One of my best friends also know as Lynnie (Lynn to those who aren’t cool enough to know her yet) offered to post a recipe that she recently tried to lighten my load a bit since I have been running around a little too much lately. So who am I to turn down free help!! So be kind and show her some love in the comments.
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As working mom of a toddler I am all about crock-pot recipes. I was a little concerned about how this would turnout since I was mixing the ingredients into the crockpot while simultaneously making tacos and accidentally dumped a portion of the taco seasoning in the chicken dish when I thought it was ranch dip mix. Oops! Despite that mess up this recipe was a huge success with my little one, my husband and my father-in-law. I will definitely make it again.
Ingredients: cooking spray ~ 1/4 teaspoon paprika ~ 2 pounds of chicken breasts (or thighs) – approximately 6 chicken breasts ~ 1 packet of mix ~ 1/2 cup low-sodium (or organic) chicken broth ~ salt & pepper for sprinkling ~ 1/2 teaspoon oregano ~ 1/3 cup half & half (could use fat free) ~ 2 teaspoons cornstarch ~ 3 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese
For the original recipe click here.
Directions:
1. Spray slow cooker with cooking spray (this will save you some serious scrubbing later).
2. Place chicken in the bottom of the slow cooker and sprinkle evenly with salt, pepper, and paprika.
3. Add in the packet of ranch dip mix over chicken, and top with the chicken broth.
Be sure it is ranch not taco seasoning like what I did!
4. Turn on slow cooker and cook on high for 4 hours or low for 6-7 hours.
5. Thirty minutes before serving, mix 1/3 cup half & half with 1 teaspoon of cornstarch. Add to slow cooker and mix. Sprinkle on 1/2 teaspoon oregano and 1 teaspoon parsley.
6. Cube 3 ounces of cream cheese and distribute evenly in the liquid in the slow cooker. Replace lid and cook for an additional 20-25 minutes.
7. Remove chicken to platter, stir sauce and pour over pasta. For a low-carb meal, serve with a fresh green salad, or steamed vegetables.
I boiled fettuccine, drained and then put pasta and chicken mixture in one pot and stirred it all together. Then, of course, sprinkled with Parmesan.
It was delicious like that but I thought it would be great with a vegetable. So for leftover food night I sautéed some mushrooms and then added it to the dish that I heated in the microwave. It was great before but the mushrooms made it even better! I’ve never been a guest blogger and now realize more pictures would have been good. Oh well, I hope you like the recipe as much as I did.
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Thank Lynnie for guest blogging. She did awesome and that sounds delicious. For me I would serve over spaghetti squash and add some broccoli since I am a huge broccoli fan and I don’t eat pasta but I love that it is so easy to add your own flair to it, like she would with the mushrooms. Who doesn’t love a crockpot meal?!
you had me at ranch and then sold at Crock Pot!! Love this and it sounds delish!! thanks so much for sharing!
Pretty much anything with Ranch is going to be good!
Yum! I am always looking for new ways to cook chicken so I’ll be adding this to my list!
-Sharon
Chicken can get boring after awhile. I love crockpot recipes since they are so much easier too.
This looks great Lynn! Love how you jazzed up the leftovers too.
She did such a great job!
I like the idea of serving this over spaghetti squash which is my new favorite thing since I finally learned how to cook it properly. I also love the idea of adding mushrooms and broccoli.
Spaghetti Squash is so good. Any time you can sneak in veggies is a good idea! 😉
This looks so good!
Thank you! She did an awesome job, and I love Crockpot meals.
mmmm delish and easy! sounds like my kinda meal!
Right, quick and easy really helps!
This looks so good!!!
Thanks! She picked a really good one to share.
Sounds yummy!!
Thanks! Quick and easy is the way to go!
Yum!! I’m always looking for new recipes for TJs pregame – thanks so much for sharing this, I can’t wait to try it!!
Thanks! Ranch is my favorite so I am really excited to give it a try too! Hope TJ likes it too.
I just got my first gift off my registry….and it was a crock pot! Perfect timing!!!
Perfect Timing! You are going to love your Crockpot. Simple, quick and easy is always nice.
This looks amazing, I love anything that’s creamy and has ranch!
Thanks for linking up 🙂
You really can’t go wrong with Ranch!
Thanks for the nice comments.
Thank you so much sissy for sharing! Love you bunches!
This look so good! I gave up cheese for Lent (what was I thinking) but I’m going to remember this for later! I love anything made with those little ranch packets!
Oh that would be so hard for me! So much can be made with them, and you can’t go wrong with Ranch! 😉
Creamy + chicken = one of my favorite combinations. Thanks for linking up your delicious recipes!
Yes, and in a Crockpot to make it easy! Win-win!
The minute I come to your blog and see the title has a food in it, I sigh. Not because I don’t love these posts, but because I do love these posts! Thankful I just finished dinner and am very full so I can handle it today. It looks delicious!
Haha! Sorry to be tempting you with food. Yes, not to be looked at on an empty stomach!
We’re always looking for easy crock pot recipes and this sounds so delicious! Thanks for sharing Lynn!
Crockpots make everything so much easier!
a little ranch and taco mixed together never hurt anyone, right?
I know right?! I almost wished she kept it in there. Haha!
so glad she shared this on here! and glad you were able to take a little break 🙂
Thank you! It was nice not having to worry about a post, and she did an awesome job.
This looks AMAZING! Just found you through Mrs. Laura Beth when she shouted your name for Cheers not Jeers! Glad to have found your space!
Thank you! So glad you stopped by. Hope to get to know you better!
Lynn,,I can’t wait to try!
She did so good and it looks so tasty!
Holy yum! I need to start utilizing ranch seasoning more.
You can add it to so many dishes and can’t beat a quick Crockpot recipe.