Irresistible Crack Chicken Recipe Easy Slow Cooker and Instant Pot Guide
A creamy, cheesy chicken dish with bacon and ranch seasoning that is easy to make in a slow cooker or Instant Pot. Perfect for quick weeknight dinners or feeding a crowd.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes to 6 hours (depending on method)
- Total Time: 1 hour to 6 hours
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 packet ranch seasoning mix (about 1 ounce)
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (about 115 grams)
- 1/2 cup sour cream (120 ml)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Optional fresh herbs (chopped chives or parsley for garnish)
Instructions
- Cook the bacon in a skillet over medium heat until crispy, about 8-10 minutes. Drain on paper towels and crumble once cooled.
- Trim any excess fat from the chicken breasts. Leave whole for slow cooker or cut into 1-inch pieces for Instant Pot.
- In a bowl, combine softened cream cheese, sour cream, ranch seasoning, garlic powder, and onion powder. Stir until smooth.
- Place chicken breasts in the slow cooker insert. Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly over the chicken. Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese and crumbled bacon on top. Cover with lid.
- For slow cooker: Cook on low for 5-6 hours or high for 3-4 hours until chicken reaches 165°F and is tender enough to shred.
- For Instant Pot: Place chicken pieces in the pot and spread cream cheese mixture over them. Lock lid and set to manual high pressure for 15 minutes. Allow natural pressure release for 10 minutes, then quick release remaining pressure.
- Remove chicken and shred with two forks. Return shredded chicken to the slow cooker or Instant Pot and stir until creamy and combined.
- Taste and season with salt and pepper if needed. Garnish with chopped fresh chives or parsley before serving.
Notes
Do not skip softening the cream cheese to avoid clumps. Cook bacon until crispy but not overly hard. Use fresh or fully thawed chicken for best results. Avoid opening slow cooker lid frequently. Allow natural pressure release on Instant Pot for juicy chicken. For extra melty cheese, stir in more cheddar after shredding chicken. Adjust seasoning after cooking as ranch and bacon add saltiness.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: Approximately 1/6 of
- Calories: 375
- Sugar: 1
- Sodium: 700
- Fat: 22
- Saturated Fat: 10
- Carbohydrates: 4
- Fiber: 0.5
- Protein: 35
Keywords: crack chicken, slow cooker chicken, Instant Pot chicken, creamy chicken, bacon chicken, ranch chicken, easy dinner, comfort food