The whole family will enjoy this easy weeknight dinner made with simple ingredients. It's hearty comfort food made easy!
Table of Contents
🗝️ Key takeaways
- Easy dump and go recipe with just 8 ingredients and just 4 quick steps to prep in less than 5 minutes.
- Perfect for weeknights but it's also great when you need to feed a crowd at a potluck, or you are just in the mood for old-fashioned comfort food.
- In a hurry? You can use the oven rather than the
slow cooker ! Be sure to read the tips section in the post to get all the timesaving ideas.
What's not to love about creamy comfort food that is so easy it's almost effortless?
Especially on one of those nights when you've been taxi-mom all day.
Just toss the ingredients for this creamy Ranch chicken in your
The low and slow cooking time makes everything butter tender. Your family will be licking their plates, I promise.
🧾 Ingredients
📖 Variations
- Use boneless skinless chicken thighs instead of the boneless skinless chicken breast.
- Try this with a pork loin roast or boneless pork chops.
- You can use other condensed soups such as cream of mushroom or cream of celery if desired.
- I use chicken stock instead of chicken broth because it has more flavor but you can use whichever you prefer.
🔪 Instructions
Note: This is an overview of the instructions. The full instructions are in the green recipe card below.
- Season the chicken with salt, pepper, and part of the Ranch dressing mix.
- Add the vegetables to the
slow cooker and place chicken breasts over the top. - Mix the sauce ingredients and pour over the top.
- Cover and cook on low heat for 8 hours. See? Easy!
Oven and instant pot instructions are in the green recipe card below.
Sometimes I like to add a cup or so of Monterey Jack or Cheddar cheese just at the end of the cooking time.
🎥 Video
Hey y'all! Don't forget to check out my latest video where I guide you through each step of this delicious recipe. It's always great to have a visual guide, right? And as always, my cooking show, Restless Chipotle Kitchen, has got your back. If you're looking for more yummy ideas, dive into our full recipe collection on YouTube. You're gonna love it!
🥫 How to store leftovers
Crockpot Ranch chicken leftovers should be put in an airtight container or covered with plastic wrap and refrigerated. Be sure to eat it up within 4 to 5 days or throw it out.
Freeze this dish for up to 3 months. The chicken freezes well but the potatoes do not. Remove them before freezing.
Marye's notes:
No time for the crockpot? You can bake this ranch chicken recipe in the oven for 45 minutes or until it registers 160F on an insta-read thermometer. Let stand for 5 minutes to allow the temperature to come up to 165F. I'd cook the vegetables separately if you do it this way.
💭 Things to know
- Spray the inside of the crockpot with cooking spray to make cleanup effortless.
- You can substitute cream of broccoli, cream of celery, or cream of mushroom soup for the cream of chicken.
- You can add 8 ounces of cream cheese cut in squares to make it even richer and creamier. Stir it in before serving.
- Crockpot Ranch chicken is even better the next day!
- Chop up leftovers, add some milk, and warm it up for a delicious soup.
👩🍳 FAQs
Here are the questions I am most frequently asked about this recipe.
Chicken should always be fresh or thawed overnight in the refrigerator before slow cooking. Harmful bacteria can grow during the long cooking process when the chicken is frozen.
Store, tightly covered, in the refrigerator for 4 days or freezer for 3 months. If freezing remove the potatoes - they don't freeze well.
Homemade soups tend to make this sauce watery. If you do use the homemade soup do not try to freeze this.
Always cook chicken breasts on low for the best, most tender result.
🍽️ Serve with
This creamy crockpot Ranch chicken recipe really is an all in one dinner that's perfect for those busy nights but if you've got a minute here are some great additions to the table -
Biscuits are always welcome at our house. They're a great way to sop up that gravy! These drop biscuits are especially easy.
Cinnamon apples add color and flavor to the table. Added bonus? They can sub for dessert!
📚 Related recipes
- Slow Cooker Dixie Chicken is a vintage recipe that's been adapted to be quick and easy. Creamy chicken and gravy are cooked with fire-roasted corn until it's melt-in-your-mouth tender.
- 31 Easy Slow Cooker Recipes, easy dinner recipes for every day of the month!
- This crockpot chicken and stuffing is another easy meal with lots of old-fashioned flavor.
📞 The last word
After a long day there's nothing better than coming home to a delicious meal like crockpot ranch chicken and potatoes. Especially when you know the whole family loves it!
I love my crockpot and use it all year. In the winter it makes the house feel cozy and smell amazing and in our Texas summers it keep the kitchen from turning into a sauna.
We're all so busy, and there's a lot of talk about self-care but few of us give ourselves space to relax and just be. All-in-one main dishes like this chicken recipe, that cook themselves and are done in one pot, create the time we need to recharge.
Or is that just me?
Crockpot Ranch Chicken was a huge hit with my family - I hope it will be with yours as well.
If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need.
If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📖 Recipe
Crockpot Ranch Chicken
Print Pin Recipe Save Recipe Rate RecipeIngredients
- 24 ounces tiny red potatoes, or Yukon Gold
- 16 ounces baby carrots
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, or thighs
- 21.5 ounces cream of chicken soup, 2-10.5 ounce cans
- ½ cup chicken stock
- 4 ounces chopped chiles, optional but really good
- 1 ounce Ranch seasoning mix
Instructions
- Season the chicken with salt, pepper, and a tablespoon of the Ranch dressing mix.
- Add the washed baby potatoes and carrots to the slow cooker.
- Top with the seasoned chicken.
- Blend the cream of chicken soup, chicken stock, chiles, and remaining Ranch dressing mix until smooth.
- Pour over the chicken and vegetables.
- Cook on low for 8 hours or on high for 4 hours.
- Shred the chicken or break it into chunks with a fork before serving.
Instant Pot
- Follow instructions 1-5 above.
- Place the lid on top of the Instant Pot and set the valve on top to seal.
- Press the "MANUAL" button and set the timer for 16 minutes.
- When the Instant Pot is finished cooking, do a "quick release" of the pressure.
- Remove the chicken and vegetables to a serving dish.
Oven
- Preheat the oven to 350F
- Grease a 13x9-inch pan
- Follow the instructions for seasoning the chicken.
- Put chicken in a layer in the 13x9-inch pan.
- Mix the sauce and pour over the chicken.
- Bake for 35-40 minutes or until chicken registers 160F on an insta-read thermometer.
- Cook the vegetables separately while the chicken is in the oven.
- Let stand for 5 minutes to allow the temperature to come up to 165F.
Notes
- You can substitute cream of mushroom, cream of celery, or cream of broccoli soup for the cream of chicken.
- Leave the potatoes out and serve over rice or pasta.
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
This recipe has been tested several times. If you choose to use other ingredients, or change the technique in some way, the results may not be the same.
First published September 17, 2020. Last updated March 31, 2024, for increased information and editorial improvements.
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Alyssa says
I can't wait to try this ranch chicken in the crockpot! I love any kind of crockpot meal, they make my life so much easier!
Kristen says
My stomach growled just looking at this crockpot ranch chicken recipe! I have to make this soon!
Cynthia says
Your ranch chicken in the crockpot is incredibly easy to prep and tastes delicious! I am a huge fan of these easy meals for our busy lives!
Brittany says
While my family loves the ranch chicken in the crockpot, I'm grateful you included instapot and oven variations. I never know how to sort that out and sometimes I fail to plan ahead, lol!
Michaela says
Is the calorie count per serving or for the whole dish?
Marye says
302 calories per serving.
Sarah says
The recipe says 2 cans of chicken soup but in the video you only use one?
Marye says
Typo on my part. I like it better with one. Originally I used two - it kind of depends on how much gravy you like.
Shantell says
What if it turns out to be a little on the salty side. How can I fix that?
Marye says
Add some heavy cream, sour cream, or stir in some very soft cream cheese. That should do it.
Joseph Nyzio says
THIS was an AMAZING dish. Will DEFINITELY be making it again. I did sprinkle some onion and garlic powders with the salt and pepper.
Michelle says
This is DELICIOUS. My store was out of baby carrots, so I did just leave them out this time. I can't wait to try it WITH them. I would give this a 10 out of 5 stars! LOL. Wonderful!!!!
Cydney says
Do you peel the potatoes?
Marye says
You don't have to if they are thinned skinned like Yukon old or the red ones. Otherwise - yes I would.
Brittany R says
Hi, I'm hoping to make this soon but was wondering what kind of chilis you use?
Marye says
Just the canned chiles... or sometimes fresh hatch chiles if they are in season.
Lisa says
It was ok. It just tasted like chicken cooked in cream of chicken soup. Didn't even taste the ranch. Will tweak when I make it again.
Mattie says
I used the instant pot method but was wondering if I needed to add more liquid to it, when I did the quick release, no steam came out and it wasn’t cooked, so I had to cook for another 10 minutes. I checked my instant pot and everything seemed fine. I looked up what May be wrong and it stated that not having enough liquid would cause that…..so just wondering I I needed to add more liquid
Marye says
I'm sorry Mattie - I don't have an instant pot so I can't really help.
Heather says
How would I adjust the time if I use chicken thighs?
Marye says
It would be the same.
Samantha says
Could I use frozen chicken? Or is it best if I use thawed chicken breast?
Marye says
Yes you can use frozen chicken - just give it a bit more time to cook. Maybe figure 9-10 hours on low.
Jessica says
Can I use rotisserie chicken to
Cut down on the cook time?
Marye says
I don't think the vegetables would get done?
Nellie says
What is a serving size?
Marye says
I don't usually measure - but 1/8 of the recipe.
Christina says
Can this be made without the chili’s? Would you substitute something else if chilis are not on hand in kitchen? Thanks!
Marye says
yes it can - and I'd just leave them out...
Tery Mckinney says
I made this recipe the day it was delicious. Will do it again.
Zula says
Sounds really good! What temp do you bake it in the oven if you aren’t using the slow cooker?
Zula says
Hi I just saw it says right there 350.
NANCY A. says
This recipe looks Amazing!! I can taste it now. However, due to my husband’s health I need to substitute some of the ingredients to lower the carbs and salt. Can you recommend some substitutes that would allow me to fix this wonderful recipe and have it still taste as good as it sounds?
Marye says
Hi Nancy,
So I'd use low sodium or homemade chicken stock, low sodium cream of chicken soup, and you'll probably need to mix your own ranch dressing mix - leaving out the salt. If you Google homemade ranch dressing mix you should be able to find a recipe. You can substitute broccoli and/ or cauliflower for the carrots and potatoes. You could use a homemade thick white sauce instead of the soup but I'm, afraid it would break and separate in the slow cooker during the long cooking time.