Addictive Chicken

I’ve heard this recipe called many different things, from crack chicken to heavenly chicken, and we’ve found a way to make it into a freezer meal. Rich and creamy, our freezer meal addictive chicken can be made in your slow cooker or pressure cooker for an effortless and delicious meal.

Just one of dozens of freezer meal recipes, this chicken is one of the easiest meals you’ll ever make. It’s also versatile; you can serve it in several different ways to keep it new and fresh for your family. If you love the idea of freezer meals, we make them more accessible with countless ideas in our Freezer Meals 101 Club. If you are just getting your feet wet, try more recipes, like Make Ahead Moroccan Chicken or One Pot Creamy Mushroom Chicken Pasta.

Addictive Chicken Recipe

Ingredients for Addictive Chicken

• 4 chicken breasts, boneless, skinless.
• 3 Tbsp. dry Ranch seasoning. One packet of dry ranch seasoning is equal to 3 Tbsp. We often buy it in bulk, so it is good to know the amount needed.
• 8 oz. cream cheese
• ¾ cup bacon, cooked and crumbled.
• 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded.
• 1 large (gallon) freezer bag or reusable silicone bag
• 1 medium (quart) freezer bag

Ingredients for the Day of Cooking

• 3-4 green onions, sliced. Optional.

How to Make Addictive Chicken

Assembly Instructions

1. In a large bag, add chicken, dry ranch seasoning and cream cheese.
2. In a medium bag, combine cooled bacon bits and cheddar cheese.
3. Remove excess air, seal both bags, staple them together above the seal and freeze.

Cooking Instructions

1. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
2. Empty contents of the large freezer bag into a slow cooker.
3. Cook on low for 3-5 hours.
4. Or in your instant pot, pressure cook chicken on manual high pressure for 15 minutes and do a quick release.
5. Shred chicken and stir in contents of medium bag and 3-4 chopped green onions.

What is the easiest way to shred chicken?

Place the chicken in a mixing bowl, and shred it with your electric hand mixer. If it has been cooked long enough it will shred quickly and easily. Do not over mix the chicken, because it will quickly turn to mush and the texture will be unpleasant. This is why we do not recommend using a food processor.

How do you dice green onions?

Cut off the white tip. Then slice the green onions up through at least two inches or three inches of the green part. I find that the easiest way is actually to alternate them end to end so that they’re easier to hold together while slicing.

If your green onions have started to wilt, you can soak them in a cup of water with the white bulb submerged for a little bit to perk them up.

The cheese mixture did not melt smoothly and seems a little grainy. What did I do wrong?

Did you use a generic form of cream cheese? Many of the generic brands add fillers to increase their profit margin, and these can mess with how well the cheese melts, how well it blends with other ingredients, and the end texture. Any time you are considering a generic dairy product such as cream cheese or sour cream, I recommend comparing the ingredients to its name brand counterpart to check for added ingredients. Some generics are fine, but comparing the ingredients is best practice.

If you used a name-brand cream cheese, it is possible that the texture changed during the freezing process. This does not change the flavor of the cheese.

Can I use chicken thighs for Addictive Chicken?

Yes. However, thighs shred differently than breasts and will have a different texture. Tasty, but different. It is important not to overcook the thighs because this makes them tough and difficult to shred.

Addictive Chicken Recipe Ideas

We love changing up how we serve this recipe! Serve addictive chicken over rice, potatoes, or hamburger buns. You could also serve it over a bed of greens, like an open-faced sandwich on garlic toast or just by itself with side dishes. Use it as the base for enchiladas, just wrap it in tortillas and add sauce.

Stir it into rice, add peas, top with cheddar, and bake it in a casserole on day two. Make nachos! Form a base of tortilla chips, then add the chicken, drained black beans, sweet corn, salsa, and cheddar cheese. Bake and serve. There are so many different ways you can go with this. I’d love to hear your ideas in the comments.

How do I store Addictive Chicken?

Leftovers should be refrigerated in an airtight container and can be kept for two or three days. Leftovers can also be frozen in airtight containers for up to three months. The texture of the cooked cheese mixture may change from the freezing/thawing process.

Reheat leftover chicken in a skillet for a fast and easy lunch. You could also use a microwave. Either way, make sure the chicken reaches 165ºF.

What to serve with Addictive Chicken

Consider rice, mashed potatoes or mashed sweet potatoes, roasted broccoli, or a bagged salad for side dishes. Cole Slaw would also be a nice touch. Buttered peas or corn will also work well. The chicken is very rich, so think bright and acidic when you are working on sides or choosing salad dressing. Quinoa is a lovely grain containing protein that could easily work in place of rice and go well with this recipe.

Print

Addictive Chicken

Prep Time

15 mins

Cook Time

3 hrs

Total Time

3 hrs 4 mins

 

Servings: 4

Calories: 666 kcal

Ingredients

For the Freezer Bags

• 4 chicken breasts, boneless, skinless
• 3 tbsp dry Ranch seasoning
• 8 oz cream cheese
• 3/4 cup bacon, cooked and crumbled
• 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded

Ingredients for the Day of Cooking

• 3-4 green onion, sliced sliced

Instructions

Assembly Instructions

1. In a large bag, add chicken, dry ranch seasoning and cream cheese.

2. In a medium bag, combine cooled bacon bits and cheddar cheese.

3. Remove excess air, seal both bags, staple them together above the seal, and freeze.

Cooking Instructions

1. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator.

2. Empty the contents of the large freezer meal bag into a slow cooker.

3. Cook on low for 3-5 hours. Or in your instant pot, pressure cook chicken on manual high pressure for 15 minutes and do a quick release.

4. Shred chicken and stir in contents of the medium freezer meal bag and 3-4 chopped green onions.