Crack Chicken and Rice Skillet (Print Version)

One-pan skillet with seasoned chicken, jasmine rice cooked in chicken broth, loaded with Colby Jack cheese, cream cheese, crispy bacon, and ranch seasoning.

# Ingredients:

→ For the Skillet

01 - 1 lb chicken breast, cut into cubes
02 - 2 tablespoons butter
03 - 1 onion, chopped
04 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
05 - 1 teaspoon black pepper
06 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
07 - 1 tablespoon ranch seasoning
08 - 1 tablespoon minced garlic
09 - 2 cups chicken broth
10 - 1 cup white jasmine rice, rinsed
11 - 1 1/2 cups shredded Colby Jack cheese
12 - 2 oz cream cheese
13 - 4 pieces bacon, cooked and crumbled
14 - 2 green onions, chopped

# Instructions:

01 - Cut the chicken breast into small, bite-sized cubes.
02 - Add the butter to a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once melted, add the chicken and spread it out evenly in the pan. Season with salt, pepper, smoked paprika, and ranch seasoning. Cook until the chicken is almost cooked through.
03 - Add the chopped onion and minced garlic to the skillet. Make a well in the center and add the rinsed rice. Stir the rice around for a minute or two to let it toast - this adds great flavor.
04 - Pour in the chicken broth and stir everything together really well. Bring the whole skillet to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low and cover with a lid. Let it cook covered for about 15 to 20 minutes, or until the rice is tender and cooked through.
05 - Stir in about 1 cup of the shredded cheese and the cream cheese. Top with the remaining cheese and crumbled bacon. Cover with the lid to let the cheese melt, or pop it under the broiler for just a few minutes for a bubbly top.
06 - Top with chopped green onions and serve hot. This is seriously addictive - enjoy!

# Notes:

01 - This recipe uses jasmine rice. If you use a different type, you may need to adjust the liquid and cooking time.
02 - Make sure to rinse the rice before adding it to the skillet - this removes excess starch.
03 - Shredding Colby Jack from a block gives you better melting consistency than pre-shredded cheese.
04 - You can bake bacon in the oven at 400 degrees for 20-25 minutes on parchment paper for easy cleanup.
05 - The cream cheese adds richness and creaminess, but you can skip it for a lighter version.
06 - "Crack Chicken" gets its name from the addictive combo of ranch, bacon, cheese, and cream cheese!

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