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4.6 from 8 reviews

Jalapeño Popper Chicken is a flavorful, creamy chicken dish inspired by the popular appetizer. It features tender chicken breasts smothered in a spicy, cheesy sauce made with jalapeños, cream cheese, cheddar, and a blend of savory spices, then topped with crispy bacon and green onions for a perfect balance of heat, richness, and crunch. This dish is perfect for an indulgent dinner and pairs well with sides like rice, roasted vegetables, or garlic bread.

Ingredients

Sauce

  • 1 ½ cups chicken broth
  • 1 teaspoon hot sauce
  • ½ chicken bouillon cube
  • ¾ teaspoon oregano
  • ¾ teaspoon mustard powder
  • ¾ teaspoon parsley
  • ¾ teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder

Chicken and Other

  • 2 large boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • Salt, to taste
  • Pepper, to taste
  • ¾ teaspoon paprika
  • 1-2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons butter or bacon drippings
  • 3-4 jalapeños, seeded and diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons flour
  • 4 oz cream cheese, softened and cut into cubes
  • ½ cup sour cream
  • ¾ cup shredded cheddar cheese

Toppings

  • 5 strips cooked bacon, roughly chopped
  • 3 green onions, sliced

Instructions

  1. Cook Bacon: Cook the bacon low and slow in a separate skillet until crispy on each side. Reserve 2 tablespoons of the drippings to use later in the recipe if desired. Once cooked, roughly chop the bacon strips and set aside.
  2. Prepare Sauce Mixture: Combine chicken broth, hot sauce, chicken bouillon cube, oregano, mustard powder, parsley, onion powder, and garlic powder in a medium measuring cup with a spout, then set aside.
  3. Prep Chicken: Slice the chicken breasts in half lengthwise to make 2-3 thinner pieces each. Cover the chicken with plastic wrap and gently pound using the textured side of a meat mallet until the pieces are about ½ inch thick. Season both sides with salt, pepper, and paprika.
  4. Sear Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the chicken pieces in batches for 4-5 minutes per side, until they develop a golden crust. Remove and set aside.
  5. Sauté Jalapeños and Garlic: Turn off the heat and let the pan cool slightly. Add butter or reserved bacon drippings and set heat back to medium. Add diced jalapeños and minced garlic, cooking for 3 minutes while stirring continuously.
  6. Add Flour: Sprinkle flour over the jalapeños and garlic mixture and cook for 1-2 minutes until the raw flour smell disappears, stirring constantly.
  7. Add Sauce: Gradually pour the prepared sauce mixture into the pan in small splashes while stirring continuously. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and let the sauce cool for 1 minute.
  8. Add Cream Cheese and Sour Cream: Stir in the cream cheese and sour cream until melted and fully combined. Then sprinkle in the shredded cheddar cheese, stirring continuously until smooth.
  9. Combine Chicken and Sauce: Return the seared chicken to the skillet, spoon the sauce over each piece, and allow to heat through for 2-3 minutes so the flavors meld and the chicken is warmed.
  10. Serve: Top the chicken with chopped crispy bacon and sliced green onions. Serve alongside your choice of sides such as rice, black beans, coleslaw, roasted potatoes, garlic bread, tortilla chips, corn salad, or roasted vegetables.

Notes

  • Shred cheese from a block for the best melting quality and flavor. Cracker Barrel Sharp Yellow Cheese is recommended, but Cheddar Jack, Pepper Jack, or Monterey Jack are also great choices.
  • To reduce the spice, remove the entire white membrane from the jalapeños in addition to the seeds, as these parts contain most of the heat.
  • Jalapeño Popper Chicken pairs excellently with corn salad, rice, black beans, coleslaw, tortilla chips, guacamole, salsa, roasted potatoes, potato wedges, roasted vegetables, or garlic bread.
  • Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months. Reheat gradually to prevent the sauce from breaking.
  • Nutritional information is an estimate and based on 4 servings.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://mcloo.com/spicy-jalapeno-poppe/