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.
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
Frequently Asked Questions
Crack chicken gets its name from the popular crack dip. It uses the same ingredients, with the addition of chicken, and something you’ll definitely request a second helping!
While chicken breasts are preferred, skinless chicken thighs can also be used.
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Keto Crack Chicken
Ingredients
For the chicken
- 4 small chicken breasts
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon oil
- 4 slices bacon chopped
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 6 ounces shredded cheese
For the cream cheese filling
- 4 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/8 teaspoon celery salt
- 1/4 teaspoon dried dill
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 200C/400F. Grease a 13 x 9-inch baking dish and set it aside.
- Pound the four chicken breasts until ¼ inch in thickness. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
- Add olive oil to the non-stick pan and place over medium heat. Add the diced bacon and cook until crispy. Remove the bacon and keep the bacon grease in the pan. Add the butter and when hot, and the chicken breasts and cook 2-3 minutes per side, until golden.
- Transfer the chicken breasts into the baking dish and pour the pan juices over them.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the cream cheese and spices until combined.
- Evenly distribute the cream cheese mixture on top of each chicken breast. Sprinkle half the cooked bacon on top, followed by the shredded cheese.
- Bake for 15 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through and the cheese has melted. Remove from the oven and serve immediately.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
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Very good eating. Calories and carbs just like I need them to be for each meal. You need to make a cookbook about the meats and veggies you cook upup, just like your sweets Books.
I loved it, my husband loved it. This was easy and I would make it again and again.
Truly appreciate the way you made this crack chicken recipe. Everything is so nicely described that really helped me. Looking forward for more such yummy recipes in future too.
Thank you so much!
I made the crack chicken tonight for dinner. As a type 2 diabetic, I am always looking for new, tasty recipes. This one fit the bill. It was really good. I will make this next week for company. I made the recipe as written with the exception of, I thought I had some frozen chicken breast in the freezer but all I had was, chicken tenders. I butcher the chicken breast myself and take the tenders off. I like mine a little bigger and use the bones and leftovers for stock. Thanks for this recipe. Looking forward to making more.
Thank you for your kind words, Mary- My father is a type 2 diabetic too and he enjoys this recipe! 🙂 More chicken dishes to come soon!
Just checking – is it mustard powder or celery salt you mix for the seasoning? Both are referenced but not together. The mustard is referenced in the paragraphs but no amount given and the celery salt is listed in the ingredients. Thanks!
Hi! Sorry, it is celery salt 🙂
Yummiest
Thank you! I made this and it was a hit!!
You mention mustard powder yet none in the ingredients?
Hi there- You can add 1/4 teaspoon to the cream cheese 🙂
omg, you are right this chicken is crack! There are few recipes that go into my recipe box after the first cooking with no alterations but this is a perfect recipe! Easy, quick to make and fantastically yummy! My husband was emphatic that it should be a regular on our dinner list. Thank You! I am going to try the Hunan Shrimp next. 🙂
20 stars omg it’s so good. I did add diced tomatoes on top along with the rest of the bacon and scallions
I forgot to hit the 5 stars, omg it was so good!!!!
Can boneless skinless chicken thighs be used instead of chicken breast?
Hi Ronda- I don’t see why not! just pat them dry and reduce the cooking time slightly 🙂
Amazing! Definitely a keeper.
What do you do with the other half of the bacon? I’m so confused. Shall I just eat it😄?
Hahaha my bad. Add it on top or snack on it 😉
I had some of the leftover ingredients and spread it over a piece of Haddock! Baked it in the oven….. the only difference is I poured the juice of one lemon on the haddock first. Then spread the “crack” on top! It’s superb!
It says ranch dressing in the title but I do not see any on the recipe. Also what do I do with the other half of bacon? Thank you