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 Basil Chicken
- Slow Cooker Hot Chicken
Want to make more magic in your crockpot? Stay up to date and subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube.
Slow Cooker Crack Chicken
Equipment Needed:
- Slow Cooker – 4 quart or larger
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.
This was way too rich. This recipe definitely needs some sort of acid to cut through the richness. Honestly don’t know how it got this name. It’s not addictive at all.
I made this last night and loved it! Made it with chicken thighs and exactly as the recipe instructed, except I cooked it for 7.5 hours on low. Wrapped it inside a flour tortilla with some lettuce – delicious!!
I was sadly disappointed. I found the dish to be way to salty and bland.
Way too dry and not much flavor.
Well it looks like it’s official now….we must be the only family that absolutely hated this recipe!
Far too salty and dry for us. The chicken is over cooked and the “sauce” is like mud.
So disappointed that we finally fell for the hype.
To those who love it…enjoy!
We are truly thankful there are so many other choices for our family! ♂️
Was delicious. Yes, a little dry, so I added salt free chicken broth little at a time to moisten. Skip the bacon. Use a less salty cheese. Not everyone likes everything.
We ate it in tortillas with sliced tomato and lettuce.
I’ve followed this recipe step by step and have never had a problem with chicken being dry. You can add less seasoning if you’d like. This recipe is always a hit at home. I’d use non frozen ingredients if that’s the cause of it. Raw ingredients tend to absorb moisture better. I wouldn’t give up on this dish, just tweak it to your liking. That’s why I love cooking
Use thighs or the meat will be dry. Chicken breast has no moisture to give unlike thighs. Normally the folks who hate a recipe modify it in some way. Also this isn’t one of those recipes that doesn’t say to add salt so you do. The seasoning packet is salty and the bacon can be also.
This looks delicious. Could I do this with already shredded chicken? As soon as I get any chicken into the house, I slap it in my crockpot and then shred it with my KitchenAid. I put it in the freezer in meal-sized portions.
You could, just wouldn’t need to cook near as long.
Can I cook this on high?
Yes, should do fine!.
Can I start with frozen chicken breast ? Just cook longer ?
I don’t give advice for frozen meats. Some studies suggest it isn’t safe.
This dish is so easy and delicious. The second time I made it I quartered red potatoes and put on top of cream cheese. Dusted the potatoes with ranch powder and had an instant side dish. Thank you so much for the wonderful recipes!
Love this recipe
I add a pat of butter
Use 1/2 of a ranch packet
One block cream cheese
Less shredded cheddar too
Lightly Sprinkle paprika on top ( mostly for color)
Use breasts / and I don’t shred
We don’t use the bacon/ not needed at all
Weekly favorite ❣️
They don’t call it crack for nothing! This is addictive and so easy. The first time I made it, we put it on yeast rolls hot out of the oven. Eventually we just cut out the middle man and grabbed a spoon. The second time, I cooked it overnight, my teenager got up before I did. I didn’t get a single bite!
Excellent, will be having this for supper at least every other week.
can i use ranch dressing (liquid)
I have not tried, I apologize.
I have tried that in a similar recipe, it works I guess but it comes out kind of weird
I did use the liquid type Ranch and it was great! Juat added enough to cover the chicken.
It looked so much better in the pictures than it turned out. The flavor was ok but the chicken was VERY dry.
Did you use thighs? If not, that is why it was dry.
Try adding some chicken broth to keep the chicken juicy. That’s what I done with chicken breast, instead of thighs.
Pan searing or grilling the chicken for 5-6 mins on each side will help chicken to be juicy and cut down slow cooker time.
The first time I made, I used chicken breast and it was much dryer than the photos looked but the flavor was okay. I just made tonight with thighs and it was much more moist, like the photos.
Is that 690 calories per serving?
yes
Is there an option for high cooking to speed up the time or does it not turn out?
Yes, 3.5-4 hours on high.
Can you do this with frozen chicken?
Hi, I can’t recommend using frozen chicken, some studies say it’s not safe.
I’ve never heard of that. I’ve used frozen chicken in the crock pot for years.
Did not turn out well. The flavor is good but the consistency is more of a dip.
Excellent flavor but more of a dip.
I always add a cup of low sodium chicken stock so it’s not too thick. However, I use 3 lbs. boneless chicken breasts.
I loved this, as did my family. I added onion and celery. Will be a great go to!
Will leftovers work?