Jalapeño Popper Chicken
User Reviews
5
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Prep Time
15 mins
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Cook Time
35 mins
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Total Time
50 mins
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Servings
4 people
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Calories
467 kcal
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Course
Main Course
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Cuisine
American
Jalapeño Popper Chicken
Description
Jalapeño Popper Chicken uses thinly pounded chicken breasts seasoned with paprika, salt, and pepper then seared to develop a golden crust. A sauce made of chicken broth, hot sauce, bouillon, mustard powder, parsley, onion powder, oregano, and garlic powder simmers with diced jalapeños, garlic, butter, flour, cream cheese, sour cream, and shredded cheddar to form a creamy, spicy topping.
The dish balances the mild heat from jalapeños with creaminess from cheeses and richness from bacon garnish. The crispy bacon and sliced green onions add contrasting textures and a savory finish. Cooking the jalapeños and garlic gently before thickening the sauce enhances flavor integration.
Serving suggestions include pairing with rice, corn salad, black beans, or vegetables. The recipe yields four servings and includes tips on using fresh-shredded cheese for best melting quality and adjusting spice by removing jalapeño membranes and seeds. Leftovers store well refrigerated or frozen, with gradual reheating recommended to maintain sauce texture.
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/Other
- 2 chicken breast large, boneless, skinless
- salt to taste
- black 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 & cut into cubes
- ½ cup sour cream
- ¾ cup cheddar cheese shredded
Toppings:
- 5 Bacon roughly chopped, cooked, strips
- 3 green onions sliced
Instructions
- Pro Tip: Cook the bacon low and slow in a separate skillet until crispy on each side while you measure out the ingredients/prepare the dish. Consider reserving 2 tbsp. drippings to use instead of butter in the recipe. Roughly chopped once cooled.
- Combine the sauce ingredients in a medium measuring cup with a spout and set aside. Measure out remaining ingredients before beginning.
- Slice the chicken in half lengthwise to create 2-3 thinner slices. Cover with saran wrap and use the textured side of a meat mallet to pound it to ½ inch thick.
- Season each side of the chicken with salt, pepper, and paprika.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the chicken in batches for 4-5 minutes per side, until a golden crust has developed. Set aside.
- Turn the heat off and let the pan cool. Add the butter and set the heat to medium. Add the diced jalapenos and garlic and cook for 3 minutes, stirring continuously.
- Add the flour and cook for 1-2 minutes, until the raw flour smell is gone.
- Add the sauce mixture from step 2 in small splashes, stirring continuously. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and let the sauce cool for 1 minute.
- Stir in the cream cheese and the sour cream. Once melted and combined, sprinkle in the cheddar cheese, stirring continuously.
- Add the chicken back and spoon the sauce on top. Allow it to heat through for 2-3 minutes.
- Top with chopped bacon and green onions. Serving options include rice, black beans, coleslaw, roasted potatoes, garlic bread, tortilla chips, corn salad, and roasted vegetables.
Notes
- This recipe makes 4 servings; nutritional info is an estimate per serving.
- Shred cheese from a block to achieve better taste and melting than pre-shredded cheese.
- To reduce heat, remove the white membrane and seeds from jalapeños, as most spice is concentrated there.
- Jalapeño Popper Chicken pairs well with corn salad, rice, black beans, coleslaw, tortilla chips, guacamole, salsa, potatoes, 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.
- When reheating frozen leftovers, reheat gradually to prevent the sauce from breaking.
- Cooking bacon slowly until crisp yields better texture; some drippings can be reserved to replace butter in the sauce for added flavor.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 4people
Amount Per Serving
Calories 467 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 467kcal | 23% |
| Carbohydrates | 10g | 3% |
| Protein | 24g | 48% |
| Fat | 37g | 57% |
| Saturated Fat | 18g | 90% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 2g | 12% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 11g | 55% |
| Trans Fat | 0.3g | 15% |
| Cholesterol | 130mg | 43% |
| Sodium | 991mg | 41% |
| Potassium | 446mg | 9% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 3g | 6% |
| Vitamin A | 1359IU | 27% |
| Vitamin C | 17mg | 19% |
| Calcium | 230mg | 23% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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