Ready for a no-fuss, flavor-packed dinner? Look no further than our Instant Pot Ranch Chicken recipe. It's the kind of dish that turns busy days into delicious nights. Just toss some chicken and ranch seasoning into your Instant Pot, hit a few buttons, and voila – dinner's served!
Whether you’re looking for an effortless dinner or a tasty lunch, this Instant Pot creamy ranch chicken dinner will be a real winner!
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Why This Recipe Works
- Flavorful and Savory: The ranch seasoning gives this chicken dish an irresistible tangy kick.
- Effortless Cooking: Using the Instant Pot simplifies the process, making it super easy.
- Versatile Meal: Ranch chicken can be served over rice, pasta, or with salad for a complete, satisfying dinner.
📋 Ingredients
- Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast: The main ingredient, chicken breast is tender, absorbing the flavors of the seasonings well.
- Ranch Seasoning Mix: Adds a tangy, herby taste that complements the chicken perfectly.
- Cream Cheese: Adds a creamy, rich texture to the dish and a slightly tangy flavor that pairs well with the ranch seasoning.
- Shredded Cheddar Cheese: Melts into the dish for extra creaminess and a sharp, savory flavor.
- Chicken Broth: Forms the base of the sauce, adding a depth of flavor and helping to cook the chicken to perfection.
- Salt & Pepper: Enhance the natural flavors of the chicken and balance the richness of the cheese.
- Rice Cauliflower: Absorbs the flavors of the dish well and adds a slightly nutty flavor.
For the complete list of ingredients with measurements and instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
🔀 Substitutions & Variations
- Creamy Parmesan Ranch Chicken: This Instant Pot recipe adds a rich layer of parmesan cheese to classic ranch chicken, creating a creamy delight your family will love.
- Ranch Chicken with Egg Noodles: Switch up your Instant Pot Ranch Chicken by serving it over egg noodles. The hearty egg noodles add a new texture and dimension to the dish.
- Parmesan Garlic Ranch Chicken: For a flavor-packed twist on the classic recipe, add some garlic powder and parmesan to the recipe. The combination results in a savory dish that's sure to impress.
🔪How to Make Instant Pot Ranch Chicken?
Step One: Place the chicken breast in the bottom of the Instant Pot and season with salt & pepper. Add the cream cheese, ranch seasoning and chicken broth over the top of the chicken breasts. Pressure cook for 10 minutes and then quick release.
Step Two: Shred the chicken using two forks. Place the shredded chicken back into the Instant Pot and stir in the shredded cheese. Garnish your creamy ranch chicken with fresh parsley if desired and serve over rice.
👩🍳 Expert Tips
- Choosing Your Chicken: Both boneless skinless chicken breasts and boneless skinless chicken thighs can be used for Instant Pot Ranch Chicken. Thighs typically offer a richer flavor, while breasts are a bit milder.
- Seasoning: Don't forget to season your chicken generously before you cook chicken. A mix of dried herbs, salt, and pepper can significantly enhance the taste.
- Pressure Release: Use a Quick Release method after you cook chicken to prevent overcooking.
💭 FAQs
Yes, you can use frozen chicken breasts in the Instant Pot Ranch Chicken recipe. Just increase the cooking time by 5-10 minutes to ensure the chicken is thoroughly cooked.
Yes, you certainly can. Ranch dressing mix, also commonly referred to as ranch seasoning mix, is a key ingredient that gives the Instant Pot Ranch Chicken its distinctive flavor.
Yes, you can cook ranch chicken in a crock pot. While the Instant Pot version is quicker, the crock pot ranch chicken allows for a longer, slower cook which may enhance the flavors even more.
You can store your Ranch Chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for a couple of days and reheat when ready to eat. If you want to freeze your creamy ranch chicken, simply place it in a freezer bag or an airtight container and thaw it out in the microwave or in the refrigerator when you're ready.
Serving Suggestions
These are my favorite sides to serve with Ranch Chicken:
- Bread: A side of warm Hawaiian Rolls or a slice of sourdough bread soak up the flavorful juices and add a comforting touch to your meal.
- Salad: For a lighter, more refreshing side, consider serving an Avocado Salad or a Cauliflower Salad.
- Vegetables: Asparagus adds a crunchy texture and a slightly bitter taste, while the Red Potatoes, offer a hearty and satisfying addition to the plate.
- Steamed Green Beans: Their natural sweetness and tender texture make them an ideal companion to the savory ranch chicken, and they add a pop of color to your dish.
🍜 Related Recipes
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Instant Pot Ranch Chicken
Ingredients
- 1-2 lb boneless skinless chicken breast
- 2 1 oz packets of ranch seasoning
- 8 oz block of cream cheese
- ½ C. shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 C. chicken broth
- Salt & pepper
- 10 oz package of rice cauliflower cooked according to package direction
Instructions
- Place the chicken breast in the bottom of the instant pot and season with salt & pepper.
- Add the cream cheese, ranch seasoning and chicken broth over the top of the chicken breasts.
- Place the lid on the Instant Pot and press the manual setting. Set the timer to 10 minutes making sure the quick release valve is closed.
- Once the timer has gone off after cooking then do a quick release and carefully open the lid.
- Shred the chicken using two forks. Shredding chicken in the Instant pot is pretty easy to do and I find using two forks the easiest way to do this.
- Alternatively you can remove chicken and shred with a knife and fork on a chopping board.
- Place the shredded chicken back into the Instant Pot and stir in the shredded cheese.
- Garnish your ranch chicken with more shredded cheese and fresh parsley if desired and serve over cauliflower rice as a low carb option.
Notes
Nutrition
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