Description
Crack Chicken is a delicious and comforting dish featuring tender, seasoned chicken breasts topped with a creamy ranch and cream cheese mixture, crispy bacon, and melted cheddar cheese. Baked to perfection, this recipe offers a rich and savory flavor profile that’s perfect for a family dinner or a casual gathering.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Bacon
- 4 slices thick-cut bacon, diced
Chicken
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (total 1 pound), pounded to 1/4-inch thickness
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked or sweet paprika
Ranch Cream Cheese Mixture
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon dried dill weed
- 1/2 teaspoon dried chives
- 4 ounces shredded cheddar cheese (white or yellow, or a mix of both)
Garnish
- Chopped fresh parsley
- Sliced green scallions
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 400˚F and lightly grease a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray. Set it aside for later use.
- Cook the bacon: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the diced bacon. Cook until the bacon is crispy. Remove the bacon from the skillet and set aside, but do not discard the bacon fat.
- Prepare the chicken: Return the skillet to the heat and add vegetable oil to the remaining bacon fat. Pound the chicken breasts to a thickness of ¼-inch to ½-inch. Season both sides with salt, freshly ground black pepper, garlic powder, and paprika.
- Sear the chicken: Add the chicken breasts to the hot skillet (in batches if necessary). Cook for 2 to 3 minutes until the bottom side is golden brown. Flip the chicken breasts, add butter to the skillet, and cook for another 2 minutes until browned on the other side.
- Arrange chicken for baking: Remove the chicken from the skillet and place them in the prepared baking dish. Set aside.
- Make the ranch cream cheese topping: In a small bowl, combine softened cream cheese with garlic powder, onion powder, dried dill weed, and dried chives. Mix thoroughly until well combined. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
- Top the chicken: Spread 2 tablespoons of the cream cheese mixture evenly over each chicken breast.
- Add bacon and cheese: Sprinkle half of the cooked, diced bacon on top of the cream cheese layer on each chicken breast. Then sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese evenly over all the chicken breasts.
- Bake: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake uncovered for 15 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through, and the cheese is melted and lightly browned.
- Garnish and serve: Remove the dish from the oven, garnish with the remaining crispy bacon, chopped fresh parsley, and sliced green scallions. Serve warm.
Notes
- You can adjust the seasoning in the cream cheese mixture according to your taste preferences or dietary needs.
- If you prefer a spicier version, add a pinch of cayenne pepper or crushed red pepper flakes to the seasoning.
- To ensure even cooking, pound chicken breasts to an even thickness before cooking.
- This dish pairs well with steamed vegetables, rice, or a fresh green salad.
