Description
Experience tender, juicy chicken breasts slow-cooked to perfection in a rich, creamy ranch sauce. This easy-to-make crockpot recipe blends ranch seasoning, cream of chicken soup, sour cream, and cheddar cheese for a comforting meal perfect for busy weeknights. Optional searing adds depth, while fresh parsley brightens each serving. Serve over mashed potatoes, rice, egg noodles, or use in sandwiches for a versatile, crowd-pleasing dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 packet ranch seasoning mix (approx. 1 oz)
- 1 can (10.5 oz) cream of chicken soup
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
Optional Additions
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (for searing)
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish (about 2 tablespoons)
Instructions
- Sear the Chicken (Optional): Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Sear the chicken breasts on both sides for 2 to 3 minutes until golden brown. This step enhances flavor and texture but is not required.
- Prepare Sauce Base: In the crockpot, combine cream of chicken soup, ranch seasoning mix, chicken broth, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper. Stir thoroughly until smooth and well blended.
- Add Chicken: Place the chicken breasts in the crockpot, ensuring each piece is fully coated in the sauce mixture. Use a spoon to cover any exposed areas to maximize flavor absorption.
- Slow Cook: Cover and cook on low for 6 to 7 hours or on high for 3 to 4 hours until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F and is tender.
- Shred Chicken: Use two forks to shred the cooked chicken pieces directly in the crockpot, blending them into the sauce for full flavor integration.
- Finish and Garnish: Stir in the sour cream gently until the sauce is creamy and smooth. Top with shredded cheddar cheese and sprinkle with fresh parsley if desired before serving.
Notes
- Searing the chicken is optional but adds richer flavor and a firmer texture.
- For extra nutrition and heartiness, add chopped vegetables like carrots, potatoes, peas, or zucchini during the cook time.
- This dish is freezer-friendly; freeze the uncooked mixture (excluding sour cream and cheese) in portions and cook from thawed.
- Check seasoning before serving; canned soup and seasoning blends may already contain enough salt.
- Leftovers keep well refrigerated for up to 4 days and reheat gently in the microwave.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 to 7 hours (low) or 3 to 4 hours (high)
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approximately 1 chicken breast with sauce)
- Calories: 380 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 720 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 7 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 45 g
- Cholesterol: 130 mg
Keywords: slow cooker ranch chicken, creamy ranch chicken, crockpot chicken recipe, easy chicken dinner, comfort food, ranch seasoning chicken