The Best Slow Cooker Ritz Chicken Recipe

This Slow Cooker Ritz Chicken is one of those recipes I come back to again and again because it is ridiculously easy and my family genuinely loves it. Tender chicken cooks in a creamy ranch sauce, then gets topped with buttery Ritz crackers for one of the easiest Crock Pot chicken dinners you can make.

This recipe has been a huge favorite with my audience too, getting millions of views when I’ve shared it on social media. It’s especially good for busy fall weeknights when you want something warm and comforting but don’t have time to spend all afternoon making dinner.

Why You’ll Love This Slow Cooker Ritz Chicken

• Very little prep: Everything goes straight into the slow cooker.
• Family-friendly: Creamy chicken and buttery Ritz crackers are hard to go wrong with.
• Perfect for busy nights: Let the slow cooker handle dinner while you’re doing everything else.
• Simple ingredients: This is made with easy-to-find ingredients you may already have.
• Great comfort food: Serve it with rice, mashed potatoes, noodles, or a simple vegetable.

How to Make This Slow Cooker Ritz Chicken Recipe

This recipe is so simple. Place 4 chicken breasts in the bottom of a slow cooker. Top that with a mixture of 1 cup sour cream and 1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup or cream of chicken soup (you can use whatever you like or whatever you have). Top that with 2 packets of crushed ritz crackers mixed with 3 tablespoons of butter. Sprinkle the whole thing with 1/2 a packet of ranch seasoning and cook on low for 4 hours (but do what feels right based on your slow cooker – mine actually cooks this on low in 3 hours). Enjoy!

FAQ

What Do You Serve With Ritz Chicken?

We usually keep the sides simple. Slow Cooker Ritz Chicken is especially good served with rice, mashed potatoes, egg noodles, green beans, broccoli, or a simple salad.

The creamy sauce is really good spooned over rice or potatoes, so those are usually my first choice.

Can I Use Chicken Thighs Instead of Chicken Breasts?

Yes. Boneless, skinless chicken thighs work well in the slow cooker and tend to stay very tender.

If you use thighs, keep an eye on the cooking time because the exact time can vary depending on the size of the chicken and your slow cooker.

How Do I Know When Slow Cooker Chicken Is Done?

Chicken is safely cooked when the thickest part reaches 165°F.

I’d actually make 165°F an external link to the USDA chicken safety guidance. That’s a worthwhile authoritative external link rather than linking out to another food blogger.

Can I Make Ritz Chicken Ahead of Time?

You can prep the creamy chicken mixture ahead and keep it refrigerated until you’re ready to cook.

I’d wait to add the Ritz cracker topping until closer to serving so the crackers stay as buttery and crisp as possible.

What To Serve With This Slow Cooker Ritz Chicken Recipe

My favorite way to serve this chicken is over plain white rice and with air fried broccoli or canned green beans. Here are some additional ideas for sides:

• Lemon Roasted Asparagus
• Crock Pot Green Beans and Bacon
• Air Fryer Frozen Brussels Sprouts
• Fluffy Mashed Potatoes
• My Mother in Law’s Spinach Rice

Make it Healthier:

I’m always looking for new ways to add veggies to my dishes. Here are some ideas to add more nutrients to this dish or make it lighter:

• Use Campbells Healthy Request cream of soup
• Use light sour cream or greek yogurt for extra protein instead of regular sour cream
• Try adding some chopped zucchini or spinach to the soup and sour cream mixture
• Try serving the chicken over cauliflower rice (I just buy the frozen stuff and microwave it!)
• Skip the Ritz Cracker topping – this eliminates the carbs and the extra butter.

Make it Kid Friendly:

I always recommend you adjust recipes based on what your family likes. If your kids or even other family members are weary of this dish here are some swap recommendations to get them trying new things without serving a completely different dish:

• Make it extra cheesy, add cheddar cheese to the dish as well!
• Serve the crackers on the side. I know different textures can cause confusion or discomfort for some.
• Shred or dice the chicken depending on your family’s preferences.
• Sauces are always a great way to convince kids to eat something. My kids love anything covered in ketchup, so the more, the better for them!

Swap Ideas:

• Use Cream of Mushroom or Cream of Chicken Soup depending on what you have/like.
• You can also make this dish with boneless skinless chicken thighs or pork chops. If you are cooking pork chops, you may need to cook a little longer (check for doneness).
• If you don’t have cream of chicken soup on hand, you can always make your own using this recipe: homemade cream of chicken soup
• Greek yogurt can be swapped for sour cream.
• Use bread crumbs instead of ritz crackers, if that’s what you have on hand.
• Bake this dish for 1 hour at 350 instead of using the slow cooker.

Shopping Tips:

• Stock up on your favorite meats when they go on sale and freeze them. In this case, chicken breast, chicken thighs, or pork chops will do!
• I like to stock up on “cream of” soups when they are on sale. They are a great base for many dishes and sauces.
• I say “Ritz” crackers but I find, especially in this recipe, the store brand works just as well.

As always, please share your own recommendations on how to make this dish healthier, more kid friendly, swap ideas, and budget shopping tips in the comments!

FOR MORE INEXPENSIVE SLOW COOKER RECIPES CHECK OUT THESE VIDEOS:

• 3 New Slow Cooker Recipes
• Inexpensive and Easy in the Slow Cooker
• All New Recipes for Slow Cooker Season

MORE SLOW COOKER RECIPES TO TRY:

• Crock Pot Italian Sausage – So easy, my mother in law taught me this!
• Mississippi Pot Roast (A family Fav!)
• Money Saving Poor Man’s Stew
• Slow Cooker Cube Steak With Gravy

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