This crack chicken casserole has been transformed into a low-carb dish the whole family will love.
This chicken crack recipe is a hearty family fave with chicken cooked baked in a creamy sauce and topped with bacon, green onions, and loads of melty cheese.
Holly’s Crave-Worthy Crack Chicken Casserole
- Flavor: Chicken crack casserole, with a trifecta of delicious ingredients like chicken, bacon, and cheese, has a slightly tangy flavor with a hint of spice.
- Prep note: Prep this oven-baked chicken crack recipe in advance, and begin with room-temperature cream cheese for quick blending.
- Budget tip: Use store-brand cream cheese and cheddar to save money, and stock up on items when on sale.
- Serving suggestions: Serve as a main dish over cauliflower rice with a tangy cucumber radish salad, in lettuce wraps, as a spread, or as a dip with veggies.
What’s in Crack Chicken Casserole?
Chicken: Any boneless, skinless chicken works, like breasts, thighs, and cutlets. Save baking time and use a rotisserie chicken, simply shred and add to the recipe in Step 8.
Bacon: Bacon crumbles add salty crunch to crack chicken casserole. Make batches of oven-fried bacon and use in recipes all week long.
Sauce: Use full fat cream cheese for a rich, crave-worthy treat.
Chicken Crack Creations
You can try using seasoned cream cheese like Boursin, or stir in some blue cheese, Cotija, or Swiss for an even more savory flavor. Fire up the sauce with some zesty southwest seasoning, or Buffalo sauce. Add a bit of heavy whipping cream in Step 5 for even more decadence.
Experiment with adding in extras like leftover diced ham, sliced black olives, chopped spinach, kale, or chopped broccoli or cauliflower florets to make the dish stretch further. Why not spice things up with added sliced jalapenos or green chilis.
Make a Ritz-cracker style topping by sprinkling keto breadcrumbs over the cheese before broiling in Step 9.
How to Make Crack Chicken Casserole
- Season, bake, and shred chicken (recipe below).
- Top chicken with seasoned cream cheese, bacon crumbles, and green onions.
- Broil until the cheese is bubbly and melted.
Crack Chicken Leftovers
Keep leftover crack chicken casserole covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Stir in a little milk to loosen the sauce before reheating portions in the microwave or on the stovetop. Freeze portions in zippered bags for up to two months and defrost overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Make a hearty workday lunch by adding leftovers to a low-carb wrap or reheating over a bowl of zoodles. Or add leftovers to keto Buffalo chicken dip, salsa chicken, or into a zesty chicken taco soup.
More Creamy Chicken Favorites
Did you enjoy this Crack Chicken Casserole? Leave a comment and rating below.
Crack Chicken Casserole
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 ½ pounds chicken breast
- 1 tablespoon dried chives
- 1 ½ teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons onion powder
- ¾ teaspoon dried dill
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- ¼ cup water
- 8 ounces cream cheese cut into cubes
- 4 slices bacon cooked crisp and crumbled
- 1 ½ cup shredded cheddar
- 1 stalk green onion thinly sliced
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Cover the bottom of a 9×13 baking dish with a small layer of olive oil.
- Lay the chicken across the bottom of the dish. Set aside.
- Combine dried chives, garlic powder, onion powder, dried dill, crushed red pepper flakes, black pepper, and salt. Sprinkle half the seasoning mixture on top of the chicken, and reserve the remaining half for later.
- Add apple cider vinegar and water to the baking dish, cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes.
- Stir together the cream cheese and reserved seasoning mix. Remove baking dish from oven and top chicken with cream cheese mixture.
- Cover the dish with foil again and bake for another 20 minutes.
- Remove the dish from the oven and use 2 forks to shred the chicken
- Top the chicken with bacon, cheddar cheese, and green onion.
- Broil for 1-2 minutes or until cheese is melted.
Notes
- For extra cheese sauce add some heavy whipping cream
- Give it a spicy kick with sliced jalapenos or green chilis.
- To keep chicken juicy, cover with foil.
- Try sprinkling crushed pork rinds on top before broiling for an extra crispy topping.
- Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Freeze in a zippered bag with the date labeled on the outside for up to 2 months.
- Thaw in the refrigerator and reheat in the oven covered with foil.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
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Recipe inspired by The Keto Queens
I just made this recipe and it is really yummy I served it with Brussels Sprouts.
So happy you are enjoying this recipe, Margie!