Crack Chicken For One

Enjoy the satisfying flavors of this Crack Chicken recipe, a delightful single serving meal that combines tender chicken, rich cheese, and savory bacon. It’s an easy-to-make dish, perfectly portioned for one, ensuring you get all the flavors of the classic recipe in a more convenient size. Ideal for a relaxing evening, Crack Chicken is not only satisfying but also packed with taste, making it a must-try for a fulfilling meal at home.

this Recipe

Enjoy this deliciously baked small batch Crack Chicken served over smooth buttered noodles, fluffy white rice, nutty brown rice, or alongside warm, crusty French bread perfect for dipping.

Why You’ll Love This Baked Crack Chicken Recipe

• Quick and Easy: This recipe bakes in about 25 minutes, making it a great choice for a fast yet satisfying meal.
• Single Serving: No need to worry about leftovers! This recipe is perfectly portioned for one.
• Flavorful: The creamy sauce and crispy bacon add a burst of flavor to the chicken.
• Customizable: Feel free to add your favorite toppings, such as green onions, chopped tomatoes, or a sliced avocado.
• Flavorful Homemade Seasoning: Ditching the packaged ranch seasoning which is traditionally found in many Crack Chicken recipes, we use a homemade blend that’s just as tasty.

Ingredients

In this section, I’ll briefly explain why each ingredient is chosen for our single serving crack chicken recipe. For detailed measurements and step-by-step instructions, please refer to the recipe card at the end of this post.

• Olive Oil: Extra virgin olive oil is used for its rich flavor and health benefits. For added richness, substitute with butter.
• Chicken Breast: The star of the dish. Use a 4 to 5 ounce boneless, skinless chicken breast for this recipe. If preferred, substitute with a boneless, skinless chicken thigh. If you find yourself with leftover chicken, why not use it in other delicious dishes? Consider adding it to a Chicken and Rice Casserole, spicing it up in a Chicken Tagine, making savory Buffalo Chicken Tenders, or tossing it in a flavorful Cashew Chicken recipe.
• Chopped Onions and Garlic Clove: We recommend sautéing chopped onions and a minced garlic clove in olive oil after cooking the chicken. These ingredients add a wonderful depth of flavor and a hint of sweetness to the dish.
• Low Sodium Chicken Broth: Using low sodium chicken broth allows you to control the saltiness of the dish more effectively. If you choose regular chicken broth, consider reducing or eliminating any additional salt to maintain a balanced flavor. If you have leftover broth, it can be used in any of our soup recipes. Try using it in Zuppa Toscana, blend it into a comforting Potato Soup, or in our hearty Chicken Stew.
• Seasonings (Dried Dill, Parsley Flakes, Garlic Powder, Onion Powder): Instead of the usual packaged ranch seasoning found in traditional Crack Chicken recipes, this version uses a homemade blend of dried dill, parsley flakes, garlic powder, and onion powder. This combination creates a fresh, herbaceous flavor profile that perfectly complements the chicken.
• Heavy Cream: : Heavy cream adds a luxurious, velvety texture to the dish, making it indulgently creamy. As it cooks, heavy cream thickens naturally, helping to create a cohesive sauce that clings beautifully to the chicken and any accompanying sides, like noodles or rice. Half-and-half can be used for a lighter, less rich version. If you have extra cream, it can be creatively used in various recipes. Whip it into a Crustless Quiche Lorraine for added richness, stir into Cheesy Baked Eggs for a creamy texture, blend into Creamy Vegetable Soup for extra smoothness, or incorporate it into a Mini French Silk Pie for a decadent dessert!
• Cream Cheese: Cream cheese is a key ingredient in Crack Chicken, providing a rich, velvety base to the sauce. Its mild tanginess complements the savory flavors of the chicken and spices, while its creamy texture helps to bind all the ingredients together, creating a luxurious sauce. Use any remaining cream cheese to make Jalapeño Poppers with a creamy filling or to make a delightful small batch of Oreo Balls.
• Cheddar Cheese: For the best melt and flavor, we recommend shredding your own cheddar cheese. Pre-packaged shredded cheese often contains anti-clumping agents that can hinder smooth melting. Freshly shredded cheese ensures a creamier and more cohesive texture in your Crack Chicken. For leftover cheddar cheese, consider adding it to a Broccoli Casserole for extra cheesiness or use it in a small batch of Loaded Deviled Eggs for a flavorful twist.
• Salt and Black Pepper: For even seasoning throughout the dish, we prefer using kosher salt with a clean flavor and excellent solubility. Its coarse texture allows for precise control, ensuring every bite is perfectly seasoned. Along with this, freshly ground black pepper is added, introducing a subtle heat and aromatic depth. This combination of spices balances the rich and creamy elements of the crack chicken beautifully. I like using Diamond Crystal brand of kosher salt and find it to be ideal for achieving this flavor balance.
• Bacon: It brings a satisfying crunch and rich flavor to the dish. If you have extra bacon, it works wonderfully in a German Potato Salad, adds depth to Coq au Vin, or can be a hearty addition to Lentil Stew.
• Green onions: These are optional but add a nice fresh flavor.

If you have any ingredients leftover from this easy crack chicken recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder.

How To Make Crack Chicken

These step-by-step photos and instructions help you visualize how to make this small batch crack chicken recipe. See the recipe box below for ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions.

1. Preparing the Chicken: Start by heating 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil in a 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Season chicken pieces with salt and black pepper. Cook the chicken in the skillet for 2 minutes on one side, then flip and cook for another 2 minutes on the other side. Remove chicken and set aside – it doesn’t need to be fully cooked at this point.

2. Sautéing Onions: Add the remaining olive oil to the same pan. Add onions and sauté until they turn translucent, about 1 minute, stirring occasionally.

3. Adding Garlic: Stir in the garlic and continue cooking for an additional 30 seconds, stirring frequently to prevent burning.

4. Simmering with Broth: Pour in the chicken broth, stirring occasionally, and bring the mixture to a simmer.

5. Incorporating Cream: Add the heavy cream to the pan and bring the mixture back to a simmer. Once simmering, continue to cook for 1 minute, stirring often.

6. Adding Seasonings and Cheese: Remove the pan from heat. Stir in cream cheese, dried parsley flakes, dill, garlic powder, onion powder, and the remaining salt until well combined.

7. Combining Chicken, Cheese, and Bacon: Mix in the chicken, half of the shredded cheese, and the bacon into the pan, ensuring everything is evenly distributed.

8. Baking Preparation: Transfer the mixture to a lightly buttered 5×5 inch baking dish, spreading it evenly.

Pro Tip: Place the baking dish on a rimmed baking sheet to catch any possible spills.

9. Adding the Final Cheese Layer: Sprinkle the remaining cheese evenly over the top of the mixture in the baking dish. Cover the dish with foil to lock in moisture and ensure even baking.

10. Baking and Serving: Place the covered dish in the oven and bake for 20 minutes. After baking, remove the foil and garnish the crack chicken with sliced green onions.

Pro Tip: If the cheese hasn’t completely melted, return the dish to the oven without the foil and bake for an extra 5 minutes, or until the cheese is fully melted. Then, top with the green onions.

This dish is now ready to be enjoyed! Serve it over your choice of pasta or rice, or pair it with a slice of French bread for a delightful meal.

Frequently Asked Questions