Instant Pot Crack Chicken is an easy recipe that combines chicken breasts, cream cheese, cheddar cheese, crispy bacon, and a homemade ranch seasoning mix. This creamy crack chicken makes an easy gluten-free, low carb, Keto dinner that everyone will enjoy! The recipe also includes a dairy-free option.
Disclosure: This recipe is sponsored by Schär. The opinions are my own.
Instant Pot Crack Chicken
I ADORE my Instant Pot! It has been such a time saver for me. I can make meals quickly, and it makes enough for my large family as well.
We eat a lot of chicken in my house, and I make a lot of Instant Pot Chicken recipes. One of my favorite easy Instant Pot recipes to make is shredded chicken.
I wanted to take my shredded chicken recipe to the whole next level, so I made crack chicken.
What Is Crack Chicken?
Crack chicken is shredded chicken made with a creamy cheese sauce with ranch seasoning and crispy bacon.
Homemade ranch seasoning, creamy cheeses, crispy bacon, and chicken all in one dish, who could ask for more? Know what is awesome about crack chicken? My recipe is also naturally gluten-free!
You can see just how easy this crack chicken is to make in the recipe video.
Crack chicken is naturally gluten-free. It’s even better made with my homemade Ranch seasoning blend.
Making your own Ranch seasoning blend is super easy! I bet you have everything you need right in your pantry.
If you want to use a packaged Ranch seasoning mix, check the label to make sure it is also gluten-free. If you are also dairy-free, you will not be able to use packaged Ranch seasoning since they usually contain buttermilk.
How To Make Instant Pot Crack Chicken
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Add the olive oil to the bottom of the Instant Pot.
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Place the chicken breasts into the pot. (photo 1)
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Add the dried dill, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper to a small bowl and combine. Sprinkle the seasoning blend over the chicken breasts. (photo 2)
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Add the cream cheese in an even layer over the chicken breasts. (photo 3)
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Pour the water into the pot. Place the lid on the Instant Pot and make sure the valve is turned to seal.
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Using the display panel, select the MANUAL and use the +/- buttons and program the Instant Pot for 15 minutes.
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When the time is up, quick-release the remaining pressure. (photo 4)
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Open the lid and remove the chicken and shred on a cutting board.
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Using the display panel, select CANCEL and then SAUTE. Whisk the cream cheese mixture thoroughly to break up any remaining cream cheese pieces to make the sauce. (photo 5)
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Return the shredded chicken to the pot. (photo 6)
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Add the cheddar cheese and bacon. Mix thoroughly and then turn the pot off. (photo 7)
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Sprinkle with green onions and serve. (photo 8)
Can You Use Frozen Chicken For Crack Chicken?
Yes, you can use frozen chicken for your crack chicken in the Instant Pot. You will need to add 5 more minutes to the cooking time, making it 20 minutes.
How To Serve Crack Chicken?
My favorite way to eat crack chicken is on a Schär Ciabatta Roll. The gluten-free Ciabatta rolls are super soft and will not crumble while you are eating them.
The Schär Ciabatta Rolls are not only certified gluten-free but also dairy-free, preservative-free and, Non-GMO. Schär has a whole line of certified gluten-free bread, buns, rolls, crackers, cookies, pizza crust and so much more.
I also love that I am able to find my favorite Schär products at my local Walmart. You can also buy their gluten-free products in their online store or use their store finder to see where you can find their products near you.
Crack chicken is also perfect for making wraps. You can use gluten-free wraps, lettuce for lettuce wraps (for low carb/keto) or any other kind of wrap you prefer.
Crack chicken also makes an awesome dip. You could serve it with corn chips, gluten-free crackers (like Schär’s Entertainment Crackers), or veggies.
Dairy-Free Crack Chicken
Not only am I gluten-free, but I am also dairy-free, so I always try and have a dairy-free option for my recipes. Actually there are 3 of us in my family that are both gluten-free and dairy-free.
This crack chicken recipe was easily made dairy-free by using dairy-free cream cheese and dairy-free cheddar cheese shreds.
If you do not have dairy-free cream cheese, you can substitute ½ cup mayonnaise. Just skip the cream cheese step in the recipe.
Once the chicken is cooked, drain ½ of liquid out of the pot. Turn the Instant Pot to SAUTE.
Add the mayonnaise and whisk together with the liquid until a sauce forms. Add the shredded chicken back into the pot along with the dairy-free cheddar cheese and bacon.
Stir until the cheese has melted. Turn the pot off and Sprinkle with green onions and serve.
Is Crack Chicken Keto or Low Carb?
Yes, this crack chicken recipe is low carb and keto friendly! The cheddar cheese, cream cheese, and bacon provide plenty of fat, and each serving has only 4 grams of carbs.
If you are following a low carb or the Keto diet, you can serve it on lettuce wraps or over zucchini noodles. Crack chicken is low carb and Keto friendly, but it is not low in calories.
Can You Freeze Crack Chicken?
Yes, crack chicken is easy to freeze. Once the chicken is completely cooled, place in a freezer bag. When ready to serve, thaw in the refrigerator overnight and reheat it in the microwave.
What Goes With Crack Chicken?
Here are some ideas to serve with this gluten-free crack chicken recipe.
Easy Gluten-Free Dinner Recipe
Making dinner does not get any easier than this! All of the ingredients go right into the Instant Pot for a quick and no-fuss gluten-free chicken recipe.
Crack chicken is so full of flavor and is sure to become one of your favorite gluten-free instant pot recipes!
More Gluten-Free Dinner Recipes To Try!
- Gluten-Free Meatballs {Dairy-Free Option}
- Gluten-Free Chicken and Dumplings {Dairy-Free Option}
- Gluten-Free Pizza {Dairy-Free & Vegan Option}
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Instant Pot Crack Chicken
Equipment
- Instant Pot or Pressure Cooker
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 lbs boneless chicken breast
- 1 tablespoon dill
- 1 ½ teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 2 teaspoons dried parsley
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt
- ½ teaspoon ground pepper
- ½ cup water
- 8 ounce cream cheese cut into pieces or dairy-free cream cheese
- 1 cup Cheddar cheese shredded or dairy-free shredded cheddar cheese
- 8 slices cooked bacon crumbled
- 3 green onions diced
DAIRY-FREE OPTION 1
- 8 ounce dairy-free cream cheese
- 1 cup dairy-free shredded cheddar cheese
DAIRY-FREE OPTION 2
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 1 cup dairy-free shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Add the olive oil to the Instant Pot.
- Place the chicken breasts into the pot.
- Add the dried dill, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper to a small bowl and combine. Sprinkle the seasoning blend over the chicken breasts.
- Add the cream cheese in an even layer over the chicken breasts.
- Pour the water into the pot. {Place the lid on the Instant Pot and make sure the valve is turned to seal.
- Using the display panel select the MANUAL and use the +/- buttons and program the Instant Pot for 15 minutes.
- When the time is up, quick-release the remaining pressure.
- Open the lid and remove the chicken and shred on a cutting board.
- Using the display panel select CANCEL and then SAUTE. Whisk the cream cheese mixture thoroughly to break up any remaining cream cheese pieces to make the sauce.
- Return the shredded chicken to pot with the cheddar cheese and bacon. Mix thoroughly and then turn the pot off.
- Sprinkle with green onions and serve.
DAIRY-FREE OPTION 2
- If you do not have dairy-free cream cheese you can substitute ½ cup mayonnaise. Skip the cream cheese step. Once the chicken is cooked, drain ½ of liquid out of the pot. Turn the Instant Pot to SAUTE. Add the mayonnaise and whisk together with the liquid until a sauce forms. Add the shredded chicken back into the pot along with the dairy-free cheddar cheese. and bacon. Stir until the cheese has melted. Turn the pot off and Sprinkle with green onions and serve.
Video
Notes
- You can use frozen chicken for your crack chicken in the Instant Pot. You will need to add 5 more minutes to the cooking time, making it 20 minutes.
- Store leftovers in an air-tight container in the refigerator.
- To freeze: allow the chciekn to compleltely cool and then place in a freezer bag.
- Reheat leftovers in the microwave.
- Mama says, "check all of your lables!"
Nutrition
Kerry says
This looks amazing! Where do you find DF cream cheese & what brand of DF shredded cheese do you always use? I’ve tried some & they are horrible!
Audrey says
Hi Kerry! My family likes the Violife dairy-free cream cheese and cheese shreds.
Karla says
This recipe looks amazing and I’d love to try it but I don’t have an instant pot. Can this be converted to a slow cooker or oven recipe?
Thank you for all of your amazing and much needed recipes!
Lori Spayd says
What brand of dairy free cheese and cream cheese do you use?
Audrey says
Hi Lori! I like either Kite Hill or Violife dairy-free cream cheese. I hope you enjoy the recipe.
Tina says
Love all your recipes. I have to make gluten/soy/lactose free food for my daughter. She’s fighting Lyme disease. It’s easy to adapt most of yours. Thank you for sharing!!
Audrey says
It was absolutely amazing and a new family favorite 😍
Kathryn says
SO good and so stinking easy! Definitely a keeper recipe!
KF says
Love it!
Linda Petrarca says
So easy, tasty and quick! Had it on a crusty roll but thought it would be great served with crackers as well. Great for serving a crowd. Just found your recipes and I’m excited to try more!
Kimberly Davis says
First meal I made in my instant pot! Super easy and turned out great! I added gluten free pasta while adding the cheese and it made a great dinner! My husband even loved it! Audrey thank you so much for posting this recipe!!
DeAnne Edwards says
Super easy and yummy
kim wilder says
This was delicious and it will be a hit over the holidays. It made a large portion so I am freezing half of it. Thanks for the recipe.
Veronika says
BEST CRACK CHICKEN EVER!!!! My husband even said it tastes like food from a very expensive and fancy restaurant we have in town! So excited to have found a GF and DF as well as healthy meal for my family !! Wohoo!!