Bacon Wrapped Jalapeño Popper Chicken (Printable Version)
Tender chicken breasts stuffed with spicy jalapeño cheese filling and wrapped in crispy bacon for a satisfying meal.
# What You'll Need:
→ Chicken
01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
02 - Salt and pepper, to taste
→ Jalapeño Popper Filling
03 - 4 oz cream cheese, softened
04 - 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
05 - 1/4 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
06 - 2 medium jalapeños, seeded and finely chopped
07 - 2 tablespoons chopped green onions
08 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
→ Bacon
09 - 8 slices thin-cut bacon
# Directions:
01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil.
02 - In a small bowl, mix together the cream cheese, cheddar, Monterey Jack, jalapeños, green onions, and garlic powder until well combined.
03 - Pat the chicken breasts dry and season both sides with salt and pepper.
04 - Using a sharp knife, cut a pocket horizontally into each chicken breast, being careful not to slice all the way through.
05 - Stuff each chicken breast with about 2 tablespoons of the jalapeño cheese mixture. Secure with toothpicks if needed.
06 - Wrap each stuffed chicken breast with 2 slices of bacon, tucking the ends under the chicken or securing with toothpicks.
07 - Place the chicken breasts seam-side down on the prepared baking sheet.
08 - Bake for 30–35 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through (internal temperature 165°F) and the bacon is crispy. Broil for 2–3 minutes at the end if needed to crisp the bacon further.
09 - Remove toothpicks before serving.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The bacon keeps the chicken incredibly moist while creating this irresistible crispy exterior
- That jalapeño cream cheese filling is the kind of thing you will want to put on everything
02 -
- I learned the hard way that overfilling the pockets causes the cheese to explode out during baking
- Bacon shrinks as it cooks so wrap it slightly tighter than you think you need to
03 -
- Thinner chicken breasts are easier to stuff and wrap without the bacon slipping off
- Chilling the stuffed chicken for 15 minutes before wrapping makes the bacon stay put