Crockpot Ranch Chicken ( Easy Weeknight Recipe)

Name: Crockpot Ranch Chicken
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 480 min
Total time: 485 min
Ingredients: 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); 1/2 cup chicken stock; 4 ounces chopped chiles (optional but really good); 1 ounce Ranch seasoning mix

Easy, all in one dinner! Crockpot Ranch Chicken is made with tender chicken breast (or thighs) and tender vegetables all slow cooked to tender perfection in a rich, creamy gravy! It's a simple, throw together, one pot meal that's perfect for busy weeknights. Oven and Insta-pot instructions included.

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 8

Total Time 8 5

Jump to Recipe

The whole family will enjoy this easy weeknight dinner made with simple ingredients. It's hearty comfort food made easy!

Overhead view of this dish being served from a slow cooker.

Table of Contents

THIS was an AMAZING dish
🗝️ Key takeaways
🧾 Ingredients
📖 Variations
🔪 Instructions
🎥 Video
🥫 How to store leftovers
Marye's notes:
💭 Things to know
👩‍🍳 FAQs
🍽️ Serve with
📚 Related recipes
📞 The last word
📖 Recipe
Pin it now
💬 Comments

THIS was an AMAZING dish

THIS was an AMAZING dish. Will DEFINITELY be making it again. I did sprinkle some onion and garlic powders with the salt and pepper.

Joseph N.

🗝️ 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 slow cooker and by dinnertime you'll have a delicious chicken stew with its own gravy!

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.

Can I use frozen chicken breasts?

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.

How long can this crock pot Ranch chicken be stored?

Store, tightly covered, in the refrigerator for 4 days or freezer for 3 months. If freezing remove the potatoes - they don't freeze well.

Can I use homemade cream of chicken soup?

Homemade soups tend to make this sauce watery. If you do use the homemade soup do not try to freeze this.

Is it better to cook chicken on high or low in crockpot?

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 -

Close up of finished biscuits in a basket showing the bumpy texture.

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!

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

Ranch chicken in the slow cooker waiting to be served.

Crockpot Ranch Chicken

4.70 from 10 votes

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Course dinner

Cuisine American - Southern

Prep Time: 5

Cook Time: 8

Total Time: 8 5

Servings:

Calories:302

Author:Marye Audet-White

Ingredients

▢ 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

Storage:

Let come to room temperature and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator or cover with plastic wrap. Ranch chicken will be fine for 3-4 days.

You can freeze this dish IF you've used commercially prepared cream of chicken soup (Campbells, etc) AND if you remove the potatoes first. Store in a freezer bag or a freezer container for up to 3 months.

Tips:

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.

You'll find more helpful tips and variations in the body of the post.

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.

First published September 17, 2020. Last updated March 31, 2024, for increased information and editorial improvements.

Close up of chicken and gravy on a plate.

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Creamy Crockpot Ranch Chicken