Healthy crack chicken is a cleaned-up version of traditional crack chicken. It’s still creamy and packed with flavor, and it is one of the easiest dinners to make!
Traditional crack chicken has been transformed into a healthier version, and it’s just as creamy and flavorful as the classic version.
What Is Crack Chicken?
Crack chicken is typically made with a ranch seasoning packet, cream cheese, bacon, and cheddar cheese. The end result is delicious creamy shredded chicken.
Instead of the ranch seasoning packet, I use my homemade ranch seasoning blend and replaced the cream cheese with a combination of cottage cheese and Greek yogurt.
Why this Recipe Works
It’s made with wholesome ingredients. Unlike cream cheese, cottage cheese and Greek yogurt have very few ingredients in them. The ranch seasoning blend is homemade with spices you most likely have on hand without additives such as MSG.
It is an easy and very versatile recipe, that’s been lightened up and can be made in a slow cooker or a pressure cooker.
It’s perfect for meal prep. There are so many ways to use this chicken, and it can easily be frozen.
Here is what you will need
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homemade ranch seasoning blend (click the link for the recipe)
boneless chicken breasts
plain Greek yogurt
small curd cottage cheese
cooked bacon, crumbled
shredded cheddar cheese, I like this handheld grater to quickly shred cheese.
green onions or chives
slow cooker or a pressure cooker
Here is How to Make Healthy Crack Chicken
This is one of the easiest recipes make! Here is how to make it:
Add the chicken to the slow cooker and sprinkle the seasoning blend on top.
Top the chicken with Greek yogurt and cottage cheese and a little more of the seasoning blend. Cover and cook.
Add the bacon crumbles and shredded cheddar cheese cover and heat until cheese melts.
Stir the cheese and bacon into the liquid mixture, shred the chicken and cook for 20 minutes longer.
Once the chicken is shredded, set the slow cooker to warm and serve. The sauce will thicken as the chicken becomes more shredded.
Please note this is a summary of steps, please see the recipe card below for detailed instructions and ingredient amounts including specific instructions for both the slow cooker and pressure cooker.
Serving Suggestions & Variations
There are so many ways to use crack chicken here are our favorites:
- Serve healthy crack chicken over a bed of steamed brown rice, cauliflower rice or a combination of both.
- Add it to your favorite garden salad.
- Make a sandwich with it, in a roll or wrap.
- Use it as a dip
- Serve it over baked potatoes or pasta.
Storing & Freezing Leftovers
Store leftover crack chicken in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days in an airtight container.
Freeze it in an airtight container for up to three months. Thaw it overnight in the refrigerator.
Reheat it on top of the stove in a coverd saucepan over low heat or in the microwave.
You Might Also Like These Slow Cooker Recipes
- Slow-Cooked Chicken Tostadas
- Mediterranean Chicken in A Slow Cooker
- Slow-Cooked Chipotle Chicken Stew
- Slow-Cooked Barbecue Pulled Pork
- Slow-Cooked Orange Cranberry Chicken
Healthy Crack Chicken
A healthier version of crack chicken is creamy and full of flavor
Ingredients
- 1 pound boneless chicken breasts
- 1 ½ tablespoons of homemade ranch season blend
- ¾ cup Greek yogurt
- ¾ cup cottage cheese
- 2 slices cooked bacon - crumbled
- ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
- a handful of chopped chives or green onion and dill for garnish (optional)
Instructions
Slow Cooker Method:
- Place the chicken breasts into a slow cooker and sprinkle 1 tablespoon of ranch season blend over them.
- Top the chicken breasts with the Greek yogurt and cottage cheese, and sprinkle the remaining half tablespoon over the top.
- Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 5 hours.
- Add the cheddar cheese and bacon bits and shred the chicken.
- Add fresh herbs and serve.
Pressure Cooker
- Place the chicken breasts in a pressure cooker and sprinkle 1 tablespoon of ranch season blend over them.
- Top the chicken breasts with the Greek yogurt and cottage cheese, and sprinkle the remaining half tablespoon over the top.
- Cover the pressure cooker and set it to medium pressure 15 minutes.
- Once the cycle is complete, quick release and carefully remove the lid.
- Add the bacon crumbles and cheese, then shred the chicken with two forks and serve.
Notes
Freeze it in an airtight container for up to three months. Thaw it overnight in the refrigerator.
Reheat it on top of the stove or in microwave.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 5Amount Per Serving: Calories: 0Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 0mgCarbohydrates: 0gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 0g
Can this be made on stovetop? Oven?
Hi Jolanta! yes you can make it in the oven. Add all of the ingredients to a dutch oven cover it, and cook it in the oven at 350 bake for 90 minutes. You probably can also cook it on top of the stove covered and simmered for although I have not tried it.
Anne, this is the best recipe for crack chicken! I made your recipe awhile back after finding that the original recipe out there has soooo much sodium and wasn’t really healthy at all I hate Greek yogurt by itself but in cooking it’s amazing and the extra protein from that and the cottage cheese made this a WINNER for my family. Lower sodium made me feel good about serving this. I made it in the slow cooker and the only change I made was to use turkey bacon as I have a non-pork eater in the house. Excellent recipe and it’s going on rotation.
Thank you Lisa, I’m glad your family liked it!