Crack chicken keto thighs made on the stove top in a skillet. Featuring a creamed ranch sauce and topped with melted cheddar cheese. These chicken thighs are creamy and delicious!
What is crack chicken?
To begin, this should be asked first. I haven’t always known what crack chicken keto recipes were about. Thankfully, now I do!
Keto crack chicken is chicken made with a creamed ranch sauce and cheese. Typically, cream cheese and sharp cheddar are use. The chicken is made in a instant pot or crock pot for tenderness. My crack chicken keto thighs are made in an skillet. Much different than the traditional!
Crack chicken is suppose to be a keto snack, side dish if you may. I wanted to create and actual dish and make a filling keto dinner recipe for anyone to tried it. Cream cheese and sharp cheddar pack on the high fat side. Adding maximum flavor with the additions of bone broth as well.
Is chicken broth bone broth?
No, chicken broth has a great flavor. It’s keto friendly as well, but there is a better option. Such as chicken broth, bone broth carries the same great flavor. Yet, it has a secret ingredient chicken broth doesn’t have, collagen.
They are interchangeable. You can sub broth for bone broth or vice versa. But, you will lose the added benefits of what bone broth brings.
Advantages of bone broth:
- Collagen packed
- Great for the keto flu
- Packed with electrolytes
The powerhouse bone broth is super nutritional. You can purchase great collagen options from brands like Perfect Keto, but nothing beats the source. Bone broth can be sipped like tea or even make a bulletproof bone broth recipe.
Save 15% on collagen at Perfect Keto on me!
How to make crack chicken keto thighs in a skillet
- Seasoning the chicken thighs with salt and pepper. Then using olive oil brown the chicken in a medium hot pan.
- After chicken is browned on both sides remove the chicken from the pan. Lower the heat to medium and pour in broth.
- Bring broth to boil then lower the heat to medium/low to being to simmer. Add in cream cheese.
- Toss in tablespoon to tablespoon and a half of ranch seasoning mix.
- Add chicken thighs back into the broth and cream cheese.
- Once sauce has reduced take off heat and top each thigh with cheddar cheese. Place in oven on broil setting.
How to many calories in crack chicken keto thighs
Below you will find full nutrition facts for this skillet crack chicken keto thigh recipe. Info contains the value for each chicken thigh including the shredded sharp cheddar cheese. It fits the macros for the perfect keto dinner recipe. Only 3g net carbs per chicken thigh!
What to serve with crack chicken?
Skillet chicken thighs are a great option for your protein source. Yet, sometimes a side dish is nice. Things like cauliflower rice, broccoli, asparagus and so get a little old. Maybe, you should spice it up a little. Other great recipes and side dishes below can be used to serve with your skillet keto crack chicken thighs.
Cauliflower Sweet Potato Casserole
Chicken Thighs and Broccoli
Low Carb Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuits
Cheesy Radish Recipe
Keto Red Wine and Cabbage
Skillet Crack Chicken Keto Thighs
Ingredients
- 4 whole chicken thighs
- 1 cup chicken bone broth
- 5 ounces Cream Cheese
- 1-1.5 tablespoon ranch seasoning (This is what I use)
- 1/4 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 2 tablespoon olive oil for cooking
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1/8-1/4 teaspoon xanthan gum or guar gum (optional (see below))
Instructions
- Seasoning the chicken thighs with salt and pepper. Then using olive oil brown the chicken in a medium hot pan. Chicken skin just needs color. It doesn't have to be cooked all the way through.
- After chicken is browned on both sides remove the chicken from the pan. Lower the heat to medium and pour in broth.
- Bring broth to boil then lower the heat to medium/low to being to simmer. Add in cream cheese.
- Toss in tablespoon to tablespoon and a half of ranch seasoning mix. Depending on how strong you'd like the ranch flavor.
- Add chicken thighs back into the broth and cream cheese. Cover and simmer to for sauce to thicken.
- At this point you could wait it out or speed up your process. Sometimes the sauce will never thicken properly if the water to cream ratio is off. Xanthan gum or guar gum is great here. A little goes a long way so sprinkle, stir then wait about 30 seconds before adding more.
- Once sauce has reduced take off heat and top each thigh with cheddar cheese. Place in oven on broil setting.
- Allow to cheese to melt and brown then pull out of oven. Let cool slightly then serve.
Notes
Helpful Tips for thick cream sauce
- In order to get cream sauce thick you want to essentially cook the water out of the cream cheese. The bone broth will leave behind beneficial collagen which is a bonus over using basic chicken broth.
- Avoid too high temperatures to avoid burning your cream so make sure check in the simmering process that it's not too hot.
- Give it time, the cream will thicken. Be sure to baste your chicken in the process to avoid letting it dry out.
13 Comments
It takes a really long time for the sauce thicken! I gave up after an hour
sometimes it will fight you. I found that adding a little xantham or guar gum and arrowroot powder. Not all 3 just one. I have made it several times so I understand when it seems it won’t thicken properly, but those things help and speed up the process
These were delicious! I simmered this slightly higher than medium low and it took about 30-35 mins to thicken up. I used my cast iron skillet. Thanks for the recipe!
I am glad you enjoyed! Next time a little xanthan gum, guar gum or arrowroot will speed that process up quickly
Hi! I made this too and the cream cheese just curdled like cottage cheese 🙁 my patience is lacking and I don’t know what went wrong. Nevertheless, I just continued (no the cr cheese remained as cottage cheese) and I put in the oven. It tastes sooo good! I will make again…. BUT, minutes, HOW many to just stir it, not standing there for 15+ minutes, no way! Let m know. Thank u
Hi, I am going to update the ingredients because sometimes the sauce will seriously fight you before getting thick. A little xanthan gum, arrowroot powder or guar gum will thicken up the sauce quickly.
Can we sub the ranch out with a lemon pepper or cajun seasoning? I really loathe ranch and this recipe looks really good.
That is such a great idea I think I will make that myself first chance I get. Sounds like an amazing sub. I may do an entire recipe post just on that lol
This was the Best chicken I have Ever had it was cool yummy ll thank you for this recipe
Why is this so salty?
I added what I used but I personally don’t like adding salt because there are so many factors where it could be too much or not enough. I recommend people adjust salt to their likings on ay recipe they create
Sooo good! The Xanthan Gum worked like a charm!! Thank you so much for sharing this!!!
Times for browning and simmering would be super helpful. Especially when cooking chicken thighs.. I’ve undercooked Chicken thighs too many times lol