This chicken dish is a super creamy ranch in flavor topped with crispy bacon and totally smothered with lots of melted cheese.
The chicken is moist bursting with fabulous flavors, its melt in your mouth tender, quite addicting, hence where that name came from being called "Crack Chicken" and we can see why.
Recently I also switched off and even tried this recipe with blue cheese, bacon, and cheddar since that's how I love my chicken, and actually this way was a huge hit also.
This recipe is so easy and perfect for a family dinner or even feeding a weekend get-together.
If you're a huge chicken fan and looking for great new recipes you will need to try this one, it's so delicious.
You may also like to try our Chicken or Pork Lombardy which is a wine-based chicken with mushrooms and also loaded with melted cheese or our Mississippi London Broil recipe for two easy delicious meals.
Scroll down to get this easily printable recipe to get started on this family-loved chicken recipe.
Easy Baked Chicken Recipes
What I love the most about this recipe is with just a few simple ingredients this turns into such a tender creamy bold-flavored chicken.
The recipe has ranch dressing, cream cheese, and a blend of yummy melted cheeses on top of thin-sliced chicken.
I can now see why it's so popular all over the net and why they call it "Crack Chicken" it's so darn addictive.
The chicken can be served with quick and easy side dishes.
Some of our favorites are Air Fried Home Fries and any kind of corn with this dish.
Tips
- after coating the pork first pat it down firming to hold flour on the pork
- season the chicken or meat using first
- preheat the oven
- make sure the cream cheese is at room temperature for easy mixing
- there are three different seasonings to choose to flavor the cream cheese, read the recipe ingredient options
- add red pepper flakes for a little heat
- this baked chicken can be frozen and made ahead of time
- for a garnish that looks pretty top with freshly chopped green onions
Tools
- 13 x 9 baking dish
- measuring spoons
- measuring cup
- bowl
- spoon
- cheese grater if using block cheeses
- knife
- cutting board
Ingredients You Will Need(scroll down to the printable recipe card for exact measurements)
- chicken, (or boneless pork, boneless steak, or turkey filets can be substituted)
- cream cheese
- granulated garlic powder
- freshly ground cracked pepper and salt to taste
- smoked paprika
- granulated garlic powder
- chopped fresh parsley
- butter
- olive oil
- dried ranch powder packet
- bacon cooked and cut in large pieces
- Optional Substitutions: if you don't have dry ranch powdered dressing use onion powder, garlic powder, dried dill weed, and dried chives
- use 2 tablespoons of ranch bottled dressing or blue cheese bottled dressing for a different flavor
- Note: when using the salad dressing substitutions I also add a pinch of granulated garlic powder to the cream cheese and freshly cracked black pepper
More Cooking Methods
- Slow Cooker "Crack Chicken": add 2 pounds of boneless chicken breasts with 2 - 16 ounce bricks of cream cheese, 1 packet of dry ranch cover, and cook on LOW or 6 hours, when chicken is completed cooking top with shredded cheese of choice and cooked crumbled bacon. This can be shredded for a dip, topping on potatoes, or put in sandwiches.
- Instant Pot "Crack Chicken": follow the same ingredients for the slow cooker method ingredients with the addition of 1/2 cup water. Place your instant pot on high pressure for 15 minutes. Do a quick release. Remove chicken only and shred with two forks. Keep your temperature on low heat. Add chicken back in. Stir in the cheese and cooked crumbled bacon.
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Crack Ranch Bacon Chicken Simple Recipe
With just a few ingredients this can be your favorite ranch cheesy bacon chicken recipe added to your collection
I really love the ease of this baked chicken breast recipe since it can be made ahead of time and frozen and it keeps in the freezer tasting freshly made for up to 3 months!
We hope you try this recipe, anyone that's a ranch lover or even blue cheese will love our addicting "Crack Chicken" recipe.
Baked Crack Chicken Breasts
Yield: 6
Prep time: 15 MinCook time: 30 MinTotal time: 45 Min
Baked Crack Chicken Breasts, or aka Ranch Chicken with Bacon, is a deliciously creamy dish loaded with melted cheese and bacon. It is also Low Carb and Keto-Friendly!
Ingredients
- 2 pounds of thinly sliced chicken breasts (1/4 inch in thickness)
- granulated garlic powder
- paprika
- 4 tablespoons canola or vegetable oil
- 2 tablespoons butter
- salt, pepper to taste
- 6 to 8 slices of cooked bacon cut into half ( we like lots of bacon you can use less if you want)
- Cream Cheese Topping:
- 8- ounce package of cream cheese at room temperature
- 1 package of ranch dry salad dressing mix ( or use 2 tablespoons of bottled salad dressing or optional 2 tablespoons blue cheese dressing for the non-ranch lovers.
- optional additions to cream cheese I use: cayenne pepper for a little heat or red pepper flakes, 1/2 teaspoon granulated garlic powder, 1 teaspoon freshly chopped parsley
- Note: For homemade ranch ingredients you can also make your own:
- Dried Powder Mix: ( adding to the cream cheese) mix in 1 teaspoon granulated garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon dried dill weed, 1/2 teaspoon dried chives, 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- Garnish with Cheese:
- 2 cups of a medley shredded or use slices of Havarti cheese, mozzarella, extra sharp cheese, and provolone, or use your favorite kind of shredded cheese.
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
- Grease or line with parchment paper a 13 x 9 casserole pan.
- Note: see below at the end for other cooking methods.
- Slice the chicken breasts into thin 1/4 thick long pieces.
- Sprinkle each with granulated garlic powder, paprika, salt, pepper evenly over the top.
- Heat a pan with the butter and oil to medium heat and cook the chicken for around 3 minutes on each side or until lightly golden brown.
- Place the cooked chicken in the prepared pan.
- For the topping:
- In a bowl mix the room temperature cream cheese with any of the above ranch listed in the ingredients section.
- Spoon around 2 tablespoons on each piece of cooked chicken.
- Top with cooked bacon and cheese.
- Bake 15 to 20 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbling.
- Other Cooking Methods:
- Slow Cooker "Crack Chicken": add 2 pounds of boneless chicken breasts with 2 - 16 ounce bricks of cream cheese, 1 packet of dry ranch cover, and cook on LOW or 6 hours, when chicken is completed cooking top with shredded cheese of choice and cooked crumbled bacon. This can be shredded for a dip, topping on potatoes, or put in sandwiches.
- Instant Pot "Crack Chicken": follow the same ingredients for the slow cooker method ingredients with the addition of 1/2 cup water. Place your instant pot on high pressure for 15 minutes. Do a quick release. Remove chicken only and shred with two forks. Keep your temperature on low heat. Add chicken back in. Stir in the cheese and cooked crumbled bacon.
Calories
747.75Fat (grams)
59.12Sat. Fat (grams)
23.75Carbs (grams)
9.68Fiber (grams)
0.80Net carbs
8.88Sugar (grams)
4.13Protein (grams)
44.08Sodium (milligrams)
1450.43Cholesterol (grams)
181.63Pin for later
Other Recipe Serving Suggestions
roasted garlic mashed potatoes
twice-baked potatoes
rice
favorite pasta
Tuscan garlic bread
roasted vegetables
