Creamy, cheesy, deliciously spicy and all cooked in your crock pot!
This Crack Chicken Crock Pot recipe is so easy and flavourful. What’s not to love?
Crack Chicken is a dish typically made with shredded chicken, cream cheese, ranch seasoning and sometimes other ingredients like bacon or cheddar cheese. In this spicy Crack Chicken Crock Pot recipe you can add extra flavour by using your own homemade ranch dressing and letting your Crock Pot do all the work for you!
The origins of Crack Chicken are not entirely clear, however it seems to have emerged as a popular dish in home kitchens across the United States and has become a viral sensation on social media.
How should you serve Crack Chicken?
You can serve your Crack Chicken Crock Pot in various ways depending on your taste and dietary restrictions. Here are some flavourful suggestions:
- Sandwiches or Wraps: Spread your Crack Chicken between toasted bread buns or wraps to make a delicious sandwich. Add lettuce, tomato, chilli or any other desired toppings for extra flavour.
- Salads: Serve your Crack Chicken over a bed of mixed greens of your choice for a hearty salad. You can add additional vegetables, nuts, seeds, or chilli to create a hearty meal.
- Baked Potatoes or Sweet Potatoes: Top baked potatoes or sweet potatoes with your Crack Chicken for a satisfying and filling meal.
- Stuffed Peppers: Fill bell peppers with your Crack Chicken and bake until the peppers are tender and the filling is heated through. This makes for a flavourful and low-carb dish.
- Pasta or Rice: Mix your Crack Chicken into cooked pasta or rice for a comforting and satisfying meal that your whole family will enjoy.
Feel free to get creative and experiment with different ideas to make this dish your own!
Can I make this Crack Chicken Crock Pot recipe healthier?
Yes, you can definitely make your Crack Chicken slightly healthier by making some ingredient substitutions. Here are some tips:
Choose Reduced-Fat Cream Cheese: Instead of regular cream cheese, use reduced-fat cream cheese to reduce the saturated fat and calories while still maintaining creaminess.
Use Homemade Ranch Dressing: Instead of store-bought ranch seasoning packets, make your own ranch dressing as suggested in this recipe. You can find my homemade ranch dressing recipe here.
Skip the Bacon or Use Turkey Bacon: Bacon adds flavour to Crack Chicken, but it’s also high in fat and calories. Consider leaving out the bacon altogether or using turkey bacon as a lower-fat alternative.
Use Reduced-Fat Cheese: Finally, if you’re using cheese in your Crack Chicken recipe, consider using a reduced-fat variety to lower the overall fat and calorie content.
How can you store my this Crack Chicken Crock Pot?
Store it in the refrigerator while making sure to use an air tight container that is tightly sealed to prevent air exposure as this can lead to faster spoilage. Crack chicken can typically be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
Reheat crack chicken thoroughly before serving. You can reheat it in the microwave, on the stovetop, or in the oven. If the crack chicken seems dry after reheating, you can add a splash of chicken broth or water to regain its creamy texture.
Can I freeze my Crack Chicken?
Due to the high dairy content, I don’t recommend freezing crack chicken as the texture will change. However, if this isn’t an issue for you, you can seal your cooled Crack Chicken in an air tight container or freezer bag. Remove as much air as possible before sealing.
Frozen crack chicken can generally last for up to 2-3 months in the freezer . When you’re ready to use it again, thaw it overnight in your refrigerator. After it is thoroughly thawed, place in the microwave or heat on the stovetop or in the oven set to 200C/400F until heated through.
Are there other varieties of Crack Chicken I could try?
Super Spicy Crack Chicken: Add some spice to your Crack Chicken by adding diced jalapeños, hot sauce, or chilli flakes. The spicy kick adds an extra layer of flavour to the dish and is of course one of my favourites.
Buffalo Crack Chicken: Inspired by buffalo chicken dip, this version includes buffalo sauce along with the usual ingredients. It has a tangy and spicy flavour that buffalo sauce lovers will enjoy. Have a go at making your own homemade Buffalo sauce here.
Mexican Crack Chicken: Infuse Mexican flavours into your crack chicken by adding Mexican season like cumin, paprika and chilli powder. Substitute the bacon and scallions for diced green chilies, black beans, corn, and shredded Mexican cheese blend. Serve it in tacos, burritos or over rice for a Tex-Mex treat.
Italian Crack Chicken: Use Italian seasoning, sun-dried tomatoes, garlic and Parmesan cheese to give crack chicken an Italian-inspired twist. This will give your Crack Chicken a rich Italian flavour similar to that of Marry Me Chicken or Marry Me Chicken Pasta.
Step by step photographs…
If you like this crack chicken recipe, you might like to try some of these too.
Marry Me Chicken
Marry Me Chicken Pasta
Chicken Changezi Curry
Doner Kebabs without Rotisserie
Air Fryer Onion Bhajis
Crock Pot Birria Tacos
Birria de Res
Air Fryer Bang Bang Chicken
Chicken Korma in the Slow Cooker
How To Cook A Top Round Roast
Soto Ayam – Easy Indonesian Chicken Noodle Soup
White Lamb Curry
Asian Chimichurri Sauce
Have you tried this crack chicken crock pot recipe?
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Prep Time
5 minutes
Cook Time
6 hours
Total Time
6 hours 5 minutes
Ingredients
- 2 lbs (1kg) skinless chicken breast
- 150g bacon
- 2-3 red chillies (optional)
- 1/2 cup (120ml) chicken stock
- 1/2 cup (120ml) ranch dressing
- 9 oz (250g) cream cheese
- 1 cup grated cheddar cheese
- 3-4 green onions
Instructions
- Sauté your bacon bits for 8 minutes or until crispy and golden then set aside. Most Crock Pots have a sauté function but if yours doesn’t have this then fry your bacon in a pan
- Place your chicken breasts in the crock pot. There is no need to clean your Crock Pot between Step 1 and Step 2 as the bacon residue will add extra flavour.
- Add the cream cheese and ranch dressing to your Crock Pot.
- Pour a splash of chicken stock in your Crock Pot, Be careful of adding too much as you want your end product to have a dip-like consistency.
- Add the red chillies to the crock pot. You can add as much or as little as you like depending on your spice preference.
- Set your crock pot to low and cook for 6-8 hours.
- Finally, serve up your Crack Chicken in a toasted brioche bun with chilli, scallions and bacon. Delicious! Alternatively see some other serving suggestions in my blog post.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4
Serving Size:
1
Amount Per Serving:
Calories: 680Total Fat: 47gSaturated Fat: 23gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 20gCholesterol: 180mgSodium: 1336mgCarbohydrates: 9gFiber: 1gSugar: 3gProtein: 54g