Jalapeño Popper Chicken Casserole

Name: Jalapeño Popper Chicken Casserole
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 2 pounds chicken breasts (cut into bite sized pieces); 2 Tablespoons avocado oil ((or other high smoke point oil)); 8 ounces cream cheese (softened); 1 cup sour cream; 6 jalapeños (seeded and diced); 8 slices bacon (cooked and crumbled); 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (divided); 2 cloves garlic (minced); 1 teaspoon onion powder; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/2 teaspoon black pepper; 4 ounces green chiles (canned and diced); 1 cup panko breadcrumbs; 4 Tablespoons butter (melted); 2 fresh jalapeños, sliced ((optional garnish))

Jump to Recipe

If you’re a fan of creamy, cheesy and spicy flavors, Jalapeño Popper Chicken Casserole will be your new favorite comfort food! Tender chicken is mixed with creamy cheese, bacon and zesty jalapeño peppers to create an easy one-dish meal. It's the perfect casserole for weeknight dinners, potlucks and game days!

Love spicy recipes? Try my Smoked Jalapeño Poppers the next time you're entertaining friends, or enjoy this Honey Sesame Chicken that can be made as sweet or spicy as you wish!

Why You'll Love This Meal

Loaded with Flavor - what's not to love about turning your favorite appetizer into a warm and cheesy dinner?
Easy Recipe - just add ingredients in a bowl, mix them together and dump everything into your favorite casserole dish.
Ready in a Flash - takes only 30 minutes to bake!

Spatula holding up Jalapeño Popper Chicken Casserole.

Our family goes crazy over spicy food, but not if it's so hot you can't taste the ingredients. This jalapeño popper bake has the perfect amount of heat with just enough kick. You can adjust the spice level to suit the entire family by adding or subtracting ingredients!

This is one of those dump and bake casseroles that will make your life so much easier. It only takes 30 minutes to bake, so dinner will be cooking while you're making a Strawberry Pecan Salad to cool things down!

Plate of jalapeño casserole with a bite taken out of it.

Ingredients

See printable recipe card at the bottom of this page for quantities and further instructions.

Main Casserole: chicken breasts cut into bite size pieces, cream cheese, sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, diced jalapeños, green chiles, crispy bacon
Seasonings: minced garlic cloves, onion powder, salt, black pepper
Topping: panko breadcrumbs mixed with melted butter, fresh jalapeños

Ingredients needed for Jalapeño Popper Chicken Casserole.

Step-by-Step Instructions

STEP 1: Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Spray a 9x13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.

STEP 2: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat the oil. Season the chicken with salt and pepper and cook until no longer pink, about 6-7 minutes.

STEP 3: In a large mixing bowl, combine cream cheese, sour cream, jalapeños, half of the bacon, 1 cup of the cheddar cheese, garlic, onion powder, green chiles, salt, and pepper. Stir in cooked chicken.

Ingredients being mixed together in a bowl.

STEP 4: Spread chicken mixture into prepared casserole dish.

STEP 5: Mix panko with melted butter. Top casserole with remaining cheese, bacon, buttered panko and fresh jalapeño slices if desired.

STEP 6: Bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes until bubbly and top is golden brown. Add sliced jalapeños to the top of the casserole for garnish if desired.

Tips for Success

To lessen the spice level, remove jalapeño seeds before dicing.
Use pre-cooked rotisserie chicken to reduce the prep time by half.
Soften the cream cheese by bringing it to room temperature so it will be easier to blend with other ingredients.

Serving Suggestions

Jalapeño Popper Chicken is packed with simple ingredients like chicken, cheese, crispy bacon, and spicy jalapeños, combining all the flavors of your favorite appetizer into an easy dish with a little kick.

Serve it with a green pea salad, a loaf of cheesy garlic bread, and a classic dish like creamy coleslaw.
Looking for low carb sides? Cauliflower rice, lemon butter asparagus or roasted broccoli are the perfect accompaniments.

Baking dish filled with jalapeno casserole.

Variations

Chicken: Swap with boneless, skinless chicken thighs for added juiciness, or use store-bought rotisserie chicken.

Cheese: Use Colby Jack or Pepper Jack cheese for a different flavor profile.

Breadcrumbs: Replace with crushed Ritz crackers or fried onions for a different texture and crunch.

Sour Cream: use plain Green yogurt to save calories or low fat cream cheese if desired.

Add Vegetables: Toss in some corn, rotel tomatoes or green onions for extra flavor.

Use Less Spice: Use mild peppers, or delete the fresh jalapeño slices from the top of the casserole.

Storage and Reheating

Leftovers: store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
To Reheat: place the casserole in the oven at 350°F for about 15 minutes until warmed through, or microwave individual servings for 1-2 minutes until hot.
To Freeze: this dish can be frozen in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw it in the refrigerator before reheating.

Recipe FAQs

How spicy is this dish?

This easy casserole has a medium heat level, but you can adjust it by adding or removing jalapeño seeds or adding extra green chiles for the perfect amount of heat.

Can I use pre-cooked or rotisserie chicken?

Absolutely! Just shred the rotisserie chicken and mix it with the other ingredients as directed.

What kind of bacon works best for this recipe?

Thick-cut bacon adds great flavor and texture, but regular bacon also works well. You could also try turkey bacon as a lighter alternative. Our family uses this substitution and it's one of our favorite recipes.