Slow Cooker Bacon Ranch Chicken Chowder
Servings 6 -8
Ingredients
- 1 pound chicken breasts
- 3 cups broccoli florets chopped
- 1 large potato, cubed (about 2 cups+)
- 3 large carrots, sliced (about 2 cups+)
- 1 15 oz. can sweet corn, rinsed and drained
- 15 oz. can can sweet creamed corn
- 1/2 onion, chopped
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 6 cups low sodium chicken stock
- 2 tablespoons dry ranch dressing seasoning mix
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 -1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1/3 cup flour
- 4 oz. cream cheese, softened
- 2 cups milk (or half and half) (I use nonfat half and half)**
- 1-2 cups freshly grated sharp cheddar cheese
- 8 strips bacon, cooked and crumbled
Garnish (optional)
- 2 green onions, chopped
- 4 strips bacon, cooked and crumbled
- shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Add chicken to the bottom of the slow cooker followed by add all of the ingredients up to the four (do not add flour and ingredients after). Cover and cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low 6-7 hours, or until chicken is tender enough to shred and potatoes and carrots are tender.
- Remove chicken and allow to rest 5 minutes before dicing or shredding.
- Meanwhile, add cream cheese, flour and half and half/milk to blender and liquefy until smooth. Stir cream cheese mixture into slow cooker and return diced/shredded chicken. Cover and cook on high for 30 minutes or until thickened.
- When ready to serve, stir in cheese, 1/2 cup at a time until melted. Stir in bacon. Taste and add additional salt, pepper, red pepper as desired.
- Garnish individual servings with green onions and additional bacon and cheese (optional).
Notes
*I prefer a little firmer broccoli so I leave my broccoli pieces a little larger then cut them into bite size pieces when the soup is done.
**The higher the fat content, the creamier the soup.
**The higher the fat content, the creamier the soup.