This jalapeno popper chicken is chicken breasts stuffed with a jalapeno cheese mixture, then wrapped in bacon and baked to crispy perfection. An easy low carb meal that’s a total crowd pleaser!
I can’t get enough of jalapeno poppers – whether it’s bacon wrapped poppers, popper dip or jalapeno popper mac and cheese, I love it all! This jalapeno popper chicken is full of those great creamy and spicy flavors and looks impressive enough to serve to company.
Jalapeno poppers are one of my guilt pleasures – I just love that creamy, spicy crispy combination. When you add bacon to the mix, it’s even better! This jalapeno popper chicken has all of those great flavors in a low carb, keto friendly dinner that will have everyone asking for seconds.
How do you make jalapeno popper chicken?
There are a few steps to making this chicken, the first of which is to make the filling. The filling is a combination of cream cheese, cheddar cheese, jalapenos and seasonings. I use fresh diced jalapenos, but you can use pickled jalapenos if you prefer. I remove the seeds and ribs before dicing the jalapenos which tempers the heat quite a bit and makes this meal more kid friendly. If you prefer a spicy chicken, leave the seeds and ribs in the peppers when you cut them up.
How do you stuff a chicken breast?
The cream cheese jalapeno mixture goes inside the chicken breasts. The easiest way to stuff a chicken breast is to cut a deep pocket into one side of the breast. Be sure not to cut all the way through to the other side. Spoon the filling into the pocket making sure you fill it completely. Then you can wrap your chicken in bacon and put it in the oven.
The bacon helps to hold that filling inside the chicken as it bakes, although some of the filling will escape during the cooking process which is normal. I use two slices of bacon to wrap each chicken breast, and you want to make sure that the bacon is wrapped fairly tightly so that everything will hold together in the oven. If you’re concerned, you can add a few toothpicks to secure the bacon to the chicken breasts, but I think it works just fine without having to use them.
The jalapeno popper chicken needs to bake until the chicken is cooked through and the bacon is crisp. If your chicken is done but the bacon has not crisped up to your liking, you can turn on the broiler for a few minutes to cook the bacon.
What do you serve with jalapeno popper chicken?
I typically serve my jalapeno popper chicken over mashed potatoes and a green vegetable such as broccoli or asparagus. If you’re eating low carb, you can serve the chicken with mashed cauliflower. This chicken is even great sliced up and served over a salad or in a sandwich.
Jalapeno popper chicken is a must-make recipe; that smoky bacon and cheesy filling just can’t be beat! If you love jalapeno poppers the way I do, you’ll definitely want to put this chicken on your dinner menu soon.
More great chicken dinners
- Chinese Lemon Chicken
- Buffalo Chicken Nuggets
- Bruschetta Chicken
- Slow Cooker Whole Chicken
- Honey Mustard Chicken
Jalapeno Popper Chicken
Ingredients
- 6 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 6 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup diced jalapeno peppers remove pepper seeds and ribs before dicing
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- salt and pepper to taste
- 12 slices bacon do not use thick cut bacon
- cooking spray
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Coat a sheet pan with cooking spray.
- Place the cream cheese, cheddar cheese, jalapenos and garlic powder in a bowl; stir to combine.
- Cut a deep pocket into each chicken breast, taking care not to cut all the way through to the other side.
- Fill the pocket of each chicken breast with the cream cheese mixture.
- Season the outside of the chicken breasts with salt and pepper to taste.
- Wrap each chicken breast tightly with two slices of bacon and place the chicken on the sheet pan.
- Cook for 30 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through and bacon is crisp. You can broil the chicken for 3-4 minutes to crisp up the bacon if needed.
- Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes. then slice and serve.
Hillary says
Does this go on the center rack or top rack?
Sara says
I cook it on the center rack typically but either should work!
Theresa says
Is there any way to make this WITH thick-cut bacon? That’s the only kind I have on hand.
Sara says
You can you’ll just need to add about 10 minutes to the cooking time.
Lavinia says
Delicious! I left it in the oven 35 minutes, it was perfect. Thank you for a great recipe!
Jess says
Absolutely love this recipe! I make it all the time! The only tweak I do is lightly sautéing the peppers with some garlic before hand for added flavor. Tonight I’ll be making this for my in-laws (leaving out the jalapeño in one breast for my mil).
Lisia says
Do i cover the pan before putting into oven?
Sara says
You do not cover it!
Lisia says
Thanks!
Amy says
thank you for this recipe!!! My whole family loves it. I put it in the broiler longer and flip it in there to get the bacon crispy! Yuuuuummmm
Lacey says
How well does this freeze? I’m pregnant and prepping/ freezing meals to make things easier on our family. So just curious, if I could make this in advance and freeze it.
Sara says
You’d probably want to freeze it uncooked, then thaw and bake.
Monica Adams says
Can I put this in an air fryer??
Sara says
That should be fine!
TammyO says
I was curious if you made in air fryer. And if so how long did you cook it?
Audrey L Rossetti says
I made ir exactly as described. It’s really delicious– the chicken was moist, and it’s creamy, spicy and bacony. New staple at my house, Thank you!.
Jason Lewis says
what a very simple meal to throw together. I added creole seasoning to the skin side of breast then wrapping it with bacon. Also I pan fried each side of breast then in the oven to finish cooking.. Great dish..
Shawna says
So good, I was kinda afraid of the mixture wish I would have added more to my chicken breast definitely delicious.
Lesley says
Made this for dinner tonight and it was a hit left out the jalapeño for my kids ones it they were just as good will definitely be making this again thank for sharing your recipe
Amanda says
We cooked on a Pit Boss Pellet Grill and it was really good!
Gina Shively says
How long did you cook it and what setting?
Amy says
My family loves this recipe! We cook it in the broiler the last 3 min to make bacon crispy! Definitely recommend!!
Jacquie says
Made this last night for dinner. Very good! I like my bacon crispier so I think next time I would cook under broil a little longer or cook it on the grill using some kind of pan underneath. I also used Boursin cheese and added some diced up shallots. Very good and easy to make.
Lana says
Can we do this recipe without the bacon wrap?
Sara says
You could but just be aware the filling will be more likely to spill out without the bacon holding everything together.
Lance Knapp says
Bacon holding everything together… bacon holds the world together!
Linda says
Can you use jared jalapeños
Sara says
Yes that’s fine!