Description
Crock pot ranch chicken sandwiches deliver a mouthwatering twist on classic comfort food. Juicy chicken infused with zesty ranch seasoning creates irresistible sandwiches that satisfy hungry crowds with minimal kitchen effort.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or thighs)
- 1 block (8 oz/225 g) cream cheese, softened
- 1 packet (1 oz/28 g) ranch seasoning mix
- ½ cup (120 ml) chicken broth
- ¼ cup (60 ml) sour cream (optional, for extra creaminess)
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 6 sandwich buns or rolls
- crispy bacon slices (optional)
- sliced pickles (optional)
- shredded lettuce (optional)
- sliced tomatoes (optional)
- cheese slices (cheddar, provolone, or Swiss) (optional)
Instructions
- Preparation: Layer chicken breasts in a single, even arrangement at the bottom of the slow cooker to guarantee uniform cooking and optimal flavor distribution.
- Seasoning: Thoroughly coat chicken with ranch seasoning mix, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper, creating a rich and aromatic flavor profile.
- Liquid Base: Distribute cream cheese across seasoned chicken and pour chicken broth around the meat, allowing the creamy mixture to infuse and tenderize during cooking.
- Cooking Process: Cover and simmer in the slow cooker on low for 6-7 hours or on high for 3-4 hours, transforming the chicken into a melt-in-your-mouth filling.
- Shredding and Mixing: Remove chicken breasts and shred with two forks, then return the meat to the slow cooker, stirring to blend with the creamy ranch liquid and incorporating sour cream for added richness.
- Assembly: Select soft sandwich buns and pile the ranch-seasoned chicken generously, creating an enticing and substantial sandwich.
- Garnishing: Customize sandwiches with optional toppings like crispy bacon, pickles, lettuce, tomatoes, or melted cheese to elevate the flavor experience.
- Serving: Present sandwiches immediately with complementary sides such as potato chips, french fries, or a fresh garden salad for a complete and satisfying meal.
Notes
- Prevent Dry Chicken: Monitor cooking time closely and avoid overcooking to maintain moisture, using a meat thermometer to check internal temperature reaches 165°F without drying out.
- Customize Seasoning Intensity: Adjust ranch seasoning quantity based on personal preference, starting with less and gradually adding more to control flavor profile without overwhelming the dish.
- Enhance Creaminess: For richer texture, substitute part of the cream cheese with Greek yogurt or add a splash of heavy cream during the final mixing stage to create a more luxurious consistency.
- Dietary Adaptation: Swap regular buns with gluten-free alternatives, use low-fat cream cheese for lighter version, and incorporate Greek yogurt instead of sour cream to reduce overall calorie content while maintaining creamy texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 490
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 870 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 46 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg