Chicken Jalapeno Popper Casserole

Delicious chicken jalapeno popper casserole with creamy cheese sauce to make ahead as a family dinner main course.

This great recipe combines everything we all love: a little heat from jalapeno peppers, budget-friendly protein (juicy tender chicken), lots of cheesy creamy saucy goodness, and perfectly cooked bacon on top.

Jalapeno chicken casserole is one of those quick and easy meals that become your family and friends’ favorite recipes and you can just whip a complete dish any time of the year. Ready to try it?

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Absolutely delicious and gluten-free – especially if you are a fan of traditional jalapeño poppers.
• Super easy recipe to make a quick one-pot meal for dinner with minimal prep time.
• Perfect if your family loves spicy food, as we are going to use fresh jalapenos. Eating some spicy food is actually healthy!
• This recipe is a great way to use leftover rotisserie chicken so it is perfect for holidays after-math and game day.
• This delicious dish is great for those who are on a keto diet or living a low-carb lifestyle but still tasty for the entire family. You don’t have to feel like you are eating a medically restrictive diet with this comfort food.

Ingredients Notes

• Boneless, skinless chicken breasts. You can use both raw chicken and pre-cooked chicken.
• Seasoning: onion powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper, to taste. You can use garlic salt if you love garlicky flavor. Feel free to swap onion powder with raw chopped onion.
• Creamy sauce: Cream cheese (in a block, not a tub) + heavy cream. You can substitute heavy cream with plain Greek yogurt and cream cheese with fatty blended cottage cheese.
• Fresh jalapeño peppers. Seeded and diced jalapenos will go into the casserole dish, but you can save some rings for topping. Canned jalapenos will be spicier.
• Sharp cheddar cheese for cheesy topping.
• Cooked and crumbled bacon pieces. Bacon makes any dish better, so, of course, I’m using it as a topping.

Kitchen Equipment

• 9×13 baking dish
• large mixing bowl

How To Make Chicken Jalapeño Popper Casserole Dish

1: Start With Chicken And Diced Jalapenos

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Grease a 9×13 baking dish with cooking oil.
3. Add chicken to the prepared casserole dish in an even layer.
4. Season the chicken with the smoked paprika, onion powder, salt, and black pepper.
5. Add the diced jalapeños evenly over the top of the chicken.

2: Prepare The Cream Cheese Mixture

Whisk the softened cream cheese, heavy cream, and garlic powder in a small bowl. Spread the cream cheese mixture over the top of the jalapenos and chicken.

3: Bake Jalapeño Popper Chicken Casserole

1. Top with the shredded cheese.
2. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until the chicken is done and golden brown. If you are using cooked shredded chicken or rotisserie chicken, the cooking time will be much shorter (from 10 to 35 minutes)!
3. While the casserole bakes, pre-cook the bacon if it is not cooked yet. Simply fry it over medium heat in a skillet till it is crispy. Transfer to a plate lined with some paper towels.
4. Add crispy bacon crumbles to the top for serving. Serve with a side salad or cauliflower rice to keep it low carb and a dollop of sour cream. You can also use some sliced green onions as a topping.
5. You can serve it as an appetizer too with some tortilla chips.

Storage

Store leftover chicken jalapeno popper casserole in an airtight container in the fridge for 4-5 days.

Once the casserole is cooled, you can also freeze it for 3 months in individual servings. Thaw overnight in the fridge to reheat.

To make ahead, prep the casserole mix and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw and bake as the recipe suggests.

Substitutions & Variations

• Cheese options. Instead of shredded cheddar cheese, you can use Monterey Jack, Gouda, or your favorite melting cheese. Use Pepper Jack if you want more kick to it.
• Meat substitutes. Instead of chicken breasts, you can use boneless skinless chicken thighs or even pulled pork. And you can totally skip the meat, and use tater tots or cauliflower!
• Replace jalapeno peppers with other green chilies (hotter or milder), or regular green bell peppers if you don’t like heat.
• Different sauce. You can skip the cream cheese and creamy sauce and use Buffalo sauce instead, or make a mayo-based sauce with mayonnaise and sour cream.
• Prep variation. You can first mix all the ingredients in one medium bowl and then layer it as one mix in the casserole dish.
• Add short pasta like penne or rotini to this jalapeno popper chicken casserole recipe to make it a complete meal.
• Missing an extra crunch? Sprinkle some panko breadcrumbs on top of the casserole. They brown nicely and add texture.

If you love this easy dinner recipe, you’re going to love these other casseroles too. Please click each link below to find the easy, printable recipe!

More Great Jalapeño Recipes

Pickled Jalapenos

Smoked Jalapeno Poppers

Baked Jalapeno Poppers

Cranberry Jalapeno Dip

---

---