Easy Crock Pot Crack Chicken Recipe for Busy Weeknights
Easy Crock Pot Crack Chicken is the ultimate busy weeknight dinner. After making this many times, I’ve discovered the trick to keeping it creamy and preventing it from drying out. The crispy bacon and melted cheese on top make this better than takeout. Jump to the recipe card or keep reading for my best tips. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Easy Crockpot Garlic Parmesan Chicken and Potatoes and Easy Chinese Chow Mein with Fresh Veggies in 25 Minutes.
Why This Easy Crock Pot Crack Chicken Recipe for Busy Weeknights Is Pure Comfort
- Creamy and cheesy with a hint of spice
- Crispy bacon and melted cheese on top
- Easy and hands-off cooking in the crockpot
- Better than takeout and perfect for meal prepping
What You'll Need for Easy Crock Pot Crack Chicken Recipe for Busy Weeknights
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 packet (1 oz) ranch dressing mix
- 1 packet (1 oz) au jus gravy mix
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 block (8 oz) cream cheese
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 8 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
- ranch dressing mix
- au jus gravy mix
- salt and pepper to taste
- Optional: chopped green onions
- Optional: shredded cheese for topping
📝 Ingredient Notes
- chicken breasts: You can also use chicken thighs for this recipe.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Crockpot — Hands-off cooking and perfect for busy weeknights. → See on Amazon
- Meat thermometer — Ensures chicken is cooked to a safe temperature. → See on Amazon
How to Make Easy Crock Pot Crack Chicken Recipe for Busy Weeknights
- Step 1: Place chicken breasts in the bottom of your crockpot.
- Step 2: In a bowl, mix together ranch dressing mix, au jus gravy mix, and chicken broth. Pour over chicken.
- Step 3: Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours.
- Step 4: Remove chicken from crockpot and shred with two forks. Return to crockpot.
- Step 5: Stir in cream cheese and sour cream until melted and combined. Stir in shredded cheese until melted.
- Step 6: Top with crumbled bacon and serve. Enjoy!
Cook's Tips for Perfect Easy Crock Pot Crack Chicken Recipe for Busy Weeknights
- Common mistake and fix: Don't overcook the chicken. It can become dry. Use a meat thermometer to ensure it reaches 165°F.
- Pro tip: For extra flavor, brown the chicken breasts in a pan before adding them to the crockpot.
- Pro tip: To make this recipe even creamier, you can add a can of cream of chicken soup to the crockpot with the chicken broth.
Storing & Reheating Easy Crock Pot Crack Chicken Recipe for Busy Weeknights
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Make-ahead tip: You can make this recipe ahead of time and store it in the fridge until ready to serve.
Freezing Easy Crock Pot Crack Chicken Recipe for Busy Weeknights
Freeze leftovers for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F for 15-20 minutes or until heated through. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes or until heated through.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For a spicy version, add a can of diced jalapeños to the crockpot with the chicken broth.
- Best substitution: You can substitute the ranch dressing mix and au jus gravy mix for a packet of taco seasoning for a different flavor.
- Make-ahead: This recipe can be made ahead of time and reheated in the oven or microwave.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled to feed a larger crowd.
- Troubleshooting: If the chicken is still frozen in the middle, break it up with a fork and cook for an additional 30 minutes to an hour.
Want to level up this recipe?
Crockpot liner — Makes cleanup a breeze. → Check price on Amazon
Easy Crock Pot Crack Chicken Recipe for Busy Weeknights
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 packet (1 oz) ranch dressing mix
- 1 packet (1 oz) au jus gravy mix
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 block (8 oz) cream cheese
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 8 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
Seasonings
- ranch dressing mix
- au jus gravy mix
- salt and pepper to taste
Optional Toppings
- chopped green onions
- shredded cheese for topping
Instructions
- Step 1: Place chicken breasts in the bottom of your crockpot.
- Step 2: In a bowl, mix together ranch dressing mix, au jus gravy mix, and chicken broth. Pour over chicken.
- Step 3: Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours.
- Step 4: Remove chicken from crockpot and shred with two forks. Return to crockpot.
- Step 5: Stir in cream cheese and sour cream until melted and combined. Stir in shredded cheese until melted.
- Step 6: Top with crumbled bacon and serve. Enjoy!
Notes
- Chef tip: For a spicy version, add a can of diced jalapeños to the crockpot with the chicken broth.
- Best substitution: You can substitute the ranch dressing mix and au jus gravy mix for a packet of taco seasoning for a different flavor.
- Make-ahead: This recipe can be made ahead of time and reheated in the oven or microwave.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled to feed a larger crowd.
- Troubleshooting: If the chicken is still frozen in the middle, break it up with a fork and cook for an additional 30 minutes to an hour.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Freezer: Freeze leftovers for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
- Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F for 15-20 minutes or until heated through.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes or until heated through.
- Make ahead: You can make this recipe ahead of time and store it in the fridge until ready to serve.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 520
- Protein: 42g
- Fat: 32g
- Carbs: 12g
- Fiber: 1g
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 1300mg
- Cholesterol: 145mg
- Sat. Fat: 17g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Easy Crock Pot Crack Chicken Recipe for Busy Weeknights FAQs
Yes, you can make this recipe ahead of time and store it in the fridge until ready to serve. It will keep for up to 4 days.
The chicken may have been overcooked. Use a meat thermometer to ensure it reaches 165°F and no more.
Yes, you can freeze leftovers for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
No, this recipe is best made in the crockpot for hands-off cooking.
You can substitute the ranch dressing mix for a packet of taco seasoning for a different flavor.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Easy Crock Pot Crack Chicken Recipe for Busy Weeknights and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!
