Description

This Easy Instant Pot Crack Chicken recipe is a creamy, savory dish combining tender shredded chicken, cream cheese, cheddar, bacon, and flavorful ranch seasoning. Perfectly cooked in the Instant Pot, this rich and cheesy chicken mixture makes for an indulgent sandwich filling served on hamburger buns and garnished with green onions.

Ingredients

Scale

Meats

10 slices bacon (cooked and chopped)
2.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breast

Dairy

1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, cubed
8 oz shredded cheddar cheese

Seasonings and Sauces

1 oz Ranch dressing dry seasoning mix (adjust to taste)
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon onion powder

Liquids

3/4 cup chicken broth (or water)

Other

6 hamburger buns
Chopped green onions (for garnish)

Instructions

Cook Bacon: Preheat your oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and arrange a rack in the lower third of the oven. Lay the bacon slices in a single layer on the foil-lined sheet.
Bake Bacon: Bake the bacon until deeply golden-brown and crispy, approximately 15 to 20 minutes. Begin checking around 12 minutes to avoid burning. Once crispy, remove and set aside.
Add Chicken and Cream Cheese: Place the boneless, skinless chicken breasts and cubed cream cheese into the Instant Pot.
Season and Add Broth: Sprinkle the chicken with Ranch dressing dry seasoning mix, minced garlic, onion powder, and paprika. Pour in 3/4 cup of chicken broth (or water).
Pressure Cook: Secure the lid of the Instant Pot and cook on high pressure for 10 minutes. After cooking, allow a natural pressure release for 10 minutes, then manually release any remaining pressure and open the lid.
Shred Chicken: Remove the cooked chicken from the pot and transfer to a large bowl or chopping board. Use two forks to shred the chicken finely.
Prepare Cheese Sauce: Switch the Instant Pot to Sauté mode and whisk the cream cheese and cooking liquid until smooth and combined.
Melt Cheese: Add the shredded cheddar cheese to the pot and stir until melted and fully incorporated into the sauce.
Combine Chicken and Sauce: Turn off the Instant Pot and return the shredded chicken to the pot. Stir well to coat the chicken with the cheese sauce.
Add Bacon and Serve: Stir in the chopped crispy bacon pieces. Serve the crack chicken mixture on hamburger buns, garnished with extra bacon, cheese, and chopped green onions as desired.

Notes

You can use precooked bacon or cook your own in the oven as described.
Adjust Ranch seasoning according to your taste preference.
Natural pressure release helps keep the chicken tender and juicy.
This dish works great as a dip or served over rice or salads if buns are not preferred.
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
For a thicker sauce, simmer on Sauté mode a little longer before adding cheese.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Category: Main Dish
Method: Instant Pot
Cuisine: American

Keywords: Instant Pot Crack Chicken, creamy chicken recipe, easy chicken recipes, ranch chicken, cheesy bacon chicken, comfort food