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Jalapeño Popper Chicken Casserole

Creamy, cheesy, bacony Jalapeño Popper Chicken Casserole has all of the flavors of the iconic appetizer it’s named after in one delicious dish.

I’m a big fan of recipes that can get a meal on the table quickly and deliciously. And this Jalapeño Popper Chicken Casserole fits the bill.

Oftentimes, casseroles get a bad rap. Yes, there are some questionable casserole recipes out there. Vienna Sausage Casserole anyone? But for the most part, they really are an ingenious creation. A one-dish meal served right in the casserole dish that it was baked in. Easy to prepare with easy cleanup. Yay!

What Ingredients Do I Need?

This casserole combines all of the flavors of one of the best foods to come out of the 90’s – well that’s when the “Popper” was trademarked – in a creamy, zesty one-dish meal.

I’ve seen several recipes that use pre-cooked shredded chicken, and you could start with a rotisserie chicken and shred it. I prefer to cut chicken breasts into chunks though, seasoning it with some garlic powder, salt, and pepper and then browning quickly before coating with the cream cheese mixture. I like the bigger chunks of chicken. And because the chicken isn’t cooked twice, it stays juicy.

I use fresh jalapeño peppers rather than canned because I like the texture that they provide to the casserole.

Including the Pepper Jack cheese with its sweet peppers, and spices really adds something wonderful to this dish. It has just enough kick, but a really lovely butteriness to help temper some of the heat from the jalapeños.

And the bacon. I mean really, can you have a Popper without bacon. No, is the right answer ;)

How To Make Jalapeno Popper Chicken Casserole

Start by heating the oven to 350˚F. Cut your chicken breasts into small pieces, about 1/2 inch big. This will get seasoned with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.

In a medium bowl, whisk together your cream cheese and heavy cream and set aside.

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat, and add  oil. You’ll want to brown the chicken on all sides, which will take about 6 minutes. The add in your cream cheese mixture as well as the fresh chopped jalapenos. Stir to combine everything together.

Transfer the casserole filling to a 9×13 baking dish and spread it out evenly. Then, it gets topped with cheeses and sprinkled with crumbled bacon. Yum!

The casserole will bake for 20 minutes, until it’s bubbly and the top is slightly browned. Let it rest for 5 minutes before serving. I like to garnish with fresh parsley.

Serve with warm cornbread, a side salad, or just by itself. You could also serve it over rice or over potatoes.

More Great Casserole Recipes

Print

Jalapeño Popper Chicken Casserole Recipe

  • Author: Christine Pittman
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Total Time: 35 minutes
  • Yield: 46 servings 1x
  • Category: Entrée
  • Method: Baked
  • Cuisine: American

DESCRIPTION

Creamy, cheesy, bacony Jalapeño Popper Chicken Casserole has all of the flavors of the iconic appetizer it’s named after in one delicious dish.


Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 2 lbs. boneless, skinless breasts, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
  • 1 tsp. kosher salt
  • 1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
  • 8 oz. cream cheese, softened
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 2 Tbsp. olive oil
  • 1/2 lb. jalapeños, seeded and chopped
  • 2 cups grated pepper Jack cheese
  • 1 cup grated Cheddar cheese
  • 1/2 cup cooked, crumbled bacon
  • 1/4 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350˚F.
  2. Season the chicken with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
  3. In a medium bowl, whisk together the cream cheese and cream. Set aside.
  4. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat, and add the olive oil. Add the chicken and brown lightly on all sides, about 6 minutes.
  5. Add the cream cheese mixture and jalapeños into skillet, stirring to coat the chicken.
  6. Transfer to 9×13 baking dish spreading the mixture evenly across the bottom.
  7. Layer the Pepper Jack cheese and Cheddar cheese on the top of the chicken mixture.
  8. Sprinkle the crumbed bacon over the top of the cheese.
  9. Bake the casserole for 20 minutes until bubbly and slightly browned.
  10. Remove from the oven and allow to sit for 5 minutes.
  11. Garnish with parsley and serve.

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This post originally appeared in November 2019 and was revised and republished in May 2022.