Does 6 Ounces of Cheese Make 2 Cups Shreded

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Baked Crack Chicken is a deliciously cheesy and creamy combination of chicken, bacon, cheese, and ranch seasoning. This recipe is not only a low-carb dinner that's perfect for the keto dieter but family friendly recipe that the kids will love.

Baked Crack Chicken feature image

Baked Crack Chicken, also known as Ranch Chicken, is a deliciously cheesy and super creamy combination of chicken, bacon, cheese, and ranch seasoning. This easy-to-make, family-friendly meal is quick to assemble and bakes into a low-carb dinner that's perfect for the keto dieter or simply anyone craving some flavorful food.

Easy Low-Carb Baked Crack Chicken

I tried to like the original Crack Chicken recipe, which calls for shredded chicken mixed with cheese, bacon, and Ranch. And although my recipe does use most of those same simple ingredients, I just didn't love the way it was all mushed together. That's why I had to recreate the dish into this Baked Cracked Chicken version that is one of our new family favorites!

This recipe is so easy to make–simply coat the chicken breast with a rich layer of cream cheese mixture and seasonings, then top it with a generous helping of cheese and bacon before baking. Creamy and cheesy on the outside, tender and juicy on the inside, this Baked Crack Chicken is the ultimate low-carb, keto-friendly dish that is loaded with addictively delicious flavor for dieters and non-dieters alike!

Why We Love This Baked Crack Chicken Recipe

Quick to prepare and easy to make.
Delicious creamy, cheesy chicken dish.
Addictive flavor combination of ranch, cheese, and bacon.
Low-carb and keto-friendly.
A perfect family-friendly, make-ahead meal.

Boneless skinless chicken breasts
Chopped onion
Minced garlic
Ranch seasoning (dry seasoning mix in a packet)
Kosher salt
Black pepper
Cream cheese, room temperature
Canned cream of chicken soup
Sour cream
Shredded Monterey jack cheese
Shredded sharp cheddar cheese – TIP: Be sure NOT to use the pre-shredded cheeses. They have additives in the bags to prevent clumping and they do not melt as well as a block of cheese that you shred yourself.
Bacon: You will need to cook and chop your bacon prior to assembly.
Green onion (optional garnish)

Substitutions and Additions

Change The Cheese: Colby Jack cheese is a great alternative to the Monterey jack and cheddar cheese combination. An all cheddar cheese chicken tastes great too! You can even combine different types of cheeses like mozzarella and parmesan.
Meat: If you prefer a different type of meat, feel free to substitute it. Turkey breast would be a great alternative. You can also use chicken thighs–just make sure they are boneless-skinless chicken thighs.
Garnish: In addition to green onion, you can garnish the cooked meat with fresh herbs. I love a bit of fresh parsley or chives for a bright burst of flavor and color.
Serve It Shreded: Feel free to shred your chicken and serve it as burger or sandwich filling, over pasta or rice, as a stuffings for baked potatoes, or in lettuce wraps, flatbread or tortillas.

9×13 casserole dish
Medium-size skillet
Measuring tools
Aluminum foil

SEE FULL PRINTABLE RECIPE CARD BELOW

How to Make Baked Crack Chicken

Baked Crack Chicken is a deliciously cheesy and super creamy combination of chicken, bacon, cheese, and ranch seasoning. This easy-to-make, family-friendly meal is quick to assemble and bakes into a low-carb dinner that's perfect for the keto dieter or simply anyone craving some flavorful food.

Place chicken in prepared casserole dish and sprinkle salt and pepper on top. Set aside.
PRO-TIP: If your chicken pieces are not a uniform size, that is ok, just cut them into even sized pieces. You want your chicken pieces as evenly sized as possible so that they cook evenly when baked.
Sauté onion and garlic just until it is translucent and softens.
Add cream of chicken soup, cream cheese and ranch seasoning mix to the skillet with onion and garlic.
Stir until the cream cheese is melted and all the ingredients are combined.
Turn off the heat, add sour cream and cheddar cheese, and stir until smooth and creamy.
Completely cover the top of each chicken breast with cream cheese mixture.
Top with cooked bacon pieces and remaining cheese so that chicken is completely covered.
Cover dish with foil and bake for 20 minutes.
Remove foil, sprinkle the remaining cooked bacon over the cheesy chicken, and continue to bake for another 20 minutes, uncovered.
Pro Tip: Your chicken is cooked when it reaches 160*F internal temperature and your cheese is melted and bubbly.
Allow Baked Crack Chicken to rest, add garnish if desired, plate, serve, and enjoy!

Storage Tips

To Store: This dish is best served hot from the oven. You can store leftovers in a covered container, in the refrigerator, for up to 3 days.
To Freeze: You can freeze Crack Chicken before baking, although I do not recommend it (see FAQ below). Let it defrost before baking, or increase the bake time to account for the frozen chicken.
To Reheat: To reheat your Crack Chicken, place the meat in a microwave-safe container, cover, and microwave until warm (about 2 minutes). Alternatively, you can put the chicken in a saucepan on the stovetop, cover, and warm it over low heat.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is this dish called Crack Chicken?

Rumor has it that Crack Chicken is addicting, just like crack. People find the combination of ingredients addictively delicious (bacon, ranch, cheese), thus it was dubbed "crack" chicken. Try it and you'll see why it's so irresistible!

Can I make this Chicken in advance?

If you would like to make this Crack Chicken in advance, simply assemble everything in the baking dish, but don't bake. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 to 2 days. Remove wrap and bake as directed.

Can I freeze Baked Crack Chicken?

I do not recommend freezing chicken dish. The texture of cream cheese changes when it is frozen. It becomes somewhat grainy and crumbly in texture and it won't have its normal creaminess.

What should I serve with Baked Crack Chicken?

This chicken recipe would taste great with a side of steamed vegetables and a baked potato for a well-balanced meal. However, if you are following a low-carb or keto diet, a side salad, cauliflower rice, steamed vegetables, like broccoli or green beans, or zucchini noodles pairs well.

Other Easy Chicken Recipes

Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan
Easy Mozzarella Chicken
Bruschetta Chicken Pasta
Jamaican Jerk Chicken
Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken
Pineapple Chicken
Brown Sugar Chicken
Lemon Chicken

Baked Crack Chicken feature image

Baked Crack Chicken

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Prep Time 15 mins

Cook Time 40 mins

Total Time 55 mins

Course Dinner

Cuisine American

Servings 4 (6-8 ounce) servings

Calories 1063 kcal

4 (6-8 ounce) boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 cup chopped onion
1 tbsp minced garlic
1 tbsp ranch seasoning (from the packet of dry seasoning mix)
½ tsp kosher salt
¼ tsp black pepper
6 ounces cream cheese room temperature
½ cup canned cream of chicken soup
¼ cup sour cream
1 cup shredded monterey jack cheese
1½ cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese divided
¾ cup cooked chopped bacon divided
2 tbsp chopped green onion optional garnish

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly spray a 9×13 casserole dish with cooking spray.
Place your chicken breast in an even layer on the bottom of your prepared dish. Evenly sprinkle the salt and pepper on top of your chicken breast. Set aside.
In a medium skillet, on medium heat, saute your onion and garlic just until it is translucent and beginning to soften. This will take 2-3 minutes.
Once your onions and garlic are cooked, add your cream of chicken soup, cream cheese and dry ranch seasoning mix. Stir them until the cream cheese is melted and all the ingredients are completely incorporated.
Turn off the heat to your skillet and add your sour cream and ½ cup of the shredded cheddar cheese. Stir until smooth and creamy.
Divide your cream cheese mixture evenly and top each chicken breast. Spread out the cream cheese mixture so that your chicken breasts are completely covered. Top your cream cheese covered chicken with ½ cup of your cooked and chopped bacon pieces.
With your remaining cheddar and monterey jack cheese, evenly cover your chicken breast.
Cover your dish with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove your aluminum foil and sprinkle the cheesy chicken breasts with the remaining ¼ cup of cooked and chopped bacon. Continue to bake for another 20 minutes, uncovered, or until your chicken is cooked through (160*F internal temperature) and your cheese is melted and bubbly.
Allow your Baked Crack Chicken to rest for 5 minutes before serving. **At this point you can add your chopped green onions for garnish if desired**

Storage:

To Store: This dish is best served hot from the oven. You can store leftovers in a covered container, in the refrigerator, for up to 3 days.
To Freeze: You can freeze Crack Chicken before baking, although I do not recommend it (see FAQ below). Let it defrost before baking, or increase the bake time to account for the frozen chicken.
To Reheat: To reheat your Crack Chicken, place the meat in a microwave-safe container, cover, and microwave until warm (about 2 minutes). Alternatively, you can put the chicken in a saucepan on the stovetop, cover, and warm it over low heat.

Tips:

If your chicken pieces are not a uniform size, that is ok, just cut them into even sized pieces. You want your chicken pieces as evenly sized as possible so that they cook evenly when baked.
Be sure NOT to use the pre-shredded cheeses. They have additives in the bags to prevent clumping and they do not melt as well as a block of cheese that you shred yourself.

Keyword chicken, crack chicken

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About Jennifer Fishkind

Jenn is a mom to three beautiful boys, wife to an amazing husband, social influencer and blogger. I love all things easy recipes, easy crafts, all things hacks, traveling EVERYWHERE and feeding my Pinterest addiction (check me out, I have more than 3.6 million followers!) Jenn has been featured on sites like Buzz Feed, Good Morning America, Country Living, Good Housekeeping, Yahoo, Yummly, Pop Sugar, Reddit, Want to know more? Check out my full bio here!

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Does 6 Ounces of Cheese Make 2 Cups Shreded

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