This creamy Jalapeño Popper Chicken is an easy and flavorful family dinner, ready in 45 minutes. It brings all the flavors of your favorite appetizer into a low-carb, keto-friendly casserole.
Introduction
In today's fast-paced world, finding time to prepare healthy and delicious meals can be a challenge. This Jalapeño Popper Chicken recipe is an inexpensive and family-friendly meal that tastes great. It combines the beloved flavors of jalapeño poppers with chicken. Smother chicken thighs in a cream cheese sauce, add cheese, jalapeños, and bacon, and it’s a match made in keto heaven.
Why This Recipe Works
Keto dieters love their jalapeno poppers. Jalapeños, cheese, and bacon create a classic appetizer that is easily made low carb and full of flavor. These same flavors can be incorporated into a full keto meal. This Jalapeno Popper Chicken recipe comes together in less than an hour and has only 2g carbs per serving.
Ingredients
- Boneless, skinless chicken thighs: Some readers used chicken breast instead.
- Jalapeño peppers: If you want something less spicy, you can use poblano or anaheim peppers.
- Shredded cheddar cheese: You can shred your own or use pre-shredded cheese. Any variety of cheddar, from sharp to mild, can be used.
- Bacon
- Cream cheese
- Whipping cream
- Garlic
- Salt and pepper to taste
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Cook the bacon: In a large skillet over medium, cook the chopped bacon until crisp. Remove to a plate, leaving about 1 tbsp of grease in the skillet. Chop the bacon before cooking it, as it gets more evenly crisp this way.
- 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. 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.
- Prepare the sauce: In a medium bowl, whisk together the cream cheese, whipping cream, and garlic. 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.
- Assemble and bake: Spread the cream cheese mixture over the chicken in the dish. Sprinkle with the jalapeño and cheddar cheese, then sprinkle with the chopped bacon. Bake about 20 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the chicken is cooked through.
- Serve: Allow it to cool slightly for 5 minutes and then serve.
Tips and Variations
- Spice level: 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.
- Cheese: Sometimes I like to also add pepper jack cheese. There is just something about the combination of cream cheese with the cheddar cheese that is so amazing.
- Extra flavor: Occasionally I like to add a little chili powder to the chicken. I love the extra kick it gives.
- Bacon: You can use buy precooked bacon at the store.
- Alternative toppings: Add some crumbled pork skins on top for a low carb alternative to Ritz Cracker crumbs or Panko bread crumbs.
- Jalapenos: Canned jalapenos are a great option here! When jalapenos are cooked they lose some of their kick.
Serving Suggestions
This tasty jalapeño popper chicken makes a great dinner!
How to Store Leftovers
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.
Read also: Easy Low-Carb Cheese Crackers
Nutritional Information
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.
Safety Tips
Wear gloves when working with jalapeño peppers to protect your skin.
Testimonials
- “Oh boy. This was sensational. I’ve yet to have a single recipe of yours that I don’t like. They are all amazing."
- “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!"
- “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."
- ‘OMG… Made this tonight. Simply amazing. I’m glad I made enough for leftovers!’
- ‘Oh my goodness, made this tonight for a quick low carb dish….. So so good!!!! Thank you for a great new chicken dish."
- ‘My family has been on a low carb diet for a month. They were getting tired of the same food. Got to searching and found this low carb recipe. They loved it. It was delicious. My husband said I can stay on my diet if you continue making food like this. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe."
Keto Diet Overview
The ketogenic diet is a diet high in fat with healthy fats for weight loss. You will also want to keep things sugar free. Oils like coconut oil, olive oil and mct oil are used. A lot of recipes call for cheese or cream cheese. Once you get used to this diet, many report that it becomes a lifestyle and they really like it. Plus, weight loss is fairly easy while also filling full and satisfied. No one wants to be hungry all the time.
Other Keto Chicken Recipes to Try
- Keto Chicken Marsala
- Spinach Stuffed Chicken
- Sheet Pan Chicken Thighs
- Keto Chicken Broccoli Casserole
- Chicken Cordon Bleu
Read also: Keto Calorie Counting: A Detailed Guide
Read also: Magnesium Supplements for Keto