Description
This Crockpot Crack Chicken recipe is a creamy, cheesy, and savory slow-cooked chicken dish packed with bacon, ranch seasoning, and melted cheese. Perfect for sandwiches or served as a hearty main, it’s an easy-to-make comfort food favorite that cooks all day in a slow cooker for tender, flavorful results.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Cheese
- 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 oz packet ranch seasoning mix
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Bacon and Garnishes
- 8 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 3 green onions, thinly sliced
Serving
- 6–8 soft sandwich buns (brioche or potato rolls)
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Place the chicken breasts in the bottom of your slow cooker in a single layer to ensure even cooking and tender shredding.
- Mix Cream Cheese and Ranch Seasoning: In a mixing bowl, blend the softened cream cheese with the ranch seasoning mix until the mixture is smooth and fully combined.
- Spread Cream Cheese Mixture: Evenly spread the cream cheese and ranch mixture over the chicken breasts in the slow cooker.
- Add Cheeses and Seasoning: Sprinkle shredded cheddar and mozzarella cheeses over the top of the cream cheese layer, then season with black pepper for added flavor.
- Cook the Chicken: Cover the slow cooker and cook on LOW for 6-7 hours or on HIGH for 3-4 hours, until the chicken is fully cooked and tender enough to shred easily.
- Cook the Bacon: While the chicken cooks, bake the bacon slices in the oven at 400°F for 15-18 minutes or until crispy. Let cool and crumble for mixing into the chicken.
- Shred the Chicken: Once the chicken is cooked, shred it directly in the slow cooker using two forks or tongs to create bite-sized pieces soaked in creamy sauce.
- Combine with Bacon and Green Onions: Stir in the crumbled bacon and thinly sliced green onions into the shredded chicken until evenly distributed and flavorful.
- Assemble and Serve: Spoon the creamy, cheesy crack chicken mixture onto soft sandwich buns and serve hot. Optionally, garnish with extra cheddar cheese or green onions for added color and taste.
Notes
- You can substitute chicken thighs for a juicier, more flavorful dish.
- For a lower fat version, use reduced-fat cream cheese and cheese.
- To make this dish gluten-free, use gluten-free sandwich buns or serve over rice or salad instead.
- This recipe freezes well—store cooled, shredded chicken in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
- Adding a splash of hot sauce or a pinch of cayenne can add a spicy kick.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 6-7 hours on LOW or 3-4 hours on HIGH
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Crockpot crack chicken, slow cooker chicken, cheesy chicken recipe, crack chicken sandwiches, easy crockpot dinner
