Jalapeño Popper Chicken Casserole

A fork holds a cheesy, creamy casserole bite topped with sliced jalapeños on a white plate—a classic comfort dish from Quiche My Grits.

5 from 1 vote

Jalapeño Popper Chicken Casserole

If you’re a fan of creamy, cheesy and spicy flavors, Jalapeño Popper Chicken Casserole will become your new favorite comfort food! Tender chicken is mixed with creamy cheese, bacon and zesty jalapeño peppers to create an easy one-dish meal.

Prep Time15

Cook Time30

Total Time45

Course: Main Dishes

Cuisine: American

Servings:

Calories: 554kcal

Author: Debi Morgan | Quiche My Grits

Equipment

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
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
4 ounces green chiles canned and diced
1 cup panko breadcrumbs
4 Tablespoons butter melted
2 fresh jalapeños, sliced (optional garnish)

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.
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 25 minutes until bubbly and top is golden brown. Add sliced jalapeños to the top of the casserole for garnish if desired.

Notes

- 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.

- 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.

Nutrition