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.
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.
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
- 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.
- 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.
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
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.
Here are my other favorite slow cooker chicken recipes:
- Slow Cooker Mississippi Chicken
- Slow Cooker Chicken with Bacon Gravy
- Slow Cooker Root Beer Chicken
- Slow Cooker Chicken Pot Pie
- Slow Cooker Basil Chicken
- Slow Cooker Hot Chicken
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Slow Cooker Crack Chicken
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
Nutrition
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
All I have is whipped cream cheese.. any e use that?
I think that would work fine in a pinch!
I love this recipe. Chicken thighs keep it very moist. I made this for Book Club and served it with Hawaiian Sweet rolls and scoops and romaine lettuce. Them there was a choice of eating it as a sandwich or a dip appetizer. Went over very well.
Great idea, Dot! Glad your group enjoyed it.
Delicous!
Wish I could post a picture of what I came home to 🙁 so disappointed. I followed all directions but when I came home every single thing was burnt to a crisp, inedible, and potentially ruined my crock pot. Guess I should have done it on a day I could have caught it happening but so disappointed after reading good reviews.
Sorry Kyle, maybe your slow cooker cooks hot. I apologize.
Needed a liquid in with it, never just meat and no liquid. Just a 1/2 cup to cup of chicken broth would of been perfect.
Can this be frozen after it has been cooked??
Yes, this freezes well!
Can you cook the recipe on high for part of the time if you short on time?
Yes, you can do that, no problem.
Mine turned out dry, what did I do wrong? My cream cheese didn’t melt, I had to mash it down and stir it in, is that normal?
Maybe your chicken didn’t have much moisture to add to the dish, yes, the cream cheese has to be stirred in. Maybe you’ll need to add chicken broth next time.
Great recipe! Amazing flavor! Thanks Sarah, for a delicious recipe!
I love this recipe but I use 2 packs of ranch mix & real bacon bits. I use a mixer to shred the chicken. It’s okay warm but I love it cold.
This crack chicken is the best recipe out there and is very good to eat too yummy
I made the slow cooker Chicken Crack. I used 4 boneless chicken breast. I ended up Using 2 packets of Ranch Dressing. I also cheated and used pre-cooked bacon. The end result ended up way too salty. I think next time I would us 1 packet of Ranch dressing. I also think I would cooked raw bacon. May doing it that way would have made it not so salty. I will try it again but with those changes
Made it before, this time it came out a little salty. I didn’t add any salt. The cream cheese is lumpy & chicken is a little dry. I ended up having to add a little chicken broth (no sodium) it was very thick. Maybe the bacon made it salty because the first time I didn’t use any.
Do you add any kind of liquid? I feel like there is nothing there to keep it moist. Will it just dry out?
The chicken will create it’s own juices for the recipe!