Instant Pot Crack Chicken

This delicious recipe for creamy Instant Pot Crack Chicken turns out incredibly flavorful and satisfying. It makes a hearty dish that can be used in a variety of ways and is great for meal prepping.

What Is Crack Chicken?

Instant Pot Crack Chicken combines shredded chicken, salty bacon, creamy melted cheeses and ranch seasonings. It's a flavorful and versatile recipe great for making sandwiches and serving over grains, like rice or pasta. It even works as a hearty dip for chips and vegetables

This recipe for Instant Pot crack chicken is super delicious and easy to make. It doesn't require any fancy ingredients or special tools aside from your pressure cooker. The delicious creamy shredded chicken that results from this recipe is perfectly paired with a toasted sesame bun and roasted vegetables and baby potatoes.

Ingredients

• Chicken tenders: boneless skinless chicken tenders.
• Bacon: you don't need cooked bacon. This recipe cooks the bacon right in the Instant Pot, then uses some of the drippings to flavor the sauce.
• Extra sharp cheddar cheese: freshly shredded cheddar cheese works best.
• Mexican melting cheese: such as quesadilla melting cheese or Oaxaca cheese, not a Mexican cheese blend. A bag of shredded melting cheese will work perfectly.
• Cream cheese
• Chicken broth: or vegetable broth.
• Ranch seasoning: such as Hidden Valley ranch seasoning and salad dressing mix.
• Parsley
• Garlic salt
• Oregano
• Garlic powder
• Cilantro: you can also use chives or green onions.
• Butter, milk and flour: to create a roux to thicken the sauce.

Step-By-Step Instructions

STEP 1: Set the Instant Pot to saute on high for 6 minutes. Cook 3 slices bacon until they reach your desired crispiness. Remove from the inner pot and dry between paper towels. Discard the bacon grease but leave the brown bits in the pot. *If you have the Instant Pot air fryer lid, you can also use this to air fry the bacon rather than pan fry.

STEP 2: Pour in ½ cup chicken broth. Deglaze the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon. Add 2 lbs chicken tenders, 2 tablespoon ranch seasoning, 1 tablespoon dried parsley, 2 teaspoon garlic salt, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, and 1 teaspoon garlic powder. Set the Instant Pot back to saute on high for 4 minutes and cook chicken, flipping once halfway through.

STEP 3: When done, put on the lid and seal. Set to pressure cook on high for 8 minutes. Let pressure release naturally for 10 minutes, then quickly release the remaining pressure. Remove the chicken from the pot. Shred chicken using 2 forks or a handheld mixer.

STEP 4: Set the Instant Pot to saute on high. Melt 2 tablespoon butter in the pot, then add 2 tablespoon flour and whisk constantly until a thick paste forms.

STEP 5: Whisk in 6 oz milk and 2 oz cream cheese, breaking up the cream cheese and whisking constantly for 3 minutes or until smooth. Turn off saute and carefully transfer the inner pot to a heat-proof surface.

STEP 6: Slowly stir in 1 cup extra sharp cheddar cheese and 1 cup Mexican melting cheese. Stir until the sauce reaches a creamy and smooth texture. Add the shredded chicken to the sauce and mix well.

Serve warm, topped with crumbled bacon, fresh cilantro and extra cheddar cheese.

What To Serve With Crack Chicken

Tips

• You should always do a natural pressure release when cooking meats. Not only is the type of pressure release built into recipes' cook times, a natural pressure release prevents meats from turning out tough.
• Use a digital thermometer to ensure the chicken is cooked to a safe temperature. The chicken should be 165 degrees Fahrenheit at the thickest part.
• If opting to use another cut of chicken, such as chicken breasts, or if you're using frozen chicken, make sure to change the cook time as noted below.

FAQs

Enjoy!

If you enjoyed this recipe, make sure to give it a star rating and let me know what you thought in the comments! And follow me on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for more delicious recipes!

Recipe