Crock Pot Crack Chicken Casserole (Printer-friendly)

Creamy slow cooker chicken with bacon, ranch seasoning, and melted cheddar over tender pasta for ultimate comfort.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Meats

01 - 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
02 - 8 oz bacon, cooked and crumbled

→ Dairy

03 - 8 oz cream cheese, cubed and softened
04 - 1 cup sour cream
05 - 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

→ Vegetables

06 - 1 cup frozen peas (optional)
07 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced

→ Pantry

08 - 1 (1 oz) packet ranch seasoning mix
09 - 10 oz uncooked rotini or penne pasta
10 - 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
11 - Salt and black pepper to taste

# How to Make It:

01 - Arrange chicken breasts in a single layer in a 6-quart slow cooker. Sprinkle ranch seasoning evenly over the chicken, then top with cream cheese cubes.
02 - Pour chicken broth around the chicken. Cover and cook on LOW for 4 hours (or HIGH for 2 hours) until chicken is tender and easily shredded.
03 - Remove chicken from slow cooker and shred using two forks. Return shredded chicken to the slow cooker. Stir in sour cream, cooked bacon (reserving some for topping), and 1.5 cups cheddar cheese until well combined.
04 - Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Cook pasta for 1-2 minutes less than package directions for al dente texture. Drain well.
05 - Add cooked pasta and frozen peas (if using) to the slow cooker. Stir thoroughly to coat pasta with creamy chicken mixture.
06 - Sprinkle remaining cheddar cheese and reserved bacon over the top. Cover and cook for an additional 10 minutes until cheese is fully melted and bubbly.
07 - Remove from heat. Garnish with thinly sliced green onions just before serving hot.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Its the kind of dinner that makes people ask whats that smell the moment they walk through the door
  • You get maximum flavor with minimal hands on time
  • The leftovers somehow taste even better the next day
02 -
  • Undercooking the pasta by a couple minutes is the difference between perfectly tender noodles and mushy ones after they sit in the sauce
  • Letting the cheese melt on top uncovered at the end creates that irresistible golden crust that makes the whole house smell amazing
03 -
  • Line your slow cooker with a removable liner for the easiest cleanup ever—this sauce is worth every bite but nobody wants to scrub that
  • Cook your bacon in the oven on a parchment lined sheet at 400°F for 15 minutes for the most evenly crispy, mess free results

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