Description
Irresistible crock pot crack chicken combines tender shredded chicken with creamy cheese and ranch seasoning. Hearty comfort beckons with minimal prep for a satisfying meal that keeps friends and family coming back for more.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 lbs (907 g) boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 2 (8 oz) (226 g) blocks cream cheese, cubed
- 1 cup (113 g) shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 (1 oz) (28 g) packet ranch seasoning mix
- 8 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
- ½ cup (120 ml) sliced green onions (optional)
Instructions
- Preparation: Lightly coat 6-quart slow cooker with nonstick spray to prevent ingredient adhesion and simplify cleanup.
- Initial Layering: Position whole chicken breasts in an even, single layer at the slow cooker’s base, creating a uniform cooking surface.
- Seasoning Infusion: Liberally coat chicken with ranch seasoning, ensuring comprehensive flavor distribution across all protein surfaces.
- Creamy Base Development: Strategically place cream cheese cubes over seasoned chicken, allowing gradual melting and sauce formation during cooking process.
- Thermal Processing: Cover slow cooker and select temperature setting – low heat for 6-7 hours or high heat for 3-4 hours to achieve optimal meat tenderness.
- Protein Transformation: Utilize two forks to meticulously shred chicken within cooking vessel, integrating meat with developing creamy sauce for consistent texture.
- Flavor Enhancement: Fold crispy bacon crumbles and sharp cheddar cheese into shredded chicken mixture, promoting even ingredient dispersion and additional flavor complexity.
- Final Melding: Allow covered dish to rest 5-10 minutes, enabling cheese to melt completely and ingredients to harmonize.
- Presentation: Garnish with fresh green onions and serve warm, offering versatile accompaniment options including hamburger buns, rice, pasta, or lettuce wraps.
Notes
- Optimize Moisture Control: Use fresh chicken breasts instead of frozen to prevent excess water release, ensuring a thicker, creamier sauce consistency.
- Prevent Bland Flavor: Layer ranch seasoning generously and consider adding a pinch of garlic powder or dried herbs for deeper taste complexity.
- Master Shredding Technique: Allow chicken to rest for 10 minutes after cooking to help meat fibers separate more easily, creating smoother, more tender shreds.
- Dietary Adaptation Strategy: For low-carb versions, serve over cauliflower rice or in lettuce wraps; for dairy-free alternatives, substitute cream cheese with cashew cream or dairy-free cream cheese alternatives.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 6-7 hours
- Category: Dinner, Lunch, Appetizer
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 405
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 859 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 16 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 3 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 31 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg