Description
Slow-cooker ranch chicken brings zesty flavors to weeknight dinners with minimal effort. Simple ingredients and straightforward preparation ensure a delicious meal that satisfies hungry families with minimal kitchen stress.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 lb (907 g) boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- 1 (10.5 oz/298 g) can cream of chicken soup
- 8 oz (226 g) cream cheese, cubed and softened
- ½ cup (120 ml) chicken broth (optional, for thinner sauce)
- 1 (1 oz/28 g) packet ranch seasoning mix
- salt, to taste
- pepper, to taste
- chopped parsley (optional, for garnish)
- chopped green onions (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Preparation: Arrange chicken breasts evenly across the crockpot base, creating a uniform layer for consistent cooking.
- Seasoning: Liberally sprinkle ranch seasoning over chicken, ensuring comprehensive flavor distribution and thorough coating.
- Sauce Application: Layer cream of chicken soup across the seasoned meat, strategically positioning cubed cream cheese to create a rich, velvety texture that will meld during slow cooking.
- Cooking Process: Cover crockpot and allow chicken to simmer on low temperature for 5-6 hours or high for 3-4 hours, facilitating protein breakdown and flavor absorption while maintaining optimal moisture.
- Final Preparation: Gently shred chicken using two forks, integrating melted cream cheese and soup into a luxuriously smooth sauce. Adjust consistency by adding chicken broth if needed to achieve desired creaminess.
- Serving: Transfer ranch-infused chicken to a serving platter, complementing with preferred accompaniments such as rice, pasta, or roasted vegetables. Enhance presentation and flavor profile by garnishing with freshly chopped parsley or thinly sliced green onions.
Notes
- Optimize Chicken Placement: Arrange chicken breasts in a single layer without overcrowding to ensure even cooking and consistent flavor distribution.
- Control Moisture Levels: Add chicken broth gradually if sauce becomes too thick, preventing dry or overly dense texture.
- Enhance Protein Tenderness: Cook on low heat for maximum meat softness, allowing ranch seasoning and cream cheese to slowly penetrate and tenderize chicken.
- Customize Dietary Options: Substitute cream of chicken soup with low-sodium or dairy-free alternatives for gluten-sensitive or health-conscious individuals, maintaining the recipe’s rich, creamy profile.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 368
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 1064 mg
- Fat: 19 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 7 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 36 g
- Cholesterol: 103 mg