Unbelievably Easy Keto Crack Chicken Slow Cooker Recipe You'll Crave!

Slow Cooker Ranch Crack Chicken is an incredibly delicious dish filled with favorites like bacon, chicken, and gooey cheese! This easy dinner recipe, made in a slow cooker, has become all the rage on the internet. The combination of cheddar cheese, Ranch seasoning, and bacon is what makes it so irresistible. This recipe is so wonderful because you will be using simple pantry ingredients that you may already have.

What is Crack Chicken?

Any recipe or food with "crack" at the beginning of the name simply suggests it's very addictive, some super cheesy, creamy lusciousness. Think of "crack dip," a popular party appetizer made from cream cheese, ranch seasoning, bacon bits, cheddar, and maybe mayo or sour cream. Crack chicken simply adds chicken to that mix.

Why This Recipe is So Popular

There are so many reasons to love this keto crockpot crack chicken! It is so simple to make and tastes so good. It's a common adjective added to the title of recipes for anything you can't help but keep eating. The kids will like it too. Anytime you can make a meal for the whole family it is a winner! It quickly gained popularity among moms and bachelors alike. And if you look at the ingredients, you’ll see why it’s beloved by low carbers and keto followers.

Is Crack Chicken Keto-Friendly?

My husband recently started the keto diet, so I have been busy coming up with keto-friendly recipes that the whole family will love. This crack chicken is keto diet-friendly and can easily be made in a crockpot. Even if you aren't following a low-carb eating plan, you will find it delicious!

Ingredients

This recipe only requires a handful of ingredients. The first four are key ingredients to any crack chicken. After that you can take it wherever you fancy.

Read also: Easy Low-Carb Cheese Crackers

2 lbs. boneless skinless chicken thighs or breasts
1 oz. packet ranch seasoning mix or homemade keto-friendly version
16 oz. cream cheese, cut into blocks
Shredded cheddar cheese
Bacon, cooked and crumbled
Optional: Green onions, for garnish

For exact measurements, see the recipe card.

Chicken: Boneless, skinless chicken thighs are recommended for their flavor and tenderness, but chicken breasts can be used as well.
Cheese: Cream cheese and cheddar are the classic choices. You can substitute cream cheese with mascarpone or ricotta cheese. Sometimes try flavored cream cheese instead of plain.
Ranch Seasoning: It gets that popular flavor from this seasoning. You can use a packaged ranch seasoning mix, just make sure it is a keto-friendly version. Avoid anything that has wheat flour, corn starch, or added sugars in it. Or, make your own using dried parsley, chives, dill weed, garlic powder, and onion powder.
Bacon: Albeit it goes as a garnishing in the end. But it elevates the flavor in every single bite. It’s worth every bite to cook that bacon in a pan and crumble for garnishing. For keto, always avoid maple-cured bacon.

Step-by-Step Instructions

This Crockpot Crack Chicken recipe is so easy to make and so addicting!

Crock Pot Method

Spray the slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray.
Add chicken breasts to slow cooker.
Pour ranch seasoning over chicken breasts.
Cut cream cheese into blocks and cover chicken breasts. Place cream cheese cubes over everything evenly.
Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 6 hours or on high for 2-3 hours. Close the lid and cook 4-5 hours on high or 6-7 on low.
Shred chicken breasts in slow cooker. With two forks, shred the chicken and stir well to combine with the cream cheese. Shred the chicken in crock pot itself with the help of 2 forks.
Add crumbled bacon. Stir cream cheese, chicken and bacon to combine.
Sprinkle cheese on top and cover for 5 minutes or until cheese melts. Top with the shredded cheddar cheese and cover until the cheese has melted.
Garnish with diced scallion and serve. Serve over rice or cauliflower rice. Serve over rice and sprinkle over the green onions.

Instant Pot Method

Add chopped bacon to the Instant Pot and set it 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.
Open the lid and shred the chicken with 2 forks.
Switch IP to SAUTE mode again. Stir in cream cheese. Mix well till it melts.
Add in shredded cheese and bacon and cook till cheddar melts.
Switch off the IP. Serve as a dip, in sandwiches, atop pasta or rice. For keto options, serve with zoodles or use a bell pepper stuffing.

Tips for the Perfect Crack Chicken

Soften the cream cheese: Soften the cream cheese at room temperature before adding it to the pot. This helps it melt more easily and blend smoothly into the sauce.
Don't Rush the Cooking Time: The magic happens over time. Whether you’re using a crock pot or Instant Pot, resist the urge to rush the cooking process.
Garnish Generously: Don't underestimate the power of garnish. Those diced scallions add a fresh crunch and a pop of color that makes the dish not only taste incredible but also look restaurant-worthy.
A simple way to shred chicken is to use two forks. Hold one fork in each hand, and use them to pull the meat apart.

Serving Suggestions

There are so many ways to serve this dish!

Over rice or cauliflower rice: This is a classic and easy way to enjoy crack chicken.
Tacos: Fill a low-carb tortilla with crack chicken, lettuce, and shredded cheese.
Crackers: Serve with your favorite low-carb crackers as a delicious appetizer or snack.
Dip it: Cut up celery, red peppers, or your favorite vegetables, and scoop away!
Sandwiches: This is my kid's favorite way to eat it. Toast some hamburger buns or pitas, then load them up with the shredded chicken. Another favorite is making grilled crack chicken sandwiches.
Bowl: Make a bowl and serve it over rice.
Pasta & noodles: Low carb options: Serve it over your favorite salad. Or heap it up over sautéed or steamed broccoli, asparagus or green beans… all yum. Have it over cauliflower fried rice or zoodles. Try it in lettuce wraps… Everything works with this crack chicken!

Variations and Add-ins

Try some more add-ins, like spinach.
I love to take my crack chicken to the next level by topping it with BBQ sauce. The combination of flavors is simply irresistible!
Use pork instead! Even though everyone prefers to use chicken, try this recipe with a pork loin. It will shred up just as easily as the chicken and have the same light flavor too!

Leftovers and Storing

You can actually double up this keto chicken recipe and save it for future meal options. It’s a great meal prep contender. This refrigerates well for 3-4 days in an airtight container. You can also freeze it in freezer bags or containers up to a couple of months.

Just store your leftover crack chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week! You will notice that the cheese will harden as it chills. To make it melted again, just heat it up in a saucepan over low heat and it will all melt and become creamy once again.

More Keto-Friendly Crock Pot Ideas

Keto Mexican Chicken Soup is slightly-spicy with a creamy broth and it's perfect when you are craving Mexican food.
Keto Crustless Pizza Chicken Casserole tastes just like your favorite pizza, but without the crust.
Low Carb Pot Roast is a classic recipe and when you use a slow cooker, it makes a thick gravy that you can drizzle on top of mashed cauliflower.
Pork Curry has all of the best Indian spices; but since you make it in your slow cooker, it takes almost no effort to make.
Crock Pot Beef and Broccoli is another copycat recipe with traditional Asian flavors.

Read also: Magnesium Supplements for Keto

tags: #keto #cracked #chicken #slow #cooker #recipe