This Crack Chicken Recipe using a pressure cooker is so delish. Chicken breast with cream cheese and seasonings, loaded with grated cheese and cooked in an instant pot.!
This chicken and our Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Chicken are wonderful recipes for potlucks or lazy dinners that require minimal prep time!
Pin this recipe HERE! Follow Valentina’s Corner on Pinterest for more inspiration!
What is Crack Chicken?
Crack Chicken isn’t the most appealing name for the recipe but it suits this recipe perfectly. The recipe gets its name for being SOO addictive. You just cannot stop eating it.
Pull-apart tender chicken breast in a cheesy seasoned cream cheese mixture. Served with homemade coleslaw on a bun.
How to make Crack Chicken-
This recipe is so easy to make that it’s almost too embarrassing to have a recipe for it! If you’ve not yet tried this. It’s PHENOMENAL!
- Grease instant pot with oil or butter.
- Add whole chicken breasts to pot.
- In a medium bowl, combine ingredients for the cream cheese.
- Spread the mixture over the chicken breasts.
- Top with cubed butter.
- Cook chicken and release with a quick release of pressure.
- Remove chicken from pot and shred with two forks.
- Add back to the instant pot, add the shredded cheese and mix everything with a spatula until well incorporated.
- Close the lid and allow the cheese to melt completely.
- Serve immediately.
How to serve Creamy Pulled Chicken-
This amazing creamy chicken may be served as a sandwich with homemade coleslaw. It may also be served over mashed potatoes, or even as a side with buttered pasta. You may also have the chicken with tortillas, add lettuce and serve it as chicken tacos or quesadilla.
Can Crack Chicken be frozen?
Yes, this pull-apart chicken may be frozen. Keep it in an airtight container or freezer bag. Thaw and reheat on low heat in a saucepan to serve.
TOOLS used to make this recipe: This is the INSTANT POT we have and love. 🙂
How to Make Slow Cooker Crack Chicken?
If anyone doesn’t have a pressure cooker and wants to use a slow cooker instead, here’s how to make slow cooker crack chicken.
- Prepare recipe per instruction and place into a slow cooker (Crock Pot).
- Cook on high 4 hours, cook on low 6-7 hours.
- Shred chicken with two forks. Add the grated cheese and mix well.
- Close slow cooker and continue cooking 15-30 minutes, or until cheese completely melts.
- Enjoy!
(I hope you enjoyed this amazing Instant Pot Chicken Recipe. Don’t forget to tag us on social media if you make it, #ValentinasCorner.)
GETTING TO KNOW YOU: What’s your favorite Instant Pot recipe? I’d love to hear about it in the comments below. 🙂

An easy and quick recipe for Crack Chicken. Pull-apart chicken breast with cream cheese and seasonings, loaded with grated cheese and cooked in an instant pot.
- 1 ½ lbs chicken breast (3 breasts)
- 2 Tbsp unsalted butter, cubed
- 1 cup shredded cheese (see Note)
- 8 oz cream cheese
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp parsley flakes
- ¼ tsp ground pepper
- ½ tsp ground paprika
- ¼ tsp dried basil
- ¼ tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp table salt
- 2 cups slaw mix
- 3 Tbsp mayonnaise
- ½ tsp granulated sugar
- ½ tsp lemon juice
- dash pepper and salt
-
Place chicken breast into an instant pot.
-
In a small bowl, combine all the ingredients for the cream cheese mixture.
-
Spread the cream cheese mixture over the chicken breast. Add the cubed butter.
-
Close lid and cook on high pressure for 20 minutes with a quick release of pressure.
-
Remove chicken and with two forks pull apart the chicken. (Keep lid covered so the remaining ingredients stay warm.)
-
Add chicken back to instant pot, add shredded cheese and mix.
-
Combine all the ingredients for the coleslaw.
-
Add a generous portion of the pulled chicken onto a bun, top with coleslaw.
-
Enjoy immediately.
Cheese: Colby Jack, Four Cheese, Mexican or a blend of Mozzarella and Mild Cheddar may be used.
NUTRITION DISCLAIMER
The Crack Chicken is so yummy!! We had it on a baked potato, and plan to serve leftovers on a bun with coleslaw. Just have to say the dry spices would also make a delicious rub on most any kind of meat, that’s going to be another adventure!
That’s great, Donna. I love that you served chicken over a baked potato – that’s great.
Thanks for visiting our online home, do stop back and visit again. =)
Do you prefer it to be made in the instant pot or slow cooker? I tried once in the slow cooker but now have an instant pot, but for some reason afraid to make it in the IP , not sure if results will be the same. Thanks
Jessica, we LOVE it in an instant pot. So quick and hassle-free but the chicken tastes just as amazing. 🙂 Let me know how you like it if you try it.
Husband was disappointed I “just made a chicken sandwich “. Then he ate it and said to put it on my top 10. Creamy, flavorful and delicious!
Tanya, I loved reading your comment. Made me smile super BIG! So happy your better half enjoyed the chicken sandwich that caught him off guard! 🙂 🙂
Upon review I found differences in your printer version and the description within the blog. The blog instructions state that the chicken needs to be laid in oil at the bottom of the pan. It also instructs the reader to naturally release the pressure. The printer version states that a quick release is needed.
It’s no wonder I’m having problems. I truly followed the instructions too closely. Please consider a revision…
Thanks so much for catching that, Shanda. I’m so sorry for the mistake. Recipe is fixed. Thanks for visiting our online home and stop by and visit again. 🙂
I have gotten a burn notice several times but followed the recipe to a T. What in the world am I doing wrong :/
Do you have any suggestions on how to fix the issue?
Do you not add any liquid to this recipe?
Hi, Doris. No, you don’t need any liquid for the crack chicken. The butter and cream cheese and melted cheese are all you need. 🙂
What is a serving size? I have to measure all my food and was unable to find the actual serving size
It’s in the recipe card, 6 servings. Enjoy, Wendy!
Can I use frozen chicken or it has to be thawed?
Though I’ve not tried it, I wouldn’t advise frozen chicken. It will not cook evenly. Thawed chicken is best. Enjoy, Tanya!
Have a most blessed 2019 year.
I don’t use my instant pot that often but I’m for sure gonna have to pull it out to make this amazing, easy recipe!
This crack chicken will be a great reason to get out the instant pot! 🙂 It’s soo good.
Valentina I can’t wait to try this. Please share lots more recipes using a pressure cooker. I’ve had one for a couple years now and don’t know what to make in it. Thank you so much 🙂 also is there a substitution for oregano? I don’t have it and never use it.
Tanya,
I can’t wait for you to try it. It’s a keeper recipe. I am glad to hear you’d like to see more Instant Pot recipes as I am loving my pressure cooker! More to come. <3
Hi Valentina!
This recipe looks amazing! I don’t have an instant pot can I still make this but in a slow cooker instead?
Hi, Allochka!
The post is updated with slow cooker instructions. This recipe is A.M.A.Z.I.N.G! Even picky eaters will ask for seconds. (P.S. Don’t skip the coleslaw, it’s pure perfection! :O)..)
Wow You are so amazing thank you for adding the slow cooker instruction so quickly! Can’t wait to make this for my family ASAP I definitely will make it with the coleslaw! Love all your recipes:)
I had it written up, my pregnancy brain forgot to add it, haha. 🙂 Enjoy and hope to hear your feedback.
Mmm Looks soooooo good!! Can I make it in a slow cooker?
Oh Mariana, it’s seriously amazing. Especially with the added coleslaw. Yummmers! I updated the post with slow cooker instruction, can’t believe I forgot those. (Pregnancy brain ;).)