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    Home » Keto Dinner Ideas » Jalapeno Popper Chicken

    Published: Sep 17, 2020 · Modified: Jun 24, 2023 by Carolyn

    Jalapeno Popper Chicken

    This post may contain Amazon or other affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    8.4K shares
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This creamy Jalapeño Popper Chicken is an easy and flavorful family dinner. Ready in 45 minutes, it has all the flavors of your favorite appetizer in a low carb, keto friendly casserole.

    A spatula lifting a serving of Jalapeño Popper Chicken out of the baking dish.

    Raise your hand if you need more easy in your life. Oh, I see you. And you, And you. And me. I think it’s pretty safe to say that we can all use more easy in our lives.

    Well nothing beats this Jalapeño Popper Chicken for an easy and family friendly meal. And an inexpensive one at that.

    Every time I think life is going to slow down a bit, I find myself just as busy as ever. So creating easy keto dinner recipes is always top of my priority list.

    But those easy dinners have to taste great, too! It’s no good creating healthy meals if no one wants to eat them. I threw this meal together one day when I was short on time, and it was an instant hit with the whole family.

    Getting three grumpy teens to all agree on one meal? Priceless!

    Top down image of Jalapeño Popper Chicken in a ceramic oval baking dish.

    Why this recipe is so awesome

    We all know how much keto dieters love their jalapeno poppers. I mean, what’s not to love? Jalapeños? Good. Cheese? Good. Bacon? Gooooood! They’re a classic appetizer that is easily made low carb, and are always so full of flavor. So it’s no wonder that they’re a beloved keto snack recipe.

    It’s also easy to take those same flavors and use them in other delicious ways, to make them into a full keto meal. Soup, meatloaf, meatballs – so many great ideas. My husband adores Jalapeno Popper Pizza, it’s one of his favorite recipes.

    Those flavors really shine when they are combined with chicken. Smother some chicken thighs in a cream cheese sauce, add cheese, jalapeños, and bacon, and it’s a match made in keto heaven.

    And the Jalapeno Popper Chicken recipe comes together in less than an hour. Best of all, it has only 2g carbs per serving!

    Reader reviews

    “Oh boy. This was sensational. I’ve yet to have a single recipe of yours that I don’t like. They are all amazing. Thank you for your genius recipes.” — Yvette

    “I made this last night for dinner, followed the recipe exactly, and it was soooooo delicious. It is going to be a regular on our dinner menu. This is why I own so many of your cookbooks! Your recipes are all tried and true.” — Yvette

    “Carolyn, you have hit it out of the park once again. This was a huge hit and will be made again and again. We both loved all the flavours in this chicken and since we had home grown jalapenos it made it even better. I have passed this recipe on to many friends, all of whom loved it also. Please keep them coming. We appreciate all your hard work you do creating such great recipes.” — Wendy

    Ingredients you need

    Top down image of ingredients needed for Jalapeño Popper Chicken.
    • Bacon: If you use pre-cooked bacon, you will need a little oil to brown the chicken thighs.
    • Boneless skinless chicken thighs: Some readers used chicken breast instead. If you do use chicken breasts, cut them into thinner pieces.
    • Cream cheese: Use full fat cream cheese.
    • Heavy whipping cream: This is mixed with the softened cream cheese to make a creamy cheese sauce for the chicken.
    • Garlic: I prefer using fresh garlic, but you can also use garlic powder.
    • Jalapeño peppers: If you want something less spicy, you can use poblano or anaheim peppers. If you like more spice, keep the seeds or use serano chiles.
    • Shredded cheddar cheese: You can shred your own or use pre-shredded cheese. Any variety of cheddar, from sharp to mild, can be used. You can also use colby jack cheese.
    • Salt and pepper

    Step-by-step directions

    A collage of 6 images showing the steps for making Jalapeño Popper Chicken.

    1. Cook the bacon: In a large skillet over medium, cook the chopped bacon until crisp. Remove to a plate and remove all but 1 tablespoon of the grease.

    2. Brown the chicken: Pat the chicken thighs dry and sprinkle both sides with salt and pepper. Add the chicken thighs to the skillet and cook until nicely browned, about 3 to 4 minutes per side. Remove from heat and transfer the thighs to a glass or ceramic baking dish.

    3. Prepare the sauce: In a medium bowl, whisk together the cream cheese, whipping cream, and garlic. Spread over the chicken in the dish.

    4. Assemble: Sprinkle with the jalapeno and cheddar cheese, then sprinkle with the chopped bacon.

    5. Bake the casserole: Bake at 375ºF for about 20 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the chicken is cooked through.

    A spatula placing a serving of Jalapeño Popper Chicken onto a white plate over a striped napkin.

    Expert tips

    Chop the bacon before cooking it, as it gets more evenly crisp this way. Drain most of the grease from the pan but keep about one tablespoon for browning the chicken.

    Browning the chicken before baking brings out more flavor. If you just add the sauce and toppings to raw chicken, the casserole ends up more watery as well.

    Make sure the cream cheese is really soft before making the sauce. I like to pop mine in the microwave for 15 seconds or so first. It makes the sauce more creamy and smooth.

    A serving of Jalapeño Popper Chicken sits on a white plate over a colorful napkin.

    Recipe FAQs

    How do you store leftover jalapeño popper chicken?

    You can store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. You can also freeze leftovers for up to 3 months.

    How many carbs are in jalapeño popper chicken?

    This jalapeño popper chicken recipe has 2.1g of carbs and 0.2g of fiber per serving. That comes to 1.9g net carbs per chicken thigh serving.

    Is Jalapeno Popper Chicken Casserole spicy?

    You can make this keto dinner recipe as mild or as spicy as you like. If you don’t like too much heat, try using milder peppers like poblanos, or even just regular green pepper. For a spicier version, add more jalapeños and keep the seeds in.

    More healthy keto chicken recipes

    Keto Chicken Marsala

    This Keto Chicken Marsala is a classic recipe with a healthy twist. You can’t beat this golden pan-seared chicken topped with succulent mushrooms in a rich, velvety sauce. And it has only 4.5g of carbs per serving!

    Close up shot of keto Chicken Marsala in the pan.

    Spinach Stuffed Chicken

    Succulent and juicy, this Spinach Stuffed Chicken is a deliciously satisfying keto dinner. Take chicken breasts to the next level with a rich spinach cheese filling and a buttery garlic pan sauce.

    Four keto stuffed chicken breasts on a white platter over a gray tea towel.

    Easy Sheet Pan Chicken

    Juicy and succulent, these easy Sheet Pan Chicken Thighs are a family favorite! Baked together with low carb veggies, this keto dinner recipe comes together with minimal effort. So full of flavor!

    A white plate full of sheet pan chicken and veggies in front of the pan.
    Top down image of Jalapeño Popper Chicken in a ceramic oval baking dish.

    Jalapeno Popper Chicken Recipe

    This creamy Jalapeño Popper Chicken is an easy and flavorful family dinner. Ready in 45 minutes, it has all the flavors of your favorite appetizer in a low carb, keto friendly casserole. 
    4.88 from 32 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: jalapeno popper chicken, keto jalapeno popper chicken
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 35 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 45 minutes minutes
    Servings: 6 servings
    Calories: 423kcal

    Ingredients

    • 4 slices bacon chopped
    • 6 chicken thighs boneless, skinless
    • Salt and pepper
    • 4 ounces cream cheese softened
    • 3 to 4 tablespoon heavy whipping cream
    • 2 cloves garlic finely minced
    • 2 small jalapeno peppers minced
    • 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
    US Customary – Metric

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 375ºF.
    • In a large skillet over medium, cook the chopped bacon until crisp. Remove to a plate and remove all but 1 tablespoon of the grease.
    • Pat the chicken thighs dry and sprinkle both sides with salt and pepper. Add the chicken thighs to the skillet and cook until nicely browned, about 3 to 4 minutes per side. Remove from heat and transfer the thighs to a glass or ceramic baking dish.
    • In a medium bowl, whisk together the cream cheese, whipping cream, and garlic. Spread over the chicken in the dish.
    • Sprinkle with the jalapeno and cheddar cheese, then sprinkle with the chopped bacon. Bake about 20 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the chicken is cooked through.

    Video

    Notes

    Storage Information: You can store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. You can also freeze leftovers for up to 3 months.
    Nutrition Facts
    Jalapeno Popper Chicken Recipe
    Amount Per Serving (1 thigh)
    Calories 423 Calories from Fat 232
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 25.8g40%
    Carbohydrates 2.1g1%
    Fiber 0.2g1%
    Protein 36.2g72%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    8.4K shares

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    Nutritional Disclaimer

    Please note that I am not a medical or nutritional professional. I am simply recounting and sharing my own experiences on this blog. Nothing I express here should be taken as medical advice and you should consult with your doctor before starting any diet or exercise program. I provide nutritional information for my recipes simply as a courtesy to my readers. It is calculated using MacGourmet software and I remove erythritol from the final carb count and net carb count, as it does not affect my own blood glucose levels. I do my best to be as accurate as possible but you should independently calculate nutritional information on your own before relying on them. I expressly disclaim any and all liability of any kind with respect to any act or omission wholly or in part in reliance on anything contained in this website.

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    Comments

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Jeanie says

      September 13, 2023 at 1:08 pm

      5 stars
      Thanks for another great recipe! We modified to use chicken breasts, more peppers, and our signature seasoning blend, and we loved it!! This recipe came in my email right on time for another interesting Keto dinner. We ate large leafy salads and half a breast each.

      Reply
    2. Eva Howard says

      September 04, 2023 at 12:27 pm

      I wanted a popper side dish to go with the dry rub ribs, so didn’t want to add chicken to this. Instead I “browned” cauliflower rice in the bacon grease and followed the rest of the recipe as written. Turned out wonderful and I’ll make it this way when I want a side dish AND with the chicken for a entree in the future.

      Reply
      • Carolyn says

        September 04, 2023 at 10:25 pm

        Interesting!

        Reply
    3. Ruth Gilmour says

      August 29, 2023 at 7:05 pm

      5 stars
      Thanks Carolyn, another home run recipe!! The entire family adores this one.

      Reply
    4. Karen Shearer says

      July 03, 2023 at 8:56 pm

      Can I use chicken breasts?

      Reply
      • Carolyn says

        July 06, 2023 at 11:59 am

        Please read the blog post! 🙂

        Reply
    5. Gena says

      July 03, 2023 at 12:49 pm

      5 stars
      I’ve made this multiple times and it never disappoints. Thank you for this awesome recipe.

      Reply
    6. Marla says

      July 03, 2023 at 9:28 am

      5 stars
      This is my family’s favourite recipe ever! My son, who has now moved away from home, always asks me to make this when we visit. Easy and delicious.

      Reply
    7. Vera says

      July 03, 2023 at 8:50 am

      Even my non-low carb family loves this recipe! I chop up the chicken before putting it in the baking dish to make it a little easier to scoop.

      Reply
    8. Bonnie says

      July 03, 2023 at 8:45 am

      I really love this dish! I just made it again a couple days ago. It’s easy to make and so flavorful. It’s definitely one of my favorites and a go-to for a great chicken meal. I try to keep cooked bacon in the freezer so it’s even handier when I want to make it again.

      Reply
    9. Deborah says

      June 18, 2023 at 7:24 pm

      5 stars
      Just made this tonight and it was a huge hit. I used thin sliced chicken breasts as my husband won’t eat thighs, but it was still so good! It will be in our regular rotation of meals.

      Reply
    10. Teresa says

      April 18, 2023 at 8:52 pm

      5 stars
      Made this tonight for the first time. Great recipe-and you can make it to your taste by adding more jalapeños if that suits you!
      Satisfy my craving for jalapeño poppers with less work!

      Reply
    11. Paige says

      January 28, 2023 at 3:49 pm

      5 stars
      Delish! I’ve made this several times before but this time I used 8 thighs and increased the ingredients by a tad. I also made garlic caulirice and put it in the bottom of the dish to help absorb some of the grease. It was a big hit! Thanks for yet another great recipe Carolyn!

      Reply
    12. Michele says

      September 20, 2022 at 6:57 pm

      2 stars
      I found it to be greasy . My husband loved it but I I was not a fan of this one. Your recipes are really good. but this one I will skip.

      Reply
      • Baltisraul says

        July 31, 2023 at 8:35 am

        Can’t imagine what would make this dish greasy?

        Reply
    13. Sue Helley says

      April 30, 2022 at 8:48 pm

      5 stars
      I made this Keto Jalapeño Popper Chicken tonight for dinner. OMG, it was soooo good. It will for sure be in my regular rotation. It was tender and all the flavors meshed together into a delectable tasty bite.

      Reply
    14. Yvette says

      April 27, 2022 at 3:22 am

      5 stars
      Oh boy. This was sensational. I’ve yet to have a single recipe of yours that I don’t like. They are all amazing. Thank you for your genius recipes.

      Reply
      • Carolyn says

        April 27, 2022 at 8:10 am

        So glad to hear it!

        Reply
    15. Cara says

      February 12, 2022 at 9:47 am

      5 stars
      I made this last night for dinner, followed the recipe exactly, and it was soooooo delicious. It is going to be a regular on our dinner menu. This is why I own so many of your cookbooks! Your recipes are all tried and true.

      Reply
    16. Kristen Jacobson says

      December 06, 2021 at 7:54 pm

      5 stars
      This recipe was amazing! I diluted the cream cheese mixture with a little chicken stock. That was the only change I made. Kids even loved it! Thank you! Definitely on my menu rotation!

      Reply
    17. Libby says

      November 09, 2021 at 8:48 am

      Can you use breast and how many would you use? My family won’t eat thighs.

      Reply
      • Carolyn says

        November 09, 2021 at 12:59 pm

        Sure but I would probably cut them down to size a bit. Maybe 3 breasts cut in half, depending on how big they are?

        Reply
    18. Angela Crafton says

      October 03, 2021 at 7:30 pm

      5 stars
      I love this! Hard to stop eating! I doubled the cream cheese sauce just because I love alot of sauce on everything…. wonderful recipe thank you!!

      Reply
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