This Jalapeño Chicken Popper Bake is made with juicy flavorful chicken breast topped with crunchy bacon, gooey cheddar cheese, and spicy diced jalapeños, then baked to a bubbly, golden perfection.
Have you ever eaten something that just blew your mind? That was this chicken dish for me! I have always loved jalapeño poppers but felt like they weren’t suitable for dinner alone. Well, thats where this baby comes in. It has a delicious creamy layer of robust flavors and is so hearty and tasty. It takes less than 10 minutes to have this baby prepped and in the oven!
How spicy is this jalapeño dish?
This answer can be entirely up to you. We choose to use mild, canned jalapeños so that my kids will enjoy it. If it gets too spicy, they are out. Id using fresh jalapeños, be sure to scrape out all the seeds before dicing and adding to the cheese mixture. If you are looking for some spicy, leave them in! Canned jalapeños come in a variety of spice levels, so go with whatever you and your family prefer!
Can I use canned jalapeños?
Absolutely! In fact, we recommend it for this particular recipe. I don’t always have jalapeños on hand, so it’s so easy to grab a can of these babies from the pantry whenever the mood strikes for this palate-pleasing entree. They taste great mixed in with all the other ingredients and portion is perfect. Plus – its a time-saving step that sometimes you just need!
Ingredients for our Jalapeño Chicken Popper Bake:
- Bacon
- Cheddar Cheese
- Diced Jalapeños
- Cream Cheese
- Chicken Breast
How to make our Jalapeño Chicken Popper Bake:
Preheat oven to 400 F.
In a baking dish, arrange the chicken breast in a row. (Be sure to use thin piece of chicken. Thicker pieces will significantly change the time it takes to cook. I like to look for the ‘thin-sliced chicken breasts’ at the grocery when I go so that work is already done for me. If, you can either butterfly your chicken or cut in half.)
In a small bowl, mix together cooked bacon bits, canned jalapeños, 1/2 cup of cheese, and a block of room temperature cream cheese. Stir until completely combined.
Spread cream cheese mixture evenly over the chicken. Top with remaining cheese. Bake for 40 minutes. (Or until chicken is completely cooked through to an internal temperature of 165 F.)
Remove from oven and serve! Garnish with more diced jalapeños, diced cilantro, or sour cream!
If you enjoy one-dish dinners, check out these few below for great weeknight go-to’s!
✔️ ONE POT GARLIC CHICKEN AND RICE
✔️ CHEESY PEPPERONI PIZZA PASTA
✔️ HEARTY ITALIAN CHICKEN SAUSAGE STEW
✔️ HEALTHY STUFFED PEPPERS SKILLET
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Jalapeño Chicken Popper Bake
This Jalapeño Chicken Popper Bake is made with juicy flavorful chicken breast topped with crunchy bacon, gooey cheddar cheese, and spicy diced jalapeños, then baked to a bubbly, golden perfection.
Ingredients
- 1 8 ounce block of Cream Cheese
- 4 ounce can diced jalapeños
- 8 ounces diced, cooked bacon
- 1 cup Cheddar Cheese
- 1.5 pounds Chicken Breast
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 F.
- Place thin-sliced chicken breast in a oven-safe cooking dish, with enough room when they aren't overlapping.
- In a separate bowl, mix the jalapeños, diced bacon, shredded cheese, and cream cheese.
- Top the chicken breast with the cheese mixture.
- Bake for 40 minutes, or until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 F.
- Remove from oven and serve!
Notes
Use thin-sliced or butterflied chicken breast for even cooking!
Chicken must be completely thawed!
Use fresh jalapeños, but scrap all seeds out before dicing to minimize spiciness.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
6Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 584Total Fat: 37gSaturated Fat: 17gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 17gCholesterol: 192mgSodium: 973mgCarbohydrates: 5gFiber: 1gSugar: 2gProtein: 55g
(Nutritional information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.)
I made this dish for supper the other night. It turned oit beautifully. I did cut the chicken in strips prior to cooking, to shorten time and help keep the thickness about the same. I added some minced fresh garlic and smoked paprika to the cream cheese and 2 TBS light mayo, to make the mixture a bit more flavorful and spreadable. It was easy peasy and my family really enjoyed it!
I am so glad you enjoyed it! Super smart to cut the chicken down for quicker cook-time!