Pic Credit: eatingonadime.com
Crockpot ranch chicken and potatoes is a delicious meal made of rustic chicken, potatoes, and soaked in a ranch dressing. This is definitely one of the best recipes if you have a weekday, you need something yummy but you don’t want to spend too much time in the kitchen. Simply set it in your crockpot, and let it do the work while you attend to other tasks. The result is a satisfying meal that your family will enjoy Eating well does not need to cost a fortune nor does it have to take ages to prepare.
RECIPE INGREDIENTS
Ingredients
- 1 kg chicken breasts (boneless, skinless)
- 500 g baby potatoes (halved)
- 1 packet ranch dressing mix (about 30 g)
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- Salt and pepper (to taste)
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- Fresh parsley (for garnish)
MEASURES & PRECAUTIONS
- Use fresh ingredients: Make sure to use fresh chicken and potates to ensure it tastes better and the potatoes themselves are good. Natural and fresh spices give a unique flavour to the food products.
- Check potato size: Large potatoes should be halved or quartered in order to be cooked evenly with the rest of the potatoes. This step is useful especially because they get to cook it through at the same level as the chicken so that there is no undercooked item.
- Avoid overfilling the crockpot: This means that the best time to add the ingredients is before they fill more than two-thirds of the blender. Overfilling would result in an uneven heating process, and in other cases, over heating results in spills due to the generation of steam.
- Adjust seasoning carefully: This ranch dressing mix can be a little salty – so always taste your dish before adding extra salt. It’s easier to add salt later than to fix an overly salty dish.
- Use a meat thermometer: In order to contribute to food safety, make sure that the chicken gets to a core temperature of 75°C (165°F). This step ensures that harmful bacteria are eliminated.
Crockpot Ranch Chicken & Potatoes Recipe
INGREDIENTS NOTES
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Chicken breasts: Chicken breasts without bones and skin are suggested for this recipe because they heat up evenly and stay juicy. If cooking using thighs or drumsticks, this should take even lesser time compared to the abdomen area.
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Baby potatoes: These are preferred due to their size and preferred flavor over the hard shelled almonds. They really don’t need much preparation – just wash them and slice them in half. Especially when using biggest potatoes, they should be chopped into equal portions so that they cook to perfection.
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Ranch dressing mix: You may buy the pre-made ranch seasoning or use the herbs such as dried dill, parsley, garlic powder. It is recommended to change the taste as per your taste buds.
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Heavy cream: This ingredient makes the sauce more enriching. For a more dietary version, use half and half, or Greek yoghurt even while looking for creaminess in products.
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Chicken broth: If you are on diet, then you should try low-sodium broth all through. This let you have control on the seasoning with a specific method for the stages of cooking process.
STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS
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Prepare the crockpot: First of all, you need to put olive oil on the bottom of the crockpot to avoid that everything sticks to the side. This step is necessary so that cleanup is easier later on.
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Add the chicken: Put the boneless chicken breasts neatly in a single layer in the base of the crockpot. This way they will be surrounded by other ingredients hence the moisture required for even cooking will be obtained.
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Season the chicken: Season the chicken breasts with garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper, sprinkling them uniformly across the chicken breasts. This step seasoned the meat with flavour right into it.
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Add potatoes: Randomly place half of the baby potatoes around the seasoned chicken. Always lay them side by side so as to ensure they cook close to the chicken.
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Mix liquids: In a different bowl, mix in a ranch dressing, chicken broth and heavy cream. Mix for few seconds to form a creamy sauce which should suffocate all ingredients; Many recipes advice for stirring as a way of ensuring all ingredients mix well together.
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Pour over ingredients: Slowly, we need to pour this mixture over the chicken and potatoes in the crockpot. It is preferred that all the ingredients are well coated to ensure that all the foods meat all the flavors perfectly.
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Cover and cook: Put the lid well on the Crock-Pot. Cook on low heat for about 6 hours or high heat for about 4 hours until the chicken is tender and fully cooked through.
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Rest before serving: After cooking, let it stand for about 5 minutes before eating it. This keeps the chicken moist and the potatoes soft for that juicy outcome that customers would prefer.
RECIPE TIPS & VARIATIONS
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Add vegetables: Addition of other vegetable like carrots or green beans during preparation to the meals can also be recommended to make them even more healthy and inviting. They can be added in step 4 together with potatoes.
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Spice it up: For the lovers of spices, you might also add some red pepper flakes or hot sauce into the ranch mixture before you pour on your ingredients.
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Use different proteins: If you prefer a change in the meat flavor, replace chicken with pork chops or turkey – the cooking time will be almost the same.
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Make it lighter: For a better version of a healthier option, use the Greek yogurt blended with a little water or broth to make it creamy without using any cream.
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Leftovers storage: Any of the leftovers should be tightly covered and stored in the refrigerator for three days. Microwave or stove gently with a little broth should it be needed.
EQUIPMENT
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Crockpot (slow cooker)
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Mixing bowl
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Measuring cups and spoons
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Cutting board
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Knife
Note
SERVING TIPS 💡
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Serve hot directly from the crockpot for a casual family meal; this makes it easy for everyone to help themselves.
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Garnish with freshly chopped parsley before serving to add color and freshness to your dish.
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Pair with crusty bread or a side salad for a complete meal; this adds texture and balance.
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Offer additional ranch dressing on the side for those who prefer extra flavor; this can enhance individual servings.
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Consider serving with rice or quinoa if you want something heartier; these grains soak up any remaining sauce beautifully.
If you're looking for a quick and flavorful meal, check out this easy Crock Pot Frozen Chicken Breast recipe.
