Instant Pot Crack Chicken Recipe

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Instant Pot Crack Chicken is a delicious combination of chicken breasts, cream cheese, crispy bacon, and ranch seasoning mix, all cooked together to create a creamy, cheesy, and incredibly excellent meal.

Instant Pot Crack Chicken


 

Crack Chicken in the Instant Pot

This instant pot recipe makes creamy chicken that’s comforting, hearty, low-carb, and keto friendly. It is the Instant Pot chicken recipe of our dreams! We are talking about a dinner that includes chicken + bacon + cream cheese + ranch seasoning. I meeeean… ?

Crack Chicken is great in tacos, served over plates of pasta, and in sandwiches, of course, BUT it’s also just as good (if not better) in lettuce wraps – I LOVE that lettuce wrap crunch. Or, you can serve it with a side of mashed cauliflower and zucchini noodles.

For our soccer/football/game parties, I keep it inside the Instant Pot on the “warm” function for people to scoop it onto their plates or to fill up their sandwiches.

Instant Pot Crack Chicken

If you don’t have an Instant Pot, you need one if just for this recipe, only. AND for my Instant Pot Honey Garlic Chicken.

Seriously, KETO Crack Chicken will change your life, especially when you can make it in no time because of the Instant Pot. Let me just tell you how easy this recipe is because of it.

How To Make Crack Chicken

Creamy crack chicken makes an easy low carb, Keto dinner that you’ll go back to again and again because, one, it’s delicious, but 2, everything is going into the Instant Pot for only 20-ish minutes.

  • Start heating your Instant Pot and add diced bacon; cook for a couple of minutes or to a desired crispness. Remove bacon and set aside.
  • Heat some oil in the Instant Pot and brown the chicken breasts for 2 minutes per side. You don’t have to brown the chicken – it’s up to you – but I think it’s better if you do.
Instant Pot Chicken
  • Add chicken broth to the Instant Pot, a block of cream cheese, and your ranch seasoning mix that includes; dried dill, dried chives, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
Ranch Seasoning Mix with Cream Cheese
  • Cook on HIGH PRESSURE for 12 minutes, then do a quick release.
  • Remove chicken from the Instant Pot and shred it.
Chicken Breasts in Instant Pot
  • Stir the chicken back into the Instant Pot, place the lid back on the Instant Pot (powered off), and let stand for 5 minutes to thicken the sauce.

Slow Cooker Crack Chicken

  • Add the chicken, cream cheese, and ranch seasoning to a slow cooker; cook on low for 5 to 6 hours or on high for 3 to 4 hours or until the chicken shreds easily. Once shredded, toss it back in the slow cooker and stir. Add in crumbled bacon and serve.

Tips and Variations

  • IF the sauce is too thick, stir in a little bit of chicken broth or water.
  • IF the sauce is too thin, make a slurry with cornstarch and a little cold water; mix until smooth. Stir the mixture into the hot liquid until it’s blended.
  • You can use a store-bought Ranch Seasoning packet if you want, but I suggest making it from scratch, recipe below. The store-bought stuff has too much sodium.
Instant Pot Crack Chicken Lettuce Wraps

What To Serve with Instant Pot Crack Chicken

Crack chicken is basically a chicken filling meant to be used in sandwiches, but we can always go a step further and add crack chicken to:

  • Salads
  • Lettuce Wraps
  • Low Carb Flour Tortillas
  • You can also serve it as a dip for crackers and veggies.

Obviously, this chicken is an easy dinner recipe, the kind of dish that requires very minimal work on your part. All you have to do is get out your Instant Pot, toss in the ingredients, and turn up the heat. Then, EAT! ??

Instant Pot Crack Chicken

Storing Crack Chicken

  • In the Fridge: Place leftovers in an airtight container and keep refrigerated for up to 3 days.
  • To Freeze: Let the chicken cool down completely, then transfer it to a large freezer bag or airtight container. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months. When ready to serve, remove from freezer the night before and let thaw in the fridge overnight. Reheat and serve.

More Instant Pot Chicken Recipes

ENJOY!

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4.71 from 57 votes

Instant Pot Crack Chicken

Instant Pot Crack Chicken is the delicious combination of chicken breasts, cream cheese, crispy bacon, and ranch seasoning mix, all cooked together to create a creamy, cheesy, and one incredibly awesome meal.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Resting Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4 serves

Ingredients 

  • 4 slices thick cut bacon,, diced

FOR THE CHICKEN BREASTS

  • 2 tablespoons avocado oil or olive oil
  • 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • ½ teaspoon sweet or smoked paprika
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • salt and fresh ground black pepper,, to taste

FOR THE CREAM CHEESE + RANCH SEASONING MIX

  • 8 ounces cream cheese,, room temperature
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon dried dill weed
  • ½ teaspoon dried chives
  • salt and fresh ground black pepper,, to taste
  • 1 cup chicken broth

FOR GARNISH

  • chopped fresh parsley
  • sliced green scallions
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Instructions 

  • Press the "Sauté" button on the Instant Pot and wait for it to heat up.
  • Add the diced bacon and cook for a minute or two or to a desired crispness. Remove from the Instant Pot and set it aside.
  • Heat the oil in the Instant Pot.
  • Season the chicken breasts with paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
  • Once olive oil is hot, add the chicken breasts and brown on both sides; about 2 minutes per side.
  • In the meantime, place the cream cheese in a mixing bowl and season it with garlic powder, onion powder, dried dill weed, dried chives, salt, and pepper; mix to combine. OR season the cream cheese with 1 tablespoon of store-bought Ranch Seasoning Mix.
  • On the Instant Pot, press "Cancel" to stop sautéing.
  • Add the cream cheese mixture to the Instant Pot.
  • Pour in the chicken broth.
  • Turn the pot on Manual High Pressure for 12 minutes; then do a quick release.
  • Remove the chicken, and transfer it to a cutting board to shred it with two forks or meat shredder claws.
  • Stir the shredded chicken back into the Instant Pot; place the lid back on the Instant Pot (powered off) and let stand for 5 minutes to thicken the sauce.
  • Top with previously prepared bacon, fresh parsley, and scallions.
  • Serve.

Notes

  • Ranch: Please follow the above recipe for making your own Ranch Seasoning Mix OR use 1 tablespoon of store-bought Ranch Seasoning Mix.
  • Chicken Broth: If using low-sodium chicken broth, remember that you’ll need to adjust/add more salt to your dish. You don’t want a salty flavor, but salt intensifies the flavors of the other ingredients and eliminates the bitterness.
  • Slow Cooker Method: Add the chicken breasts, cream cheese, and ranch seasoning to a slow cooker; cook on low for 5 to 6 hours or on high for 3 to 4 hours. Remove the chicken from the slow cooker and shred it. Once shredded, toss it back in the slow cooker and stir. Add in crumbled bacon and serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 471kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 35g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Cholesterol: 143mg | Sodium: 525mg | Potassium: 618mg | Fiber: 0g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 1160IU | Vitamin C: 5.4mg | Calcium: 52mg | Iron: 1.1mg

Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.

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142 Comments

  1. Kimberly Gruenberg says:

    I made this recipe last Friday and followed it exact (used smoked paprika). Friends commented it was “restaurant quality”. Served it over jasmine rice and will definitely be making it again!

  2. Melinda says:

    loved it. I added spinach at the end and in with the cream cheese mix too. It was great!

    1. Katerina says:

      Awesome! Adding spinach was a great idea for more flavor and healthiness. I’m very glad you enjoyed it! Thank YOU! 🙂