Crock Pot Ranch Chicken

There are a million and one ways to make chicken breast, but we think that ranch chicken deserves to be on the top of your slow cooker chicken recipes list!

Ranch chicken is a dish that was made popular in the 1950s, and it’s still hugely popular today. It's creamy, savory, and packed with flavor! And best of all, it can be made in your slow cooker, so you don't have to spend an hour or so at the stove.

The slow cooker cooks up chicken with a creamy ranch sauce made with cream of chicken soup, ranch seasoning, butter, and lots of cheese! As the chicken cooks, it soaks up all the flavor of the ranch sauce, making each bite of the chicken flavorful and juicy. All you need are some easy side dishes to serve up an easy dinner everyone will love!

Looking for more tasty ways to cook chicken in the crock pot? Try this 5 Ingredient Crock Pot Chicken & Gravy or Crock Pot Marry Me Chicken next!

Ingredients You’ll Need

• Chicken Breast: Our top choice for crock pot recipes. The slow cooker keeps the breasts moist and juicy while cooking it up fork tender. Of course, you can also use chicken thighs and just cook a bit longer. No matter which type of chicken you choose, make sure it's boneless and skinless to keep the prep at a minimum.
• Cream of Chicken Soup: Adds a creamy base to the sauce that's packed with even more chicken flavor. You can use other types of creamy soup such as cream of mushroom or celery, but they are missing that boost of chicken flavor.
• Ranch Dressing Seasoning: A simple seasoning mix that gives the chicken plenty of bold and savory flavor. If you don't have ranch seasoning on hand, use a blend of dried parsley, garlic powder, onion powder, and Italian seasoning to add flavor to the sauce.
• Worcestershire sauce: Adds a salty umami flavor to the chicken that enhances all the flavors. Coconut aminos and soy sauce are suitable substitutes though they have a slightly different flavor profile.
• Cheese: We're using a mix of shredded cheddar cheese and cream cheese for a creamier texture along with a melty cheese flavor. You can use other types of cheese if you prefer or replace the cream cheese with ricotta cheese.
• Butter: Adds rich and buttery flavor to the creamy sauce.

Variations

• Spicy: For an extra kick to your crock pot creamy ranch chicken, add some hot sauce or crushed red pepper flakes to the slow cooker before cooking. You can also add a can of green chilies or diced jalapenos over the chicken before cooking for a bit of spice.
• Crunch: Add crispy fried onions or panko breadcrumbs on top of the mozzarella cheese just before serving.
• Smoky Bacon: Sprinkle crispy cooked bacon over the top of the chicken just before adding the mozzarella cheese.
• Pork Chops: Swap the chicken breasts for tender for tender and flavorful ranch pork chops instead.

How To Make Creamy Ranch Chicken In The Crock Pot

Step 1: Prepare the chicken breast. Trim any excess fat off of the chicken breast, then pat the chicken dry with paper towels on both sides. Place them in the bottom of the crock pot.

Step 2: Assemble the creamy sauce. Add the cream of chicken, ranch seasoning, and Worcestershire sauce to a medium bowl. Whisk until it's all mixed together and pour it over the chicken breast.

Step 3: Add cheese and butter. Add the cheddar cheese, butter, and cream cheese on top of the chicken and sauce.

Step 4: Cover and cook. Cover with the lid and cook on HIGH for 2-3 hours or LOW for 5-6 hours. Top the chicken with mozzarella cheese for fifteen minutes before cook time is done.

Step 5: Whisk and serve. Remove the chicken from the slow cooker and set it aside. Whisk the sauce together until the ingredients are fully combined. Serve the chicken with the sauce over the top while hot. Enjoy!

Recipe Tips

• Trim the chicken. Make sure you trim off any extra fat on the chicken. Also, don't forget to give it a quick pat dry before adding it to the slow cooker.
• Use the right ingredients. For a thick and creamy ranch sauce, be sure to use full-fat cream of chicken soup instead of low-fat or fat-free.
• Don't overcook. Even slow cookers may result in tough and dry chicken if cooked too long. The safe internal temperature for chicken breast is 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Want a thicker sauce. If the sauce is too thin for your ranch chicken crock pot, you can thicken it up with a cornstarch slurry. Stir it into the sauce when whisking the ingredients towards the end of cooking. It will thicken as it continues to cook after you add the chicken back and top with mozzarella cheese.

Storing & Freezing

• Storing: Once your crock pot chicken ranch leftovers are completely cooled, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. You can also freeze individual portions in freezer safe bags or containers for up to 2 months.
• Reheating: The best way to reheat ranch chicken is in the slow cooker on LOW heat. Alternatively, you can reheat it in a 350-degree Fahrenheit preheated oven for 15-20 minutes or in the microwave at 30-second intervals until heated through. If it's frozen, thaw the leftovers out overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

FAQ

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