This crack chicken salad has no business being this good! It’s creamy, packed with ranch, bacon, and cheddar, and disappears way too fast. Pile it on a croissant or eat it straight from the bowl. I promise I won’t judge!
Get Ready to Be Hooked
- Flavor That Hits Different: Ranch, bacon, cream cheese, AND cheddar? Yes please! Skip your grandma’s chicken salad and make this instead.
- So Simple! Just mix it up, toss it in the fridge, and lunch is done. It gets even better as it sits, so it’s perfect for meal prep.
- Endless Ways to Eat It: Croissants, crackers, lettuce wraps, a spoon straight from the bowl, however you serve it, it slaps every single time!
Ingredients for Crack Chicken Salad
- Chicken: Use leftover or rotisserie chicken, or cook and shred your own, whatever is easiest.
- Bacon: Pre-cooked bacon is a quick, simple way to save time.
- Cream cheese: This is the key to that rich, creamy ‘crack’ flavor.
How to Make Crack Chicken Salad
Try this crack chicken salad, and you’ll see exactly why it got its name! If you love it, make sure you also try my crack chicken tacos and crack chicken pasta next!
- Combine: In a large bowl, mix together the mayo, softened cream cheese, ranch seasoning, and garlic powder until smooth and well combined.
- Stir Ingredients Together: Add the chicken, celery, shredded cheddar cheese, crumbled bacon, and green onions, then stir to combine.
- Serve: Enjoy crack chicken salad on croissants, in sandwiches or wraps, over lettuce, or with crackers.
Alyssa’s Pro Tip
Add Some Heat: Swap in pepper jack cheese for the cheddar for a kick. For even more spice, add diced jalapeños.
Crack Chicken Salad
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Equipment
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Mixing Bowl
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Knife
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Cutting Board
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Chicken Shredder
Ingredients
- 3 cups chopped cooked chicken breast or shredded
- 1 ¼ cups mayonnaise
- 3 tablespoons softened cream cheese
- 2 tablespoons dry ranch powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ cup chopped celery
- ¾ cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ cup cooked and crumbled bacon
- ¼ cup diced green onions
Instructions
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In a large bowl, combine 1 ¼ cups mayonnaise, 3 tablespoons softened cream cheese, 2 tablespoons dry ranch powder, and ½ teaspoon garlic powder. Stir well to combine.
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Add 3 cups chopped cooked chicken breast, 1 ¼ cups mayonnaise, 3 tablespoons softened cream cheese, 2 tablespoons dry ranch powder, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ cup chopped celery, ¾ cup shredded cheddar cheese, ½ cup cooked and crumbled bacon, and ¼ cup diced green onions to the bowl.
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Stir to combine with the mayonnaise mixture. Serve on fresh croissants, on a bed of lettuce, or with crackers!
Notes
- Make-Ahead: Prepare it, cover it tightly, and store it in the fridge until you’re ready to enjoy. Before serving, stir in 1-2 tablespoons of mayonnaise to add moisture if the salad needs a refresh.
- Fridge: Keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Freezer: I don’t recommend freezing this recipe.
Nutrition
More Favorite Chicken Salad Recipes
If you’re looking for more easy lunch ideas, check out these other popular chicken salad recipes! They’re quick to make, full of flavor, and perfect for everything from simple lunches to easy meal prep.
