Instant Pot Crack Chicken
Creamy ranch chicken, smoky bacon, and tons of cheese come together in this Instant Pot Crack Chicken recipe. It is easy to make and cooks in just 15 minutes.
I love making comfort food like Beef Stew, chicken and dumplings, mashed potatoes, pot roast, and Loaded Potato Soup in my Instant Pot. This Crack Chicken is a new favorite. One bite and you'll find out how it got its name. It is made with crunchy bacon, gooey cheese, and creamy ranch flavors. It's so addicting I keep going back for just one more bite. It is truly one of the best things you can do with boneless skinless chicken breasts. It is perfect for weeknight dinners, or for watching for the big game.
Best of all, the Instant Pot makes prep and clean-up a breeze, and I love how fast it cooks.
Ingredient Notes and Shopping Tips
- Cream Cheese: For best results, use full-fat cream cheese.
- Chicken: I used chicken breasts. If possible, grab your chicken breasts at the meat counter at your supermarket or butcher shop. Most prepackaged meat has only three breasts in a package. This recipe calls for four breasts.
- You can also use boneless skinless thighs if desired.
- Bacon: I like using Hormel Black Label microwave bacon. It cooks quickly in the microwave and tastes amazing.
- Broth: I like to use bouillon cubes, so I don't have to open a container of broth for just a half cup.
- Ranch Seasoning: Look for this in the salad dressing aisle. You can use homemade, too.
Hate Mayo?
You can leave it out or replace with an equal amount of ranch or Caesar dressing.
️Tips and Tricks️
- Lock the Lid: Always be sure to line up the Triangles on the left-hand side, and then turn the lid clockwise to lock it in place.
- Steam is Normal: Don't be alarmed if steam exits the pressure valve while the pot is coming up to pressure, this is normal.
- Natural Release: Natural release means to let the pot sit after the timer goes off before releasing the pressure valve. This will allow the chicken to continue cooking and produce less steam. It also leads to moister, juicier meats. Quick releases can cause the muscle fibers to contract making it tough and rubbery.
- Cool feature: Don't worry about setting a timer, the Instant Pot will automatically begin to count up.
- Texture: If the sauce is too thick, stir in chicken broth a little at a time.
- If it is too thin, stir in a small amount of cornstarch dissolved in water.
- Quickly Shred Chicken: Use one fork to hold the chicken in place and the other to pull the meat apart.
- A food processor or hand mixer will also work well, just be careful the chicken is hot!
Food Safety:
Chicken is done when the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees or more.
Serving Suggestions
- Buns: Place inside sandwich or slider buns.
- Tortillas: Roll up into a wrap, pinwheels, or put inside a quesadilla.
- Serve over pasta or rice.
- Low-Carb Ideas: Serve over zucchini noodles, cauliflower rice, or inside lettuce wraps.
❓Frequently Asked Questions❓
Use the manual button instead, it does the same thing.
Yes, but add 1-2 minutes to the cooking time. When using frozen chicken, it may take a little longer for it to come up to pressure.
Yes, but the crockpot will cook the chicken and sauce simultaneously, so we need to use less liquid.
Follow the instructions below:
Prep: Place 4 chicken breasts in the bottom of the crockpot. Sprinkle with 1 envelope of ranch powder, and 8 ounces of cubed cream cheese.
Cook: Cook on low for 6-8 hours, or high for 3-4 hours.
Serve: Shred, and then stir in 1 cup of Mayonnaise.
More Chicken Recipes I Love
For even more delicious recipes, you may like these:
📖 Recipe
Easy Instant Pot Crack Chicken
Want to Save This Recipe?
Enter your email & I'll send it to your inbox. Plus, get great new recipes from me every week!
Ingredients
- 8 Slices Bacon Cooked Crisp
- 4 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast
- ½ Cup Chicken Broth
- 1 Package Ranch Dressing Mix
- 8 Ounces Cream Cheese
- 1 Cup Mayonnaise
- 2 Cups Cheddar Cheese Shredded
- Green Onions For Garnish If Desired
Instructions
- Place chicken and cream cheese into Instant Pot.
- Pour in chicken broth and sprinkle with ranch powder.
- Seal lid,and cook on manual mode (also called Pressure Cook) for 15 minutes.
- Allow pressure to release for 5 minutes naturally, and then do a quick release(Open the valve).
- Remove chicken from Instant Pot, and shred.
- Switch Instant Pot to saute mode. Whisk cream cheese, and mayonnaise until thickened.Add in shredded chicken, and stir until combined.
- Serve with shredded cheese, bacon, and green onions.
- We served ours in sandwiches, but it also tastes amazing over pasta or rice!
Notes
-
- Cream Cheese: For best results, use full-fat cream cheese.
-
- Bacon: I like using Hormel Black Label microwave bacon.
-
- Mayo: Hate mayo? You can leave this out.
-
- Broth: I like to use bouillon cubes, so I don't have to open a container of broth for just a half cup.
-
- Ranch Seasoning: Look for this in the salad dressing aisle.
- Lock the Lid: Always be sure to line up the Triangles on the left-hand side, and then turn the lid clockwise to lock it in place.
- Steam is Normal: Don't be alarmed if steam exits the pressure valve while the pot is coming up to pressure, this is normal.
- Natural Release: Natural release means to let the pot sit after the timer goes off before releasing the pressure valve.
- Texture: If the sauce is too thick, stir in chicken broth a little at a time.
- If it is too thin, stir in a small amount of cornstarch dissolved in water.
- Quickly Shred Chicken: Use one fork to hold the chicken in place and the other to pull the meat apart.
- A food processor or hand mixer will also work well, just be careful the chicken is hot!
- Food Safety: Chicken is done when the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees or more.
Nutrition
Wow, the Instant Pot Crack Chicken turned out to be a family favorite instantly! Creamy, cheesy, and packed with flavor, it’s perfect for a quick, no-fuss dinner. Plus, cleanup was a breeze.
I’ve heard of crack chicken but I’ve never had it before. I’ll have to give it a try soon. I’m always looking for new recipes and ideas.
I just put this in the instant pot for dinner! We needed simple for a busy night and this is always the best!
This is one of my go to meals on busy weeknights! It's always a hit and such a quick and easy dinner to make!
Oh man this really hit the spot. Made it last night for a family party. Thanks a bunch!
I just prepared these and everyone can't get enough of them! It's so simple but so tasty! I'm so thrilled to prepare this again!
This dish is perfectly named! I could not get enough of it!
I mean, honestly, how can you ever go wrong with anything involving bacon and ranch? I made these last night with some air-fried potato wedges, and they were a HUGE hit.
Do you put the cream cheese in first with the chicken ? Or after. Directions are confusing
Hi Sarina,
I'm sorry for any confusion. You add it after cooking.
This recipe was so good! What is a serving size and what did you use to calculate the protein grams (i.e. just chicken and bacon, chicken, bacon and mayo, etc.) I just did my own figuring and in one cup I got 42 g of protein and 7 servings in recipe
Hi Valerie,
The nutrition comes by dividing the nutrition of the whole recipe by the number of servings. I'm not a nutritionist and these numbers can vary depending on what app or website you use.
Great recipe! I see that it's 6 servings, but are the nutritional values per 1 serving or all 6 total? Trying to calculate for app. Thank you!
Hi Misty,
Great question. The values are for each serving. Please note I'm not a nutritionist and just calculate to the best of my ability. If any of these numbers are super important to your health or wellbeing please do your due diligence.
I've never used mayonnaise to make Crack Chicken before. Why use it?
I love the creaminess and tang. Feel free to leave it out if you don't like it.
Can this recipe be done in a slow Cooker? How can I get the recipe for the slow Cooker? Happy Holidays and thank you for your help and time.
Hi Michelle,
We've only tried the recipe in the instant pot. If you're looking to make it in a slower cooker I'd seek out a recipe just for that. I'd hate speculate and lead you astray.
I love how easy this is to make! So good!
My family and I loved making this recipe! We love getting our instant pot out for recipes. Definitely, one of our favorites to make for lunch! We'll be making this again very soon! Great flavors and we just LOVE bacon!