I’m obsessed with creamy crack chicken, so I figured, why not put it in a taco? The creamy, cheesy filling is unbelievably delicious, and when it’s baked into crispy taco shells, it just tastes even better! This recipe is one of my favorite ways to use leftover chicken and get dinner on the table fast.
What’s in Chicken Bacon Ranch Tacos?
This crack chicken taco recipe combines cream cheese, sour cream, ranch seasoning, and Colby jack cheese to create a delicious chicken filling that can only be better when topped with bacon — and yes, you bet it has bacon!
Taco Shells: These taco shells are baked for 5 minutes to get nice and crispy. Cream Cheese: Cream cheese is what makes this taco filling super rich and creamy. Don’t skip it! Sour Cream: The combination of cream cheese and sour cream make for the ultimate decadent taco filling. Ranch Seasoning: Everyone loves ranch! This ingredient will add a tangy, zesty touch that makes all the difference. Cheese: Is it legal not to have cheese on a taco? Well, we use Colby jack cheese to make these tacos even better. Chicken: It’s super easy to prepare the chicken for this recipe. Just cook your preferred chicken and shred it up! Bacon: We recommend cooking bacon from fresh to get the best flavor, but bacon bits work well enough.
Make it Spicy
If you’d like to spice up this crack chicken recipe, feel free to add taco seasoning in place of (or in addition to) ranch seasoning. You could also add green chiles or crushed red peppers to add some heat!
How to Store and Reheat
Store leftover crack chicken taco filling tightly covered with plastic wrap or aluminum foil in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in a 350°F oven for about 10 minutes, or until warmed through.
How to Freeze
Freeze crack chicken tacos tightly wrapped in 2 layers of plastic wrap and 1 layer of aluminum foil for up to 1 month. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Notes and Tips
I recommend setting your cream cheese and sour cream out on the counter about 30 minutes before you’re ready to cook. This makes it so much easier to mix the ingredients!
How to Make Crack Chicken Tacos Step by Step
Bake the Taco Shells: Preheat the oven to 350°F, and place 12 hard taco shells in a 9×13-inch baking pan standing straight up. Bake them for 5 minutes to crisp them up, then remove from the oven and set aside for now. Make the Filling: In a large bowl, combine ½ cup of cream cheese, ¼ cup of sour cream, 2 tablespoons of ranch seasoning, and ½ of cup shredded Colby jack cheese. Microwave the cream cheese mixture for 30-45 seconds, then mix until it’s well combined. Add the Chicken and Bacon: Fold in 3 cups of shredded cooked chicken and ½ pound of cooked bacon (save just a little bit of the bacon for later). Assemble the Tacos: Fill each taco shell with the crack chicken mixture, almost to the top of each shell. Then sprinkle each taco with shredded cheese. Bake the Tacos: Bake for 7-10 minutes, or until the cheese is fully melted and the edges of the shells are browned. Remove from the oven and serve garnished with more bacon and green onions.
