Description
A comforting, spicy, and cheesy chicken casserole inspired by jalapeño poppers, featuring tender chicken, rich cream cheese, jalapeños, melted cheeses, and crispy bacon.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 4–5 fresh jalapeños, seeded and diced
- 2 cups shredded Pepper Jack cheese
- 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup cooked and crumbled bacon
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley (optional garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Season chicken with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
- In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat and cook chicken until browned, about 6-7 minutes.
- In a bowl, mix softened cream cheese and heavy cream until smooth.
- Stir the jalapeños into the cream cheese mixture.
- Add the chicken to the mixture and stir to coat evenly.
- Spread the mixture into a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Top with Pepper Jack cheese, Cheddar cheese, and crumbled bacon.
- Bake for 20 minutes until bubbly and golden.
- Let sit for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with chopped parsley if desired.
Notes
- Use rotisserie chicken to save time on prep.
- Leave some jalapeño seeds for extra heat.
- Add a layer of crushed pork rinds or breadcrumbs on top for a crunchy finish.
- This dish reheats well and is freezer-friendly.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 of casserole
- Calories: 435
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 610mg
- Fat: 32g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 6g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 125mg