Description
This Crack Chicken is an easy and quick dinner made with tender shredded chicken, creamy cheese, ranch style seasoning, cheddar, and crispy bacon. It is simple enough for weeknight dinner and meal prep while still feeling like the best cozy party or potluck idea. Serve it in buns, over rice, with potatoes, or in lettuce cups for a healthy balance.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 large chicken breasts Boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 8 ounces Cream cheese
- 2 tablespoons Ranch style seasoning
- 1/2 cup Chicken broth
- 1 cup Shredded cheddar cheese
- 6 slices chopped Cooked bacon
- 2 tablespoons sliced Green onions
Instructions
- The two chicken breasts sit in the baking dish with cream cheese added in uneven chunks over the top. The ranch style seasoning is scattered across the chicken and the broth pools around the edges so the dish already looks ready to soften as it cooks.
- The chicken turns pale and tender while the cream cheese begins melting into the broth. The sauce looks uneven and creamy around the edges with small pockets of seasoning still visible on top.
- The chicken is pulled into rough uneven strands and folded through the melted cream cheese mixture. The sauce changes from separated pockets to a thick coating that clings to the shredded chicken.
- The cheddar melts unevenly into the hot shredded chicken and creates golden cheesy patches across the top. The chopped bacon is scattered over the surface and adds crisp salty texture against the creamy chicken.
- A single portion is spooned onto a white plate with thick strands of chicken and melted cheese visible throughout. The top has scattered bacon and green onions with natural uneven edges and a homemade look.
Notes
Pro Tips:
- Use room temperature cream cheese so it melts faster and blends into a smoother sauce around the chicken.
- Do not over shred the chicken because rustic pieces make the dish look homemade and hold more creamy sauce.
- Add the cheddar after shredding so it melts into the hot chicken without drying out during the first bake.
- Save a little bacon for the top so every serving has visible crisp pieces and stronger savory flavor.
Storage: Store leftover Crack Chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Let it cool before closing the container so extra steam does not water down the creamy sauce. Reheat small portions gently in the microwave or on the stovetop with a splash of broth if needed. Freeze in sealed containers for up to 2 months though the sauce may need stirring after thawing.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Dishes
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 980mg
- Fat: 36g
- Carbohydrates: 6g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 42g
- Cholesterol: 145mg