Slow Cooker Crack Chicken Pasta is full of cheese, bacon, and ranch seasoning. A very rich pasta dish that’s easy to make in a crock pot.

Slow Cooker Crack Chicken Pasta in crock pot.

This slow cooker dinner is pure comfort food the whole family will love. The pasta cooks right in the slow cooker for easy clean-up.

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What is Crack Chicken?

Crack Chicken refers to a combination of cheese, ranch, and bacon. “Crack” recipes have become extremely popular and it’s obvious why. It is such a great flavor combination.

Ingredients Needed

  • Boneless, skinless chicken breasts- chicken thighs can be used instead.
  • Chicken broth– use low-sodium if you want it less salty. (The ranch seasoning, cream cheese, cheddar cheese and bacon add a lot of salt.)
  • Black pepper, crushed red pepper flakes, garlic powder
  • Ranch seasoning– I use Hidden Valley Ranch
  • Penne pasta
  • Cream cheese
  • Cheddar cheese– Colby Jack or Pepper Jack can be used instead.
  • Bacon
  • Green onions

Equipment Needed

You will need a 6-quart or slightly larger slow cooker for this recipe.

Crack Pasta with Chicken in slow cooker.

Three Steps To This Recipe

Step 1– Cook the chicken in the slow cooker with the chicken broth, black pepper, garlic powder, and crushed red pepper flakes. This step takes 5 to 6 hours.

Step 2– The chicken gets shredded and the pasta, cream cheese, ranch seasoning, and half the cheddar cheese get added in. This step takes 30 to 40 minutes.

Step 3– Sprinkle bacon, remaining cheddar and green onions on top.

Is This Dish Spicy?

The crushed red pepper flakes give this dish a little heat. For more heat,  double the amount of red pepper flakes. Reduce to 1/4 teaspoon for barely noticeable heat.

Slow Cooker Crack Chicken Pasta Recipe Tips

  • To add some veggies, stir in 1 cup of peas or 1 1/2 cups broccoli florets the last 30 minutes of cooking.
  • Be careful not to overcook the pasta or it will be gummy. Keep in mind that if you keep the pasta in the slow cooker after you turn the slow cooker off, it will continue to cook since the slow cooker retains heat for awhile.
  • Boneless skinless chicken thighs can be used in place of chicken breasts. Just keep in mind they take a little longer to cook.

Storage

Leftovers will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4 days.

Crack Chicken Pasta dished up on a plate.

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More Slow Cooker Pasta Recipes To Try

Watch the short video below to see how to make this recipe.

Slow Cooker Crack Chicken Pasta

4.50 from 4 votes
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 5 hours 40 minutes
Total: 5 hours 55 minutes
Servings: 8
Slow Cooker Crack Chicken Pasta in crock pot.
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Slow Cooker Crack Chicken Pasta is full of cheese, bacon, and ranch seasoning. A very rich pasta dish that's easy to make in a crock pot. The pasta cooks right in the slow cooker for easy clean-up.

Equipment

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Ingredients

  • 3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 16 ounces penne pasta,, uncooked
  • 1 packet Ranch dressing mix
  • 16 ounces cream cheese,, cut in cubes
  • 1 cup water
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese,, divided
  • 8 slices bacon,, cooked and crumbled
  • 3 green onions,, sliced

Instructions 

  • Place chicken breasts in a 6-quart slow cooker. Add chicken broth, black pepper, crushed red pepper, and garlic powder.
  • Cover slow cooker and cook on LOW for 5 to 6 hours.
  • Shred the chicken and add the pasta, Ranch dressing mix, cream cheese, water and half the cheddar cheese. Stir to mix and press pasta down into the liquid.
  • Cover and cook on HIGH for 30 to 40 minutes, stirring after 20 minutes.
  • Sprinkle the remaining cheddar, bacon, and green onions on top. Place lid back on and let sit 5 minutes. Serve.

Video

Notes

Use reduced-sodium chicken broth to lower the saltiness.
Leftovers will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4 days.

Nutrition

Calories: 680kcal | Carbohydrates: 49g | Protein: 30g | Fat: 40g | Saturated Fat: 20g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 0.03g | Cholesterol: 128mg | Sodium: 1046mg | Potassium: 453mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 1149IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 277mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you make this?Leave a comment below and tag us @spicysouthernkitchen on social media!
Slow Cooker Crack Chicken Pasta in a crockpot.

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Recipe Rating




6 Comments

  1. Sara says:

    I prtially cooked the noodles (5 min) then threw them in to speed things up. There was still quite a lot of liquid even after 30 minutes, but the noodles were perfectly cooked. Next time I’d skip adding the water and add some broccoli 🥦

    Reply
  2. Molly says:

    Omg!! I literally could not stop eating it.

    Reply
  3. Danielle says:

    Yummmmmy !!! Definitely going to make this again

    Reply
  4. Mary says:

    Definitely a favorite in our house. I use 4 chicken breasts. I cook them on highs and takes 3 hours. Takes more like 45 mins for pasta to cook completely. I also just use bacon bits and still so good.

    Reply
  5. Matt says:

    Pasta might want to be cooked a little took over a hour to have pasta cooked where it was not gummy or hard. But flavor was great!!

    Reply
  6. Francine Jacobson says:

    I love the name of the dish and love this recipe–

    Reply