What is crack chicken?

Crack chicken is a creamy, cheesy chicken dish made with shredded chicken, cream cheese, ranch seasoning, bacon, and cheddar cheese. It earned its playful name because it's considered addictively delicious – one taste and you're "hooked." The combination of savory, creamy, cheesy, and smoky flavors creates a comfort food that's incredibly satisfying and versatile.

How do you make crack chicken?

You can make crack chicken using either a slow cooker or Instant Pot. For the slow cooker method, combine chicken, broth, ranch seasoning, and cream cheese, then cook on low for 6-7 hours or high for 4-5 hours. Shred the chicken, add bacon and cheddar, and continue heating until the cheese melts. For the Instant Pot method, cook bacon first, then pressure cook chicken with broth and ranch seasoning for 15 minutes. Shred the chicken, stir in cream cheese and cheddar until melted, then add the bacon back in. Both methods finish with a garnish of green onions.

Can crack chicken be made in a slow cooker or Instant Pot?

Yes, crack chicken can be made in both a slow cooker or Instant Pot. The slow cooker method takes 4-5 hours on high or 6-7 hours on low, producing extremely tender, flavor-infused chicken. The Instant Pot method significantly reduces cooking time to about 15 minutes under pressure plus prep time, making it perfect for last-minute meals while still delivering excellent results.

Is crack chicken low carb or keto-friendly?

Yes, crack chicken is naturally low carb and keto-friendly. The base recipe contains approximately 2g of net carbs per serving, making it perfect for those following ketogenic or low-carb diets. The high fat content from cream cheese, cheddar cheese, and bacon, combined with protein from chicken, creates an ideal keto macronutrient profile. You can serve it in lettuce wraps, over cauliflower rice, or with vegetable sides to maintain the low-carb profile.

What cheese is used in crack chicken?

The traditional recipe for crack chicken uses cheddar cheese, which provides the perfect melt and sharp flavor to complement the creamy elements. While sharp or medium cheddar is most commonly used, you can experiment with other melting cheeses like Monterey Jack, Colby, pepper jack (for a spicy version), or a combination of cheeses for unique flavor profiles.

Can you use chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts for crack chicken?

Absolutely! Chicken thighs work wonderfully in crack chicken and many people prefer them. Thighs tend to be more flavorful, juicier, and more forgiving if slightly overcooked compared to breasts. Boneless, skinless chicken thighs will provide a richer flavor while maintaining the ease of preparation. You can use the same cooking times and methods as specified for chicken breasts.

Best Crack Chicken: Addictive Creamy Cheesy Comfort Food

Crack Chicken

Print Recipe

Addictively delicious crack chicken combines tender shredded chicken with creamy cheese, ranch seasoning, and crispy bacon for the ultimate comfort food.

Author: Chef Rina
Prep Time: 10
Cook Time: 4 hours 30 minutes
Total Time: 4 hours 40 minutes
Yield: 6 1x
Category: Main Dish
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale

2 lbs chicken – boneless skinless thighs or breasts
1 packet (1 oz) Ranch seasoning
2 (8oz) blocks cream cheese
6 strips bacon
½ cup chicken broth
1.5 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
3 scallions, diced

Instructions

For slow cooker: Add chicken and broth to pot, sprinkle with ranch seasoning, and top with cream cheese cubes. Cook 4-5 hours on high or 6-7 on low.
Meanwhile, cook bacon until crisp and crumble it.
Once chicken is cooked, shred it in the pot using two forks.
Top with cheddar cheese and bacon, cover and cook until cheese melts.
Garnish with scallions before serving.
For Instant Pot: Sauté bacon until crisp, remove and set aside.
Add broth, chicken and ranch seasoning. Pressure cook for 15 minutes.
Shred chicken, switch to sauté mode, and stir in cream cheese until melted.
Add cheddar and bacon, cook until cheese melts.
Garnish with scallions and serve.

Notes

Nutrition facts are estimates and may vary based on ingredients used, portion sizes, and preparation methods.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 6
Calories: 520 kcal
Sugar: 2g
Sodium: 980mg
Fat: 38g
Saturated Fat: 19g
Carbohydrates: 4g
Protein: 40g
Cholesterol: 180mg

Keywords: crack chicken, ranch chicken, cream cheese chicken, keto chicken recipe, low carb chicken

Find it online: https://www.joyliciousrecipes.com/crack-chicken-recipe/