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Crack Chicken Recipe

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★★★★★

4.6 from 83 reviews

Crack Chicken is a deliciously creamy, cheesy baked chicken dish featuring tender boneless skinless chicken breasts topped with a savory cream cheese mixture, crispy bacon, and melted cheddar cheese. This comforting meal combines smoky, tangy, and rich flavors, finished with fresh parsley and scallions for a vibrant garnish. Perfect for an easy weeknight dinner that feels indulgent yet simple to prepare.

Ingredients

Scale

Bacon

  • 4 slices thick cut bacon, diced

For the Chicken

  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 4 (1-pound total) boneless skinless chicken breasts, pounded to ¼-inch thickness
  • Salt, to taste
  • Fresh ground pepper, to taste
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon smoked or sweet paprika

For the Ranch Cream Cheese

  • 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon onion powder
  • ¼ teaspoon dried dill weed
  • ½ teaspoon dried chives
  • 4 ounces shredded cheddar cheese, white or yellow (or a mix of both)

For Garnish

  • Chopped fresh parsley
  • Sliced green scallions

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 400˚F to prepare for baking the chicken later.
  2. Prepare Baking Dish: Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray and set it aside.
  3. Cook Bacon: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add the diced bacon and cook until crispy. Remove bacon pieces and set aside, but keep the rendered bacon fat in the skillet.
  4. Heat Oil: Return the skillet to heat and add 1 tablespoon vegetable oil to the bacon fat remaining in the pan for added flavor and to prevent sticking.
  5. Prepare Chicken: Pound the chicken breasts to about ¼-inch to ½-inch thickness. Season both sides generously with salt, freshly ground pepper, garlic powder, and smoked or sweet paprika.
  6. Sear Chicken: Add the chicken breasts to the hot oil in the skillet. If there isn’t enough room, cook in batches. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes without moving to allow golden browning on the underside.
  7. Flip and Add Butter: Flip the chicken breasts, add 1 tablespoon butter to the skillet, and cook the chicken for another 2 minutes or until the second side is browned.
  8. Transfer Chicken: Remove the chicken breasts from the skillet and arrange them in the prepared baking dish. Set aside.
  9. Make Cream Cheese Mixture: In a small bowl, combine softened cream cheese, garlic powder, onion powder, dried dill weed, and dried chives. Mix thoroughly until smooth and well blended. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
  10. Spread Cream Cheese: Spoon about 2 tablespoons of the cream cheese mixture onto each chicken breast and spread evenly to coat the surface.
  11. Add Bacon: Sprinkle half of the crispy diced bacon evenly over the cream cheese on top of the chicken breasts.
  12. Top with Cheese: Generously sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese over the top of each chicken breast.
  13. Bake: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake uncovered for 15 minutes, or until the chicken is fully cooked through and the cheese is melted and lightly browned.
  14. Garnish and Serve: Remove the dish from the oven. Garnish with the remaining crispy bacon pieces, freshly chopped parsley, and sliced green scallions. Serve warm and enjoy!

Notes

  • Pound the chicken to an even thickness so it cooks evenly and stays juicy.
  • If you prefer a stronger ranch flavor, you can add a pinch more dried dill or chives to the cream cheese mixture.
  • Use thick-cut bacon for crispier texture and richer flavor.
  • Cooking the bacon in advance and using the rendered fat adds extra flavor to the chicken when searing.
  • Feel free to substitute cheddar cheese with mozzarella or pepper jack for a different cheese profile.
  • For a lower-fat version, use reduced-fat cream cheese and cheese, and bake instead of frying the chicken.

Keywords: Crack Chicken, creamy chicken recipe, cheesy baked chicken, bacon chicken, easy chicken dinner, ranch chicken, comfort food

Find it online: https://islawhite.com/crack-chicken-recipe/