Keto Crack Chicken

This keto crack chicken is an easy and addictive dinner recipe that takes less than 20 minutes to make! Chicken, bacon, two kinds of cheeses, and ranch seasoning come together to create a comforting dish that no one will know is low carb!

Keto Crack Chicken

When it comes to keto chicken recipes, my favorites to make are fried chicken, chicken parmesan, and this keto crack chicken.

I’ve never been someone to really plan dinners in advance. Unless I’m throwing a dinner party or hosting some friends, I tend to do things on the fly.

Come 5 pm, you’ll find me hovering around the fridge looking through what I have in there and what I can whip up for dinner. Chicken breast, bacon, and shredded cheese are 3 ingredients you’ll always find in my refrigerator, and 90% of the time, I use them to make crack chicken.

What is crack chicken?

As the name suggests, crack chicken is the delicious combination of chicken, bacon, cheese, and ranch seasoning, all baked together to create an easy, delicious, and filling weeknight meal. It’s the kind of dish that you’d make on a weekly basis, and something even picky eaters will enjoy (like stuffed chicken breast or bacon wrapped chicken!).

What I love about this dish is that it is accidentally keto! What I mean by that is that it uses zero carb and low carb ingredients, but you’d never tell. It’s creamy, cheesy, and comforting, and requires minimal prep. I like baking it in the oven, but you can also use a slow cooker or an instant pot if you prefer.

What is crack chicken made of?

For the chicken

• Chicken breast fillets– Either four small chicken breast fillets or two large ones that have been sliced through the middle.
• Salt and pepper– To season the chicken before pan frying them.
• Garlic powder– Adds a light garlic flavor without needing any garlic.
• Butter– To fry everything in.

For the cream cheese filling

• Cream cheese– Softened to room temperature.
• Spice mix– Onion powder, garlic powder, dried dill, salt, and mustard powder are all mixed together to create a mock ranch seasoning mix.

For the topping

• Bacon– Thick cut bacon, because what else goes well with chicken and cheese?
• Olive oil– To fry the bacon in.
• Cheese– A mix of cheddar and mozzarella cheese to cover the chicken before baking it in the oven.

How do you make crack chicken?

Start by pan-frying the bacon until fully cooked and crispy. Keep the bacon juices in the pan, add the butter and once hot, and the seasoned chicken breast fillets on it. Cook the chicken until it is no longer pink. Transfer the chicken into a 9 x 13-inch baking dish and pour the pan juices over it.

Now, whisk together the cream cheese and spice mix until combined. Evenly distribute the cream cheese mixture amongst the chicken breast fillets and spread to cover the top. Cover everything with the shredded cheese and bacon and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the cheese is golden brown.

Instant pot or slow cooker option

While I prefer the oven method for cooking this dish, you can also make it in the instant pot or the slow cooker. If you choose the slow cooker option, I recommend you shred the chicken and mix everything together, for the ultimate flavor explosion!

• Instant pot crack chicken– Prepare the cream cheese mixture and chop your bacon. Add the seasoned chicken breast fillets to the bottom of an instant pot and spread with the cream cheese. Sprinkle the bacon and shredded cheese on top and cook on high for 15 minutes. Remove the lid and let everything sit for 10 minutes before serving.
• Slow cooker crack chicken– A little bit different to the original method, as the chicken will be shredded once it has cooked. To the bottom of a slow cooker, add the chicken breast fillets, top with cream cheese and cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours. Remove the lid and use two forks to shred the chicken. Add the bacon and cheese and cover the slow cooker and let everything sit for 10 minutes, before mixing it all together and serving.

Tips to make the best recipe

• Do not over-fry your chicken. The chicken will be further cooked while it is baking in the oven. Once the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165C, it is ready to eat!
• If you don’t follow a strict keto diet, you can replace the spice mix with packaged ranch seasoning (often found in the soup or salad dressing aisle).

Storing, freezing, and reheating tips

• To store: Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator, covered, for up to 3 days.
• To freeze: Place the cooked and cooled chicken in a sealable baking dish and store it in the freezer for up to 6 months.
• Reheating: Either microwave the chicken in 20-second spurts until warm or in reheat in a preheated oven.

Keto side dish ideas to serve with crack chicken

• Potato salad
• Mac and cheese
• Pasta salad
• Cornbread
• Cauliflower mac and cheese

Frequently Asked Questions

HUNGRY FOR MORE? Subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Youtube, and Instagram for all of the latest updates.