How To Make Slow Cooker Crack Chicken
You can also make it in a crockpot which is just as easy, albeit a few hours longer.
- In a slow cooker, place 2 pounds chicken breasts, 8 ounces cream cheese, 1 packet dry Ranch seasoning, and 1/4 cup water.
- Cook on LOW for about 6 to 8 hours or on HIGH for about 4 to 5 hours.
- When chicken is cooked, coarsely shred with two forks.
- Add 1 cup of shredded cheese, crumbled crisp bacon, and green onions.
- Give it a good stir and serve.
Ingredient Notes And Shopping Tips
- Cream Cheese: For best results use full-fat cream cheese.
- Chicken: I used chicken breasts. You could also use boneless skinless chicken thighs. You can even use frozen chicken. Just add 5 minutes to the cooking time. You may also notice it takes a bit longer to come to pressure. Grab your chicken breasts at the meat counter at your supermarket or butcher shop if possible. Most prepackaged meat will only have 3 vs. the 4 breasts you need.
- Bacon: I like using Hormel Black Label microwave bacon. It cooks quickly in the microwave, and it comes with individual packages of 4 slices each.
- Broth: I like to use bouillon cubes so you dont have to open a container of broth for just a half cup.
- Ranch Seasoning: Use homemade or storebought.
Crock Pot Crack Chicken
One of the best ways to cook crack chicken is in a crock pot. Its an ideal recipe to make for dinner when you know you wont have time to cook a homecooked meal in the evening.
Simply add three ingredients to the liner of the slow cooker in the morning before you go to work. Let cook on low for 5-6 hours.
If you have a programable crock pot, that works best because you can tell the slow cooker when to start cooking or when to keep warm.
When you get home from work, finish the recipe and dinner is served without much extra effort.
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Crack Chicken Instant Pot Recipe Tips:
- Feel free to use more or less ranch seasoning according to your taste.
- Also, I like using cheddar cheese for the sauce mixture as it has a rich and distinctive taste. However, you can use any other type of cheese.
- If the sauce is too thick, stir in a bit of broth. Alternatively, if the sauce is too runny, add some extra shredded cheese to it.
- Bacon is optional, so you can skip it if not a fan. But it goes really well in this recipe, and I highly recommend using it.
- The leftover can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days.
What Is Crack Chicken Pasta Made Of
For this recipe, we used simple ingredients to create an indulgent flavor. Heres what youll need:
- Shredded Chicken We love to keep shredded chicken on hand for salads, sandwiches, and more! You can make your own or buy it from the store. Just make sure its cooked before adding it to your Instant Pot.
- Pasta We prefer penne pasta, but any similarly shaped noodles will work. You can even use gluten-free pasta if needed!
- Broth Low sodium beef broth adds an extra rich flavor to the penne noodles.
- Cream Cheese When melted and combined with the shredded cheese, this creates the thickest, most decadent sauce ever.
- Pimentos These are a type of red chili pepper that is included to add just a hint of spice.
- Spinach Tender baby spinach adds a pop of color and extra nutrients to this indulgent dinner.
- Cheese We love to use shredded Colby Jack cheese for a bold, slightly tangy cheese sauce.
- Ranch Seasoning For quick cooking, we buy pre-made packets from our local grocery store. However, you could also make your own with a recipe like this!
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So Now To Throw Everything In The Crockpot
Simply add chicken into the crockpot along with chicken broth. Sprinkle ranch seasoning all over the chicken, followed by cream cheese . Cover the lid, and cook on HIGH for 4 hours or LOW for 6-7 hours Yup, easy!!
Some time during the day, cook the bacon and crumble to sprinkle over the finished crack chicken later.
Once chicken is cooked, shred the chicken with 2 forks right in the crock, no need to take it out to a plate to shred. Thats one less dish to wash later. Swirl it around with all the sauce.
Add in shredded cheddar cheese and bacon bits. Cover again with the lid and cook until the cheese melts into cheddary gooyiness. Sprinkle on the green onions and its ready to dig in.
Can I Freeze Crack Chicken Pasta
Yes! When stored in an airtight container, it will keep fresh for up to 2 months. To reheat your pasta, its best to let it thaw in the fridge overnight. Then, warm it in the oven at 350º Fahrenheit. However, if youre in a pinch of time, it can be reheated from frozen. The cooking time will just take longer.
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Instant Pot Cream Cheese Chicken And Pasta
If you have leftovers it saves quite well actually. You want to keep it as moist as possible so scrape out all of that wonderful sauce and pour as much of it on top. A sealed container is best but if you dont have that a freezer bag will work with all the air sucked out of it.
Transfer to a microwave safe bowl and heat in 30 second increments stirring in between so it heats evenly. It really is a complete meal so I dont really serve it with anything else but you could pair with a side salad or roll.
- We have this simple Instant Pot chicken thighs bone in recipe too
The cooking time is short so dont go far away because youll need to cook on high and do a quick release right when it beeps.
Angela’s Tips & Recipe Notes
- Your Instant Pot won’t start cooking right away, it takes some time to build up the pressure!
- Place all of the dairy products on top of the chicken when assembling, do not stir.
- If you get the burn message, add ½ cup more broth or water and seal to continue cooking.
- If you’re on a Keto diet, you can use a lettuce wrap in place of a bun!
- Try mixing in some of your favorite hot sauce if you like a kick. It’s also great with Buffalo sauce mixed in!
- It is easier to mix if you cut your cream cheese into cubes before putting it in the instant pot, but it isn’t necessary.
- If you want to make a smaller portion, simply cut all the ingredient amounts in half and you should have about 4 servings.
- Cheddar is my personal favorite, but if you don’t have cheddar cheese you can play around with different cheeses and I’m sure it will be delicious!
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Crack Chicken Noodle Soup
If you wanted to make this more as a soup I would increase the liquid by another cup. Use broth for more flavor. Or cook as is and thin it out at the end so you can taste both versions and see which you like better. Total time is about 20 minutes to prep and cook it all until done to perfection.
Time needed: 10 minutes.
Iron12%
I have not made this meal in the crock pot yet but I am sure you could precook the chicken or use a rotisserie. If youre shredding the chicken off an already cooked bird then you could skip the initial cooking step of that.
If you make it Id love to hear at what temp. you turn the pot to, and how long you cooked it for.
- The noodles wouldnt take long and would need to be added at the very end submerged in liquid. I would think 30 minutes would soften them well.
Crack Chicken Is Keto
And did I tell you these are absolutely gluten-free, low carb, and can be made keto-friendly?
This keto crack chicken recipe has nothing fried in it. Chicken and bacon have loads of protein which is your principal component of the keto diet. The carbs are very limited to what the chicken and cheese have.
Cream cheese and cheddar provide healthy fat in this recipe. All you need is some greens to go with this.
Read Also: How To Cook Frozen Chicken Thighs In The Instant Pot
To Make This Recipe You Will Need
- boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- cooked bacon or bacon bits
- ranch seasoning
- chopped green onions or parsley
- salt & pepper to taste
Im telling you- this will be your new FAVORITE!
So creamy, tender & flavorful. Each juicy bite makes your eyes roll to the back of your head. Then those pops of bacon, Im telling you my friends this is the one that you wont be able to make enough. The kids will be begging for it ALL THE TIME!
Scroll to the bottom for the Printable Recipe
What Exactly Is Crack Chicken
Any recipe or food with crack at the beginning of the name simply suggests its very addictive. Some super cheesy, creamy lusciousness.
For example, crack dip . You must be familiar with it from those potluck parties or get togethers. That dip made from cream cheese, ranch seasoning, bacon bits, cheddar and maybe mayo or sour cream. Something to keep on dipping your crackers in indefinitely.
Well, some genius must have thought to add chicken into the mix. And just like that, crack chicken was born. Easy. No culinary expertise needed here.
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What To Serve With Keto Crack Chicken
Such creamy and juicy shredded chicken allows you to get creative. Since it acts as a great filler for a bun, sandwich, or wrap, you can just layer this on a bun and add some toppings. Having it with just Garlic bread or other bread also makes this a great combo.
This also is a hit on a plate of white rice. Tastes like a million bucks. Substitute with brown rice if you are nutrient conscious.
What about noodles or pasta? I suppose that will be good too. I haven’t tried it out yet. Let me know if you make it.
If you are into Keto, just serve this crack chicken with some greens and you have your perfect combination of protein, fat, and minimal carbohydrates.
Instant Pot Crack Chicken Pasta
Tuesday, March 6, 2018
Instant Pot Crack Chicken Pasta chicken pasta loaded with cheddar, bacon and ranch! Seriously delicious! 4 minutes of cook time. We ate this two days in a row. Chicken, ranch dressing mix, bacon, chicken broth, water, cream cheese, penne pasta and cheddar cheese. Everyone cleaned their plate! Even our picky eaters!!
Remember this recipe.
How many of you LOVE the Instant Pot?!?! Ive owned one for over a year, but I just started using it. In case you arent familiar with the Instant Pot, it is an electric pressure cooker. You can cook just about anything in the Instant Pot. You can cook it fast or use it as a slow cooker.
Today I am sharing one of our favorite pasta dishes Crack Chicken Pasta. Chicken and pasta loaded with cheddar, bacon and ranch. This is seriously DELICIOUS! The best part is that it takes less than 20 minutes from start to finish. Everything cooks in the Instant Pot even the pasta! Woot Woot!
We made this Instant Pot Crack Chicken Pasta for lunch two days in a row. It was that GOOD!! I loved that I could cook everything in the Instant Pot. Only one pot to clean! I sautéed the chicken and then dumped everything else in and closed the lid. It takes the Instant Pot a few minutes to come to full steam, but once it is locked the pasta is ready in about 4 minutes. LOVE that!! Cant wait to experiment more with the Instant Pot!
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What Is The Best Way To Store Leftover Crack Chicken
After serving, place leftover crack chicken in an airtight container. Be sure to label with the date before refrigerating. This recipe should keep for up to 2 days if not left out for too long. As with most things, it is important to get food into the refrigerator within 1 hour after serving to prevent bacteria growth.
Ninja Foodi Cheesy Pasta
As noted in step 3 make sure you get all the small pcs. of cooked chicken off the bottom of your pot. If not it may trigger the burn message.
This has never happened to me but some pots are more sensitive than others and why I recommend this non stick pot. You can remove the chicken to make sure everything is off. Another tip is to make sure you quick pressure release. If not the noodles can get overdone and too soft.
If youd like a crockpot crack chicken recipe we have that too! This is a real winner using frozen chicken or fresh. Just throw it all in when you leave for the day and it literally falls apart cooking by itself all day. That is my kinda meal. Just shred when youre home, throw it on buns and you have a killer meal everyone will love.
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Can I Make Crack Chicken In An Instant Pot
Sure you can, it only takes 15 minutes.
Add chopped bacon to the instant pot and set to SAUTE mode. Cook until crisp and brown. Remove bacon and any extra fat.
Add in chicken broth, chicken and ranch seasoning. Secure lid, select MANUAL or PRESSURE COOK, and cook on high pressure for 15 minutes. Allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes. Open the lid and shred the chicken with 2 forks.
Switch to SAUTE mode again. Stir in cream cheese and mix well till it melts. Add in shredded cheddar cheese, bacon bits and cook till cheddar cheese melts a bit. Garnish with green onions and serve.
What Type Of Chicken Is Commonly Used In Crack Chicken
Lots of people make their crack chicken with chicken breasts. Its easy to shred once cooked. Today we used boneless skinless thighs, which are our favorite for their flavor and tenderness. At the end its a personal choice, or whats available in your home.
Whether you prefer white or dark meat, I do suggest boneless skinless cuts.
Check out our collection of favorite Chicken Recipes!
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What Is Crack Chicken Pasta
You may remember my Crack Chicken recipe from last year. I took the basics of that recipe, added more cheese, and pasta for a complete meal!
In the Midwest, youll be hard pressed to find any potluck or meal train without at least one chicken pasta dish. Whether its Baked Ziti or Chicken Tetrazzini, casseroles with chicken and pasta are always a hit.
Everyone has their own spin on crack chicken, but it always involves lots of cream, lots of cheese and lots of bacon. Its a simple concept that turns into a dish that no one can turn down.
Ranch dressing mix adds instant zesty flavor and few handfuls of fresh baby spinach brings the touch of green freshness to balance the heaviness of the cream cheese.
What To Serve With Crack Chicken
What I love about crack chicken is how versatile it is. You can take this recipe & serve it on a bun. That makes it quick & easy. But you could also add this to taco shells with all the taco or burrito fixings.
We also like to add a little extra moisture & serve it over a bed of rice. If you are trying to keep this on the KETO plan, then wrap it in some lettuce instead of a tortilla & you have a delicious meal.
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What Do You Eat Crack Chicken With
Crack chicken is basically a chicken filling meant to be used in sandwiches, but we can always go a step further and add crack chicken to:
- Low Carb Flour Tortillas
- You can also serve it as a dip for veggies.
Obviously, Instant Pot Crack Chicken is an easy dinner recipe, the kind of dish that requires very minimal work on your part. All you have to do is get out your Instant Pot, toss in the ingredients, and turn up the heat. Then, EAT!
Variations For This Crack Chicken Recipe
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Ultimate Instant Pot Crack Chicken
When it comes to cooking dinner, the easier the better for me. Sometimes when the time is on my side, I can spend two hours playing with a recipe, but lets be real, during the week when I have to feed a very active kid and an always hungry husband.
I am looking for quick and easy solutions. Dont take delicious out of that equation, we love good food in our house and this Instant Pot Crack Chicken is a winner dinner!
This is one of the easiest recipes you can make, and it has the magic combo of cheese and bacon, you cant go wrong with that, you can just make it better! So yes, chicken, cheese, bacon, ranch mix, and you are about to experience an amazingly creamy and cheesy dinner that will quickly become a favorite!
