Baked Crack Chicken, also known as Ranch Chicken, is a deliciously cheesy and super creamy combination of chicken, bacon, cheese, and ranch seasoning. This easy-to-make, family-friendly meal is quick to assemble and bakes into a low-carb dinner that’s perfect for the keto dieter or simply anyone craving some flavorful food.
Easy Crack Chicken Recipe
I tried to like the original Crack Chicken recipe, which calls for shredded chicken mixed with cheese, bacon, and Ranch. And although my recipe does use most of those same simple ingredients, I just didn’t love the way it was all mushed together. That’s why I had to recreate the dish into this Baked Cracked Chicken version that is one of our new family favorites!
This recipe is so easy to make–simply coat the chicken breast with a rich layer of cream cheese mixture and seasonings, then top it with a generous helping of cheese and bacon before baking. Creamy and cheesy on the outside, tender and juicy on the inside, this Baked Crack Chicken is the ultimate low-carb, keto-friendly dish that is loaded with addictively delicious flavor for dieters and non-dieters alike!
What is Crack Chicken?
Crack chicken is called crack chicken because it’s so addictive! This delicious dish combines the perfect blend of spices and flavors – such as bacon, ranch seasoning, cream cheese, and cheddar cheese. It’s a low-carb comfort food that’s sure to please everyone in your family.
Why We Love This Chicken Crack Recipe
- Quick to prepare and easy to make.
- Delicious creamy, cheesy chicken dish.
- Addictive flavor combination of ranch, cheese, and bacon.
- Low-carb and keto-friendly.
- A perfect family-friendly, make-ahead meal.
Chicken Crack Ingredients
- Boneless skinless chicken breasts
- Chopped onion
- Minced garlic
- Ranch seasoning (dry seasoning mix in a packet)
- Kosher salt
- Black pepper
- Cream cheese, room temperature
- Canned cream of chicken soup
- Sour cream
- Shredded Monterey jack cheese
- Shredded sharp cheddar cheese – TIP: Be sure NOT to use the pre-shredded cheeses. They have additives in the bags to prevent clumping and they do not melt as well as a block of cheese that you shred yourself.
- Bacon: You will need to cook and chop your bacon prior to assembly.
- Green onion (optional garnish)
Cracked Chicken Recipe Substitutions and Additions
- Change The Cheese: Colby Jack cheese is a great alternative to the Monterey jack and cheddar cheese combination. An all cheddar cheese chicken tastes great too! You can even combine different types of cheeses like mozzarella and parmesan.
- Meat: If you prefer a different type of meat, feel free to substitute it. Turkey breast would be a great alternative. You can also use chicken thighs–just make sure they are boneless-skinless chicken thighs.
- Garnish: In addition to green onion, you can garnish the cooked meat with fresh herbs. I love a bit of fresh parsley or chives for a bright burst of flavor and color.
- Serve It Shreded: Feel free to shred your chicken and serve it as burger or sandwich filling, over pasta or rice, as a stuffings for baked potatoes, or in lettuce wraps, flatbread or tortillas.
Recommended Tools for This Recipe for Crack Chicken
- 9×13 casserole dish
- Medium-size skillet
- Measuring tools
- Aluminum foil
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How to make this Crack Chicken Recipe
Baked Crack Chicken is a deliciously cheesy and super creamy combination of chicken, bacon, cheese, and ranch seasoning. This easy-to-make, family-friendly meal is quick to assemble and bakes into a low-carb dinner that’s perfect for the keto dieter or simply anyone craving some flavorful food.
- Place chicken in prepared casserole dish and sprinkle salt and pepper on top. Set aside.
PRO-TIP: If your chicken pieces are not a uniform size, that is ok, just cut them into even sized pieces. You want your chicken pieces as evenly sized as possible so that they cook evenly when baked.
- Sauté onion and garlic just until it is translucent and softens.
- Add cream of chicken soup, cream cheese and ranch seasoning mix to the skillet with onion and garlic.
- Stir until the cream cheese is melted and all the ingredients are combined.
- Turn off the heat, add sour cream and cheddar cheese, and stir until smooth and creamy.
- Completely cover the top of each chicken breast with cream cheese mixture.
- Top with cooked bacon pieces and remaining cheese so that chicken is completely covered.
- Cover dish with foil and bake for 20 minutes.
- Remove foil, sprinkle the remaining cooked bacon over the cheesy chicken, and continue to bake for another 20 minutes, uncovered.
Pro Tip: Your chicken is cooked when it reaches 160*F internal temperature and your cheese is melted and bubbly. - Allow Baked Crack Chicken to rest, add garnish if desired, plate, serve, and enjoy!
Recipe For Crack Chicken Storage Tips
- To Store: This dish is best served hot from the oven. You can store leftovers in a covered container, in the refrigerator, for up to 3 days.
- To Freeze: You can freeze Crack Chicken before baking, although I do not recommend it (see FAQ below). Let it defrost before baking, or increase the bake time to account for the frozen chicken.
- To Reheat: To reheat your Crack Chicken, place the meat in a microwave-safe container, cover, and microwave until warm (about 2 minutes). Alternatively, you can put the chicken in a saucepan on the stovetop, cover, and warm it over low heat.
Cracked Chicken Recipe FAQs
Rumor has it that Crack Chicken is addicting, just like crack. People find the combination of ingredients addictively delicious (bacon, ranch, cheese), thus it was dubbed “crack” chicken. Try it and you’ll see why it’s so irresistible!
If you would like to make this Crack Chicken in advance, simply assemble everything in the baking dish, but don’t bake. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 to 2 days. Remove wrap and bake as directed.
I do not recommend freezing chicken dish. The texture of cream cheese changes when it is frozen. It becomes somewhat grainy and crumbly in texture and it won’t have its normal creaminess.
This chicken recipe would taste great with a side of steamed vegetables and a baked potato for a well-balanced meal. However, if you are following a low-carb or keto diet, a side salad, cauliflower rice, steamed vegetables, like broccoli or green beans, or zucchini noodles pairs well.
No, it should not be watery. It could be if you used frozen chicken.
Other Easy Chicken Recipes
- Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan
- Easy Mozzarella Chicken
- Bruschetta Chicken Pasta
- Jamaican Jerk Chicken
- Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken
- Pineapple Chicken
- Brown Sugar Chicken
- Lemon Chicken
- Not chicken, but one of our all-time favorite dinner recipes – Taco Spaghetti
- Crack Chicken Penne
- Cajun Chicken Pasta
Cracked Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 (6-8 ounce) boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 cup chopped onion
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- 1 tbsp ranch seasoning (from the packet of dry seasoning mix)
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 6 ounces cream cheese room temperature
- ½ cup canned cream of chicken soup
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 1 cup shredded monterey jack cheese
- 1½ cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese divided
- ¾ cup cooked chopped bacon divided
- 2 tbsp chopped green onion optional garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly spray a 9×13 casserole dish with cooking spray.
- Place your chicken breast in an even layer on the bottom of your prepared dish. Evenly sprinkle the salt and pepper on top of your chicken breast. Set aside.
- In a medium skillet, on medium heat, saute your onion and garlic just until it is translucent and beginning to soften. This will take 2-3 minutes.
- Once your onions and garlic are cooked, add your cream of chicken soup, cream cheese and dry ranch seasoning mix. Stir them until the cream cheese is melted and all the ingredients are completely incorporated.
- Turn off the heat to your skillet and add your sour cream and ½ cup of the shredded cheddar cheese. Stir until smooth and creamy.
- Divide your cream cheese mixture evenly and top each chicken breast. Spread out the cream cheese mixture so that your chicken breasts are completely covered. Top your cream cheese covered chicken with ½ cup of your cooked and chopped bacon pieces.
- With your remaining cheddar and monterey jack cheese, evenly cover your chicken breast.
- Cover your dish with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove your aluminum foil and sprinkle the cheesy chicken breasts with the remaining ¼ cup of cooked and chopped bacon. Continue to bake for another 20 minutes, uncovered, or until your chicken is cooked through (160*F internal temperature) and your cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Allow your Baked Crack Chicken to rest for 5 minutes before serving. **At this point you can add your chopped green onions for garnish if desired**
Jenn’s Notes
- To Store: This dish is best served hot from the oven. You can store leftovers in a covered container, in the refrigerator, for up to 3 days.
- To Freeze: You can freeze Crack Chicken before baking, although I do not recommend it (see FAQ below). Let it defrost before baking, or increase the bake time to account for the frozen chicken.
- To Reheat: To reheat your Crack Chicken, place the meat in a microwave-safe container, cover, and microwave until warm (about 2 minutes). Alternatively, you can put the chicken in a saucepan on the stovetop, cover, and warm it over low heat.
- If your chicken pieces are not a uniform size, that is ok, just cut them into even sized pieces. You want your chicken pieces as evenly sized as possible so that they cook evenly when baked.
- Be sure NOT to use the pre-shredded cheeses. They have additives in the bags to prevent clumping and they do not melt as well as a block of cheese that you shred yourself.
this sound so delicious, I can’t wait to try it!
Nutrition/ carbs??
Can I use precooked chicken breasts?
I have not tried this recipe with precooked chicken breasts.
I made it in my Instapot. Sautéed onions in the pot, put in the chicken, threw everything on top, set it on high for 15 minutes and it was perfect!