Jalapeno Popper Baked Chicken Breasts – Juicy baked chicken breasts topped with cream cheese, jalapenos, more cheese, and bacon! An easy low-carb chicken dinner cooked to a delicious perfection. KIDS LOVE IT!
JALAPENO POPPER BAKED CHICKEN BREASTS
Jalapeno Popper Chicken is a Keto-friendly recipe that comes together in just around 35 (ish) minutes. A delicious take on our favorite bar food of Jalapeno Poppers, this chicken is full of those same creamy and textured flavors. 😍
Reminiscent of that crazy popular Baked Crack Chicken recipe, this is basically where two awesome recipes merge into one to become one very unforgettable dish. 🤟
HOW TO MAKE JALAPENO POPPER BAKED CHICKEN
In a nutshell, we are going to deconstruct our jalapeño poppers and layer all those ingredients on top of chicken breasts. Then, bake. And, that’s it. 👊
But here’s a more detailed explanation:
- Start with frying the bacon until crispy.
- Remove bacon from skillet.
- Keep bacon grease in the skillet and add the chicken breasts; cook chicken for 2 minutes per side, or just until browned.
- Transfer chicken breasts to a baking dish.
- Return skillet to heat and add the cream cheese; cook for 1 minute or until JUST creamy. NOT runny, m’kay?
- Add dollops of the cream cheese on top of each chicken breast.
- Remove the seeds from the jalapeño peppers (keep the seeds if you LOVE the heat), cut the peppers into strips, and arrange them over the cream cheese.
- Top with shredded cheese and bake.
- Remove from oven and serve.
Loaded with the flavors from your beloved appetizer, this family favorite recipe is a quick and VERY easy way to serve up chicken breasts. With all the ingredients evenly distributed, every bite is filled with a bit of crunch and a lot of creaminess.
CAN I USE CHICKEN THIGHS?
Absolutely, but you’ll have to adjust the cooking time. If using bone-in chicken thighs, those will need a bit more time in the oven. Use an Instant Read Meat Thermometer to check for doneness. Chicken is done at 165˚F.
HOW TO MAKE AHEAD JALAPENO POPPER CHICKEN
- Assemble everything inside the baking dish and cover with plastic wrap and aluminum foil; refrigerate for up to 1 day ahead.
- Remove wrap and foil; bake as directed in the recipe.
WHAT TO SERVE WITH JALAPENO POPPER CHICKEN
Never underestimate the power of a simple Asparagus Salad and/or a side of summery Tomato Soup! Either of these two are great with this chicken breasts recipe.
SUBSTITUTES
If full-fat cream cheese and shredded cheese is not your forté, this chicken recipe is just as good if you use fat-free cream cheese and fat-free shredded cheese. Been there, loved that.
Also, yes, turkey bacon works just as well. My other half is on a Keto-kick (and I’ve always been on a Low-Carb kick) so this recipe works perfectly for us, but I can completely understand for those that are afraid of all the fat in cream and cheese. Bacon, too.
MORE LOW CARB AND KETO CHICKEN BREASTS RECIPES
- Cheesy Chicken Spinach Bake
- Chicken Breasts Recipe with Creamed Spinach
- Hasselback Tuscan Baked Chicken Breasts
- Easy Baked Salsa Chicken
ENJOY!
TOOLS USED IN THIS RECIPE
Jalapeno Popper Baked Chicken Breasts
Ingredients
- 4 slices thick cut bacon, diced
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 4 (1-pound, total) boneless, skinless chicken breasts, pounded to 1/4-inch thickness
- salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked or sweet paprika
- 6 ounces cream cheese
- 4 to 5 jalapeño peppers, seeded and cut into long strips
- 4 ounces shredded white and yellow cheddar cheese
- chopped fresh parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400˚F.
- Lightly grease a 9x13 baking dish with cooking spray; set aside.
- Add diced bacon to a large skillet and cook until crispy over medium-high heat.
- Remove bacon from skillet and set aside.
- Return skillet to heat and add vegetable oil to the remaining bacon grease.
- Pound chicken breasts to a 1/4-inch thickness and season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika.
- Add chicken breasts to the hot oil (you may have to cook the chicken in batches if skillet isn't big enougand cook chicken breasts for 2 minutes, or until golden brown.
- Flip the chicken breasts, add butter, and continue to cook for 2 more minutes.
- Remove chicken breasts from skillet and arrange in previously prepared baking dish. Set aside.
- Return skillet to heat and add in the cream cheese; cook for 1 minute, or until smooth and creamy.
- Add dollops of the cream cheese over the chicken breasts in the baking dish.
- Take half of the bacon and add on top of the cream cheese.
- Arrange strips of jalapeño peppers over the bacon and cream cheese.
- Top with shredded cheese.
- Bake, uncovered, for 17 to 19 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through and cheese is melted and lightly browned.
- Remove from oven and let stand 5 minutes.
- Garnish with remaining diced bacon and fresh parsley.
- Serve.
Notes
- REDUCE your FREESTYLE POINTS DOWN TO 8-points by using low fat cheddar and light cream cheese.
- Assemble everything inside the baking dish and cover with plastic wrap and aluminum foil; refrigerate for up to 1 day ahead.
Remove wrap and foil; bake as directed in the recipe.
Slow Cooker
Freezer Friendly
One Pot
Instant Pot
Beef
Fantastic. Tastes just like a jalapeno popper. Def a keeper.
Thank YOU! 🙂
I loved that they were crispy on the outside, but juicy on the inside and full of flavor.
I’m drooling this is everything I love!
It was soooooo good!! I chopped up some chives that I needed to get rid off and put in the cream cheese mix. Hubby approved (he ate 2 😂) thank you!!
Looks super delicious! Such a fabulous meal, adding to my list of must makes!
The flavor in this chicken is so good! I love this fun twist on jalapeño poppers for a full meal!
Made this for dinner last night and everyone is already requesting it again, tonight! Delicious!
Another delicious looking dish. Thank you.
This looks AMAZING!!! Trying it this weekend.
I think this would be such a delicious meal. Great recipe. I am sure my family would eat every drop.
Talk about a home run recipe! Knocked it out of the park once again! DELICIOUS!
Food with a kick is my FAVORITE, this looks insane, I’ll be making this tonight!
This is such a popular appetizer! So smart to turn it into a meal. Looks fantastic!
This was such a great breakfast that I made it again for my kids at dinner! My picky eaters even cleared their plates; delicious!
It doesn’t get any better than this for dinner! Wow, this was amazingly delicious!
I bet this has so much flavor! We love chicken dishes, so I will definitely have to make this for my family!
I love this! My favorite appetizer as a full meal – I can totally get behind that idea.