Description
Cheddar bacon ranch slow cooker chicken and potatoes elevate comfort dining with minimal effort and maximum flavor. Melted cheese, crispy bacon, and zesty ranch seasoning create a hearty meal that brings warmth to your dinner table.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 kg (2 lbs) boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- 500 g (1 lb) baby potatoes, halved (or red potatoes, diced)
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup heavy cream or 1 cup sour cream
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 1 packet (30 g) ranch seasoning mix (or 2 tbsps homemade ranch mix)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsps chopped green onions or chives
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp salt
- Extra bacon crumbles (optional)
Instructions
- Preparation: Coat the interior of the slow cooker with nonstick spray to prevent sticking and ensure easy cleanup.
- Assembly: Layer chicken breasts and potatoes in the slow cooker, creating an even distribution for consistent cooking.
- Seasoning: Generously dust the layers with ranch seasoning, garlic, onion powder, salt, and pepper to infuse deep, robust flavors throughout the dish.
- Liquid Integration: Pour chicken broth over the ingredients, ensuring moisture and creating a flavorful cooking environment.
- Slow Cooking: Seal the slow cooker and allow the ingredients to simmer on low heat for 6-7 hours or on high heat for 3-4 hours, transforming the chicken into tender, succulent morsels and softening the potatoes to a perfect consistency.
- Creamy Enhancement: During the final 30 minutes of cooking, introduce heavy cream, cheddar cheese, and half the crumbled bacon, stirring gently to create a rich, velvety sauce that coats the chicken and potatoes.
- Finishing Touch: Sprinkle the remaining bacon and fresh parsley over the dish, adding a crisp texture and vibrant garnish before serving piping hot.
Notes
- Use boneless, skinless chicken breasts of similar size to ensure even cooking and retain moisture throughout the slow cooking process.
- Cut potatoes into uniform, bite-sized chunks to guarantee consistent tenderness and prevent some pieces from becoming mushy while others remain undercooked.
- If the sauce appears too thin, remove the lid during the last 30 minutes of cooking to allow excess liquid to evaporate and thicken naturally.
- Swap regular cheddar with low-fat or dairy-free cheese alternatives, and use turkey bacon for a lighter version of the recipe without compromising flavor profile.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 6-7 hours (low) or 3-4 hours (high)
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg