With cream cheese, bacon, and ranch dressing, this creamy skillet keto crack chicken recipe will become your favorite dinner recipe!
What is crack chicken?
It’s tough to find out who exactly invented crack chicken, or why it is called crack chicken. I can tell you what almost all crack chicken recipes have in common.
Crack chicken is pretty much a combination of chicken breasts, dry ranch dressing seasoning, cooked bacon, and cream cheese. From those three ingredients, people make a bunch of different variations.
I think it’s called crack chicken because it is that addicting and delicious! You savor every bite as it fills your mouth with flavors that are mild and robust at the same time.
Is crack chicken keto?
At the very basic level, crack chicken can be a keto-friendly recipe. It’s when people start adding pasta or rice that it begins to have too many carbs to fit in with a ketogenic diet.
It’s really important to eat plenty of healthy fats on the keto diet. This is what keeps your body burning fat for fuel/energy instead of carbs. The cream cheese and heavy whipping cream in my crack chicken recipe are filled with plenty of healthy fats.
Skillet Crack Chicken
This skillet crack chicken recipe can be used in your meal prep, but only within the first few days. As it sits in the refrigerator, the chicken and creamy sauce will solidify. As you reheat it on the stove or in the microwave, the cheese will all melt again, so it’s ok.
Store leftover crack chicken in an airtight food storage container for no longer than three days.
This is also a freezer-friendly meal. To do this, cook it like normal. Then, let it cool down to room temperature and place it in a freezer-safe food storage container. Seal it tightly with plastic wrap and an airtight freezer-safe lid. Keep it in the freezer for up to six months.
Keto Crack Chicken
There are a few different changes you can make to this recipe. I used bone-in and skin-on chicken thighs. You can use chicken breasts or even boneless chicken thighs.
If you use boneless chicken, keep an eye on the internal temperature of the chicken because it will cook faster. Chicken should be cooked until it reaches an internal temperature of 165F.
Keto Crack Chicken Sides
If you have another skillet, make these skillet keto garlic butter rosemary rolls. The buttery and herby flavors will fill your kitchen the most incredible smells. You can also never go wrong with some cauliflower mash or a creamy green bean casserole.
Cheese-lovers will really enjoy keto cauliflower au gratin. It’s a fun twist on a classic German recipe and tastes amazing with this keto crack chicken recipe.
Creamy Skillet Keto Crack Chicken Recipe
Here’s the list of ingredients to make this delicious keto crack chicken skillet recipe. Exact measurements and instructions are located in the printable recipe card just a little bit further below.
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4
Net Carbs: 6 net carbs per serving
Ingredients:
Olive oil
Chicken thighs
Ranch seasoning mix
Cream cheese
Heavy whipping cream
Cheddar jack cheese shredded
Bacon
Salt and pepper
Fresh spinach
Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium high heat.
Season the chicken with salt and pepper to taste, and sear well on both sides. Remove, and set aside.
Blend the cream cheese, heavy whipping cream and ranch seasoning together in a food processor.
Remove the oil from the skillet, and reduce the heat to medium.
Place the cream cheese mixture into the skillet, and simmer until smooth and thickened.
Stir in the bacon, spinach and more salt and pepper to taste.
Return the chicken to the skillet, and toss to coat in the sauce.
Bake the chicken for 15 minutes.
Remove, and sprinkle with the cheese.
Bake for an additional 5 minutes.
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Creamy Skillet Keto Crack Chicken
Equipment
- Casti Iron Skillet
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp Olive Oil
- 4 Bone-In Skin-On Chicken Thighs
- 1 Packet Ranch Seasoning Mix
- 6 ounces Cream Cheese softened
- 1 1/2 cups Heavy Whipping Cream
- 1/2 cup Cheddar Jack Cheese shredded
- 1/2 cup Bacon Pieces
- 3 cups Fresh Spinach
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
- Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium high heat.
- Season the chicken with salt and pepper to taste, and sear well on both sides. Remove, and set aside.
- Blend the cream cheese, heavy whipping cream and ranch seasoning together in a food processor.
- Remove the oil from the skillet, and reduce the heat to medium.
- Place the cream cheese mixture into the skillet, and simmer until smooth and thickened.
- Stir in the bacon, spinach and more salt and pepper to taste.
- Return the chicken to the skillet, and toss to coat in the sauce.
- Bake the chicken for 15 minutes.
- Remove, and sprinkle with the cheese.
- Bake for an additional 5 minutes.
Notes
Net Carbs: 6 Net Carbs Per Serving
The nutritional information for this recipe is calculated as a courtesy and is an approximate only. I cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipes on this site.
Skillet Chicken Recipes
If you enjoyed this keto skillet crack chicken recipe, here are some more delicious recipes you can make in a cast iron skillet.