Crock Pot Crack Chicken Casserole (Print)

Creamy, cheesy slow cooker chicken with bacon, ranch flavors, and tender pasta for easy comfort food.

# Ingredient list:

→ Meats

01 - 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
02 - 8 oz bacon, cooked and crumbled

→ Dairy

03 - 8 oz cream cheese, cubed and softened
04 - 1 cup sour cream
05 - 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

→ Vegetables

06 - 1 cup frozen peas (optional)
07 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced

→ Pantry

08 - 1 (1 oz) packet ranch seasoning mix
09 - 10 oz uncooked rotini or penne pasta
10 - 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
11 - Salt and black pepper to taste

# Directions:

01 - Arrange chicken breasts in a single layer at the bottom of a 6-quart slow cooker. Sprinkle ranch seasoning evenly over the chicken, then place cream cheese cubes on top. Pour chicken broth around the chicken.
02 - Cover and cook on LOW for 4 hours (or HIGH for 2 hours) until chicken is tender and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
03 - Remove chicken from slow cooker and shred using two forks. Return shredded chicken to the slow cooker. Stir in sour cream, cooked bacon (reserving some for topping), and 1½ cups cheddar cheese until well combined.
04 - While chicken finishes cooking, bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Cook pasta for 1-2 minutes less than package directions for al dente texture. Drain well.
05 - Add cooked pasta and frozen peas (if using) to the slow cooker. Stir thoroughly to distribute all ingredients evenly.
06 - Sprinkle remaining cheddar cheese and reserved bacon over the top. Cover and cook for an additional 10 minutes until cheese is fully melted and bubbly.
07 - Garnish with thinly sliced green onions just before serving. Serve hot while cheese is melted and pasta is tender.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It's one of those rare dinners that makes people think you spent hours fussing when you barely did anything at all.
  • The combination of ranch, bacon, and melted cheese is basically impossible to resist.
02 -
  • The pasta will continue soaking up liquid, so if you're planning to keep this warm for a gathering, add about 1/4 cup more chicken broth before serving.
  • I learned the hard way that adding sour cream during the initial cooking time can cause it to separate—always stir it in at the end.
03 -
  • Use full-fat cream cheese and sour cream—light versions just don't give you that velvety texture we're after.
  • If your ranch mix seems especially salty, taste the sauce before adding any additional salt at the end.

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