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Home / Recipes / Pressure Cooker / Pressure Cooker Main Courses / Pressure Cooker Chicken / Instant Pot Spicy Crack Chicken (Pressure Cooker)

Instant Pot Spicy Crack Chicken (Pressure Cooker)

Published on October 19, 2018. Last updated August 14, 2021 · 6 Comments · As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs I earn from qualifying purchases; see all disclosures.

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Instant Pot Spicy Crack Chicken dip, for sandwiches or on a bed of lettuce is tender, juicy and cheesy with buffalo sauce. Low carb and keto too. Pressure Cooker Crack Chicken.

Instant Pot Spicy Crack Chicken

Instant Pot Spicy Crack Chicken

One of the first and still one of my most favorite recipes I ever made in my first pressure cooker is my Pressure Cooker Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese.

I’ve always joked that it is like “crack,” as it is just so delicious.

As my Spicy Chicken Bow Tie Pasta recipe from my This Old Gal Pressure Cooker Cookbook has been hugely popular, I’ve created this Instant Pot Spicy Crack Chicken to be a combination of the two, but in a keto low carb version.

Making Crack Chicken in the Instant Pot, Ninja Foodi or Pressure Cooker takes a fraction of the time as a Slow Cooker and the chicken will come out considerably more tender and juicy.

 

Cast of Ingredients for Instant Pot Spicy Crack Chicken

Cast of Ingredients for Instant Pot Spicy Crack Chicken

My Instant Pot Crack Chicken recipe uses individual seasonings rather than a packet of Hidden Valley Ranch Mix.

If you prefer to use the pre-made mix instead, please just leave out the individual seasonings found on the recipe card below.

Jump to Section

  • What is Instant Pot Spicy Crack Chicken?
  • Just Take Me To the Best Crack Chicken Recipe Ever!
  • How to Make Instant Pot Spicy Crack Chicken.
  • How to Eat Instant Pot Spicy Crack Chicken.
  • Tips and Tricks for Instant Pot Crack Chicken.
  • Instant Pot Spicy Crack Chicken

What is Instant Pot Spicy Crack Chicken?

  • “Crack” chicken is simply the combination of cheese, dry ranch seasoning and bacon.
  • Shelly from Cookies and Cups says that she had seen that combination referred to as “crack” this and “crack” that, so she created a Slow Cooker chicken version.
  • Her original “crack chicken” was created/posted early 2015 and was apparently a huge success.

My Buffalo Chicken Mac & Cheese came about in 2005, before I was blogging. It was so good, my husband and I referred to it as crack” and I posted about it on my Facebook page. Back then, I used to post everything I cooked, back before I knew blogging was a thing. 🙂

In 2011 I began working with Bob Wang, the owner of Instant Pot, as a reseller of the Instant Pot Multi-cooker. We had talked about my buffalo chicken recipe and he asked me if he could post it on his website.

My Instant Pot Spicy Crack Chicken is a combination of my Buffalo Chicken Mac & Cheese and my Spicy Bow Tie Pasta recipes.

Just Take Me To the Best Crack Chicken Recipe Ever!

I get so many comments and questions on my posts, so I try to provide as much information as possible about the recipe to help you, my readers.

I try to provide as many tips and tricks and answer anticipated questions, so your recipe will be the best, the very first time, including how and why my methods work. This extra bit of information should help to provide you with a perfect cooking experience every time.

If you would rather skip right to the recipe or video, please scroll to the bottom of this page, where you will find the full and complete printable recipe.

 

Diced Onions, Chicken Chunks, Cream Cheese

Diced Onions, Chicken Chunks, Cream Cheese

Use a microplane to shred your own cheese. Freshly shredded cheese is much tastier.

How to Make Instant Pot Spicy Crack Chicken.

Onions or scallions are diced and chicken is cut into chunks.

Rather than using a packet of ranch seasonings, individual spices are used for a more flavorful dish. However, feel free to use the packet and just leave out the individual seasonings. Directions are found below on the recipe card.

Most of the ingredients are added to the Instant Pot, Ninja Foodi or Pressure Cooker.

 

Add Seasonings and Liquids to Cooking Pot

Add Seasonings and Liquids to Cooking Pot

Sliced carrots add more great flavor. If you use them, you might want to hand shred the chicken, rather than using an electric mixer.

 

Add the Cheese!

Add the Cheese!

Cheese will melt quickly in the hot liquid.

The sauce thickens up as it cools.

How to Eat Instant Pot Spicy Crack Chicken.

  • As a sandwich.
  • Rolled up in a lettuce leaf.
  • On top of a green salad.
  • Over Mashed Cauliflower.

 

Shred the Crack Chicken

Shred the Crack Chicken

Shredding the chicken with a hand held electric mixer is quickest way to shred cooked chicken.

Tips and Tricks for Instant Pot Crack Chicken.

  1. Bacon can be first cooked in the Instant Pot, Ninja Foodi or Pressure Cooker and left in the pot, or can be cooked on the stove and added afterwards.
  2. Cut the block of cream cheese into small pieces.
  3. To enhance the flavor of the hot sauce, add a touch of brown sugar alternative or a Tablespoon of brown sugar (if not following keto).
  4. Franks RedHot Sauce is recommended.
  5. For a milder flavor, either add more butter or use less hot sauce.
  6. Use a handheld electric mixer to easily shred the chicken.

 

Pressure Cooker Spicy Crack Chicken

Pressure Cooker Spicy Crack Chicken

Crispy Bacon makes a great topping. Chop it up and mix it through too!

Instant Pot Spicy Crack Chicken tastes even better the next day!

More Instant Pot Cheesy Recipes To Make:

  • Instant Pot Chicken Jalapeno Popper Soup
  • Low Carb Keto Pressure Cooker Hot Onion Dip
  • Instant Pot Creamy Parmesan Garlic Mushroom Chicken

Kitchen Equipment and Essentials

  • Instant Pot, Ninja Foodi or Pressure Cooker
  • J.A. Henckels Classic 8 inch Chef’s Knife
  • Amco Advanced Performance 18/10 Stainless Steel Measuring Spoons
  • Simply Gourmet (Dry) Stainless Steel Measuring Cups
  • Anchor Hocking Glass (Liquid) Measuring Cups
  • di Oro Living Silicone Spatulas Set
  • Porcelain & Bamboo Salt Box with Spoon
  • Gravity Electric Salt and Pepper Grinder
  • My FANTASTIC Teak Cutting & Charcuterie Board & Compartments
  • Microplane Artisan Ribbon Grater
  • Lodge 10.25″ Cast Iron Skillet
  • Cuisinart Electric Hand Mixer – for baking and shredding chicken!
  • OXO Stainless Steel Tongs

Caring is sharing! If you would like to support This Old Gal, please share this recipe on Social Media, so that I can continue to bring you more wonderful recipes!

If you share a picture of something you make from our blog, tag it with #thisoldgalcooks so we can see it. We might feature it on Instagram! It makes my day when I see you’ve made one of our recipes!

Here is the handy printable recipe:

Pressure Cooker Spicy Crack Chicken

Instant Pot Spicy Crack Chicken

5 from 1 vote
Print Pin SaveSaved! Rate
Course: Dinner, Lunch, Main Course
Cuisine: All
Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 3 minutes minutes
Pressure Release: 10 minutes minutes
Total Time: 18 minutes minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 338kcal
Author: Jill Selkowitz

Ingredients

  • 4 ounces Shallot diced
  • 1.5 pounds Chicken Breasts Boneless/Skinless cut into 2 inch chunks
  • 4 ounces Cream Cheese cut into 8 pieces
  • 1/4 cup Salted Butter cut into 8 pieces
  • 1/4 cup Frank's RedHot Cayenne Pepper Sauce (water or chicken broth)
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce

Ranch Mix (Homemade)

  • 2 teaspoons Sea Salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon Ground Celery Seed
  • 1/4 teaspoon Freshly Ground Black Pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon Dried Parsley Flakes
  • 1/8 teaspoon Garlic Powder
  • 1/8 teaspoon Granulated Onion Powder
  • 2 Tablespoons Distilled White Vinegar

Finishing

  • 4 ounces Sharp Cheddar Cheese shredded
  • 4 ounces Swiss Cheese shredded
  • 4 ounces Blue Cheese, Feta or Cotija Cheese crumbled
  • 1/2 cup Scallions chopped
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Add shallots, chicken, cream cheese, butter, hot sauce (if using) Worcestershire, salt, celery, pepper, parsley, garlic powder, onion powder and vinegar to pressure cooker cooking pot.
  • Lock on lid and close pressure valve. Cook at high pressure for 3 minutes. When beep sounds, wait 10 minutes and then carefully release the rest of the pressure.
  • Remove lid and stir in cheddar cheese, Swiss cheese and blue cheese.
  • Use a mixer to shred the chicken or use two forks. When chicken is shredded mix in scallions.

Notes

A packet of Ranch Mix can be used instead of the homemade Ranch mix.

Optional Add Ins

  • 1 stalk Celery, minced
  • 1 small Red Pepper, diced.
  • Add in with the onions/scallions.
Crisp bacon is awesome to add to Instant Pot Spicy Crack Chicken.

How to Eat Instant Pot Spicy Crack Chicken.

  • As a sandwich.
  • Rolled up in a lettuce leaf.
  • On top of a green salad.
  • Over Mashed Cauliflower.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Instant Pot Spicy Crack Chicken
Amount Per Serving
Calories 338 Calories from Fat 180
% Daily Value*
Fat 20g31%
Saturated Fat 12g75%
Cholesterol 109mg36%
Sodium 1383mg60%
Potassium 485mg14%
Carbohydrates 5g2%
Fiber 0g0%
Sugar 2g2%
Protein 31g62%
Vitamin A 640IU13%
Vitamin C 3.3mg4%
Calcium 359mg36%
Iron 0.9mg5%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Tried this recipe?Mention @ThisOldGalCooks or tag #thisoldgalcooks!
© ThisOldGal.com - Sharing the recipe link to any of my recipes posts are both encouraged and appreciated. Unauthorized and improperly attributed or non-attributed use of this material, including screen shots, copy/paste of full recipes to any social media site, website, mobile application or service (e.g., copymethat, recipe keeper, pepper) or cookbook, without the requisite attribution or otherwise with express written permission from Jill Selkowitz is strictly prohibited. You may share a photo with a link back instead.

PIN this Instant Pot Spicy Crack Chicken!

Instant Pot Pressure Cooker Spicy Crack Chicken

Instant Pot Pressure Cooker Spicy Crack Chicken

October 19, 2018

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Comments

  1. Karen says

    August 15, 2019 at 5:02 pm

    5 stars
    This was great.

    Reply
    • Jill Selkowitz says

      August 15, 2019 at 7:24 pm

      Thanks so much, Karen. Jill

      Reply
  2. Sarah Anne says

    May 24, 2019 at 9:01 am

    This dish was so delish! I served it on white rice with broccoli on the side. My husband is absolutely crazy about it and wants to make it at work. He is a Firefighter, and cooking dinner is always a big part of his day. They don’t have an Instant Pot at the fire station, so I am wondering if this recipe can be modified for a slow cooker or the stove top?

    Reply
    • Jill says

      May 24, 2019 at 1:47 pm

      I don’t see why not. Jill

      Reply
  3. Michelle says

    November 15, 2018 at 4:21 pm

    This was fantastic. The only two substitution I made was I didn’t have any Swiss so I just added more cheddar and I omitted the celery seed because I didn’t have any. I forgot to take a picture while still in the pot. But I’m trying to post one on Pinterest. Sooooooo good.

    Reply
  4. Lori Anderson says

    October 30, 2018 at 1:48 pm

    Recipes look awesome!

    Reply

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