Crockpot Chicken Bacon Ranch with Broccoli

This Crockpot Chicken Bacon Ranch with Broccoli combines tender shredded chicken, ranch seasoning, three creamy cheeses, broccoli, and crumbled bacon in one rich, easy-to-serve meal. Spoon it over pasta, use a lower-carb alternative, or skip the noodles and eat it straight from a bowl.

The chicken cooks first in broth with ranch seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper. If cooking quickly you can add the cream cheese on top, that’s what I did. If cooking at low, add the cream cheese later. When the chicken is cooked add blended cottage cheese or Greek yogurt, and cheddar turn the cooking liquid into a thick, creamy sauce. Broccoli and bacon go in near the end so their textures don’t get lost during the long cooking time. Note: If needing to cook quickly, you can cube the chicken instead of using whole chicken breasts. You can cook this in 2-3 hours on high or 5-7 on low. It depends on you and your schedule. 

Why This Crockpot Chicken Bacon Ranch with Broccoli Works

Ranch seasoning gives the chicken plenty of flavor without requiring a long list of seasonings. The cream cheese and cheddar thicken the sauce, while blended cottage cheese or nonfat Greek yogurt helps complete the creamy base.

This recipe is also easy to serve in different ways. Because the pasta is cooked separately, each person can choose the option that works best for them. It also keeps the crockpot mixture from being affected by the cooking time and liquid needs of different pasta varieties. Or just serve it up in a bowl.

Keep the Broccoli from Turning Mushy

Frozen broccoli florets only need to be added during the final 20 to 30 minutes of cooking. That gives them enough time to heat through and become tender without leaving them in the crockpot all day.

There is no need to thaw the 12 ounces of frozen broccoli florets first. Add them near the end and cook just until they reach the texture you like.

Cook the Pasta Separately

Uncooked pasta should not go directly into the crockpot for this recipe. Cook it on the stove according to its package directions, then stir it into the creamy chicken mixture immediately before serving. You can also spoon the chicken mixture over each individual portion.

Keeping the two separate gives you better control over the pasta texture. It is especially handy when you want to offer more than one serving option.

Protein pasta choices include:

• Banza
• Kaizen
• Your favorite higher-protein pasta

For a lower-carb serving option, try:

• Palmini noodles
• Cauliflower rice
• Another low-carb pasta substitute
• No pasta at all

When Should You Add the Bacon?

Add the 6 slices of cooked, crumbled bacon close to serving time so it keeps more of its texture. You can stir all of it into the chicken mixture or stir in part of the bacon and reserve the rest for topping individual servings. You can also use precooked bacon. To keep it simple I used the bagged precooked bacon pieces. 

A little extra cheddar can also be added on top if desired.

Slow Cooker Timing

Cook the chicken on low for about 5 to 7 hours or on high for 3 to 4 hours, until it is tender and cooked through. Shred it directly in the crockpot before adding the creamy ingredients. Since I cubed my chicken before cooking, I didn’t shred mine. Adjust for your needs.

Give the cream cheese time to melt into the chicken and broth before stirring in the blended cottage cheese or nonfat Greek yogurt and shredded cheddar. This makes it easier to combine everything into an even sauce. I think it works best adding a couple hours in if cooking on low. Place on top of the chicken and you shouldn’t have any texture issues.

How to Adjust the Sauce

The cream cheese and cheddar make the sauce thicker as it sits. If it becomes thicker than you prefer, stir in a small splash of chicken broth or unsweetened almond milk. Add only a little at a time until the sauce reaches the consistency you want.

The finished chicken mixture can be folded into cooked pasta or kept separate for easy individual portions. Either way, add the bacon near the end and serve while the broccoli is tender.

How I served mine

I used half a box of lentil penne pasta. I cooked it until al dente and added it to the crockpot right before serving. I added extra cheese (I used the reduced great value) and some extra bacon pieces on top. If you don’t want the pasta, you won’t need it. It was really delicious!!