This easy crockpot recipe is perfect for sandwiches or spooning over rice. It's great for busy weeknights!
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❤️ Why you'll love it
- You only need five simple ingredients
- Feeds the entire family with just minutes of prep time
- Zingy ranch flavor is always a huge hit
Crock pot creamy ranch chicken is one of those hearty, comforting dinners that taste so satisfying after long days at work or school. It's a great recipe for times when you don't feel like cooking, but still want to enjoy a delicious meal.
🧾 Ingredients
This is an overview of the ingredients. You'll find the full measurements and instructions in the green recipe card (printable) at the bottom of the page.
🔪 Instructions
This is an overview of the instructions. Full instructions are in the green recipe card at the bottom of the page.
- Place chicken in a greased slow cooker.
- Add the cubed block of cream cheese and chiles.
- Top with the ranch seasoning mix and chicken broth.
- Cook on low heat for 6-8 hours. Shred, stir, and serve.
🥫 Storage
Here's a hint: with a family favorite, delicious recipe like this one, make extra! It stores super well and is a great way to meal prep for busy days.
Once the leftover creamy ranch chicken cools, spoon it into an airtight container. It'll last in the refrigerator for up to four days.
To reheat the easy meal, spoon some chicken into a microwave-safe dish. Heat it in 30-second increments in the microwave until warm.
📖 Variations
- Instead of skinless chicken breasts, you can use boneless, skinless chicken thighs. Dark meat is extra juicy.
- Use pork chops instead of chicken. Cook on low for 5-6 hours.
- Like it spicy? Add a can of Rotel tomatoes.
- Slow cooker creamy ranch chicken is an easy recipe for preparing raw meat, but you can make it with pre-cooked, shredded chicken, too. Just mix everything in a large pot on the stove until melty and warm.
- If you're out of cream cheese, you can swap it for a cream of chicken soup. Cream of mushroom is good, too, and adds a different flavor.
- If you don't have chicken stock, just use water and a bouillon cube, or just plain water (or skim milk) if you're really in a pinch.
- Sometimes, we'll add a little extra cheese depending on what I'm serving with the main dish. Cheddar cheese and swiss pair super well with the chiles. We also like the sharpness of grated parmesan cheese.
- Stir in some corn, diced peppers/onions, or peas.
- Don't forget the garnish! Green onions, chives, and parsley pair really well with the flavors in the ranch dressing mix.
💭 Things to know
Expert Tip: Use crock pot liners if you don't want to deal with any cleanup! I don't use them all the time, but it's a major help on busy weeknights.
- Ranch mix is often found near the dressing section. However, look for small packets of gravy and seasonings. You want to use a ranch packet, not a bottle of ranch in this recipe.
- I prefer thick boneless skinless breasts over the thin cutlets of chicken. They cook a little better and don't dry out as quickly, so I know I'll have super tender chicken without worrying about the cook times.
- There are so many different ways to serve this easy slow cooker recipe. We love creamy ranch chicken sandwiches with fries and some fruit.
- Sometimes, we'll dump the creamy chicken over a mound of white or brown rice and serve it with lots of veggies—it pairs well with anything!
- You can even stir in some pasta. Just add a little extra chicken broth or a splash of whole milk until the sauce mixture loosens up to coat the noodles, too.
👩🍳 FAQs
Check with your crockpot manual for the best answer. Many slow cookers caution against using frozen meat because the "low and slow" cooking process doesn't bring it to a safe temperature.
I don't recommend it. Slow cooker ranch chicken is made with cream cheese, which loses quality after thawing. While it would all be safe to eat, it definitely isn't as tasty.
Not really! They'll add a bit of flavor, but the cream cheese helps to balance out and cool down any spiciness. The chiles are a Tex-Mex touch that makes this wonderful recipe extra scrumptious!
📚 Related recipes
- Chicken Bacon and Ranch Pasta—the title describes the easy recipe perfectly, in all its creamy, tender, flavorful goodness.
- Meat, potatoes, veggies, and sauce all cook together so you can feed the whole family in minutes with Crockpot Ranch Chicken with Potatoes.
- Super versatile for storage, making ahead, and freezing, King Ranch Chicken Casserole is a Southern family staple that everyone loves!
🍽️ Serve with...
🥄 Restless Chipotle recommends
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📞 The last word
The first time I made this recipe I was not super impressed by the look of it but once I piled it on a sandwich roll I was totally hooked. Now it's one of my favorite sandwiches.
If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need. Don't forget that you can click on "add to collection" to save it to your own, private recipe box!
If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Creamy Ranch Chicken
Print Pin Recipe SaveEquipment Needed
Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken breasts, or thighs; boneless skinless
- 8 ounces cream cheese
- 4 ounces chiles, undrained
- ¼ cup chicken stock
- 1 ounce Ranch seasoning
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Instructions
- Cube cream cheese.
- Spray slow cooker with no-stick cooking spray.
- Add chicken breasts.
- Top with cream cheese ahd chiles.
- Add Ranch seasoning and chicken stock.
- Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours.
- Serve in sandwich buns, over rice, or over mashed potatoes.
Notes
- Like it spicy? Add a can of Rotel tomatoes.
- Use crock pot liners if you don't want to deal with any cleanup! I don't use them all the time, but it's a major help on busy weeknights.
- Ranch mix is often found near the dressing section. However, look for small packets of gravy and seasonings. You want to use a ranch packet, not a bottle of ranch in this recipe.
- I prefer thick boneless skinless breasts over the thin cutlets of chicken. They cook a little better and don't dry out as quickly, so I know I'll have super tender chicken without worrying about the cook times.
- There are so many different ways to serve this easy slow cooker recipe. We love creamy ranch chicken sandwiches with fries and some fruit.
- Sometimes, we'll dump the creamy chicken over a mound of white or brown rice and serve it with lots of veggies—it pairs well with anything!
- You can even stir in some pasta. Just add a little extra chicken broth or a splash of whole milk until the sauce mixture loosens up to coat the noodles, too.
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