**Jalapeño Popper Chicken Casserole** is a creamy, spicy, and satisfying dish that combines the best of two beloved favorites: the irresistible flavors of jalapeño poppers and hearty, comforting chicken casserole. It’s the perfect balance of cheesy, creamy goodness with a touch of heat from the jalapeños.
This casserole is not too heavy and will delight your taste buds without being overly spicy. Whether you’re making this for a weeknight dinner or serving it at a gathering, it’s sure to become a family favorite. Don’t love the spice? You can easily adjust the heat level by using fewer jalapeños or substituting them with milder peppers.
Kitchen Equipment Needed:
– Large skillet
– 9×13-inch baking dish
– Mixing bowls
– Whisk
– Measuring cups and spoons
– Knife and cutting board
– Spatula
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### Ingredients:
– **For the casserole**:
– 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (cooked and shredded)
– 8 oz cream cheese (softened)
– 1 cup sour cream
– 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
– 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
– 4-5 fresh jalapeños, seeded and diced (adjust to taste)
– 1 teaspoon garlic powder
– 1 teaspoon onion powder
– Salt and pepper, to taste
– **For the topping**:
– ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
– ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
– ½ cup Panko breadcrumbs (optional for a crispy topping)
– 2 tablespoons melted butter
—
### Directions:
1. **Preheat the oven** to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish and set aside.
2. **Cook and shred the chicken**:
– If your chicken breasts aren’t already cooked, you can poach or bake them until fully cooked through. Shred the cooked chicken using two forks.
3. **Prepare the creamy mixture**:
– In a large bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, sour cream, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Mix until smooth and well-combined.
4. **Mix in the chicken and jalapeños**:
– Fold in the shredded chicken, cheddar cheese, mozzarella cheese, and diced jalapeños. Make sure everything is evenly distributed.
5. **Assemble the casserole**:
– Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish and spread it out evenly.
6. **Add the topping**:
– Sprinkle the additional cheddar and mozzarella cheese evenly over the top of the casserole.
– If using Panko breadcrumbs, mix them with the melted butter and sprinkle them on top of the cheese for an extra crispy texture.
7. **Bake the casserole**:
– Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly, and the topping is golden brown.
8. **Cool and serve**:
– Let the casserole rest for about 5 minutes before serving. This allows the flavors to settle and makes it easier to slice and serve.
—
### Prep Time:
– 20 minutes
### Cook Time:
– 25 minutes
### Total Time:
– 45 minutes
—
### Nutrition (per serving):
– Calories: 420
– Protein: 30g
– Carbohydrates: 6g
– Fat: 30g
– Fiber: 1g
– Sugar: 2g
This **Jalapeño Popper Chicken Casserole** is the perfect blend of creamy, cheesy, and spicy in one bite. It’s an excellent dish for dinner parties or weeknight meals and pairs wonderfully with a side of salad or roasted vegetables. For those who prefer a little less heat, simply reduce the amount of jalapeños or opt for the milder variety.

Jalapeño Popper Chicken Casserole
Equipment
- Large skillet
- 9x13 inch baking dish
- Mixing bowls
- Whisk
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Knife and cutting board
- Spatula
Ingredients
- - **For the casserole**:
- - 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (cooked and shredded)
- - 8 oz cream cheese softened
- - 1 cup sour cream
- - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- - 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- - 4-5 fresh jalapeños seeded and diced (adjust to taste)
- - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- - 1 teaspoon onion powder
- - Salt and pepper to taste
- - **For the topping**:
- - ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
- - ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- - ½ cup Panko breadcrumbs optional for a crispy topping
- - 2 tablespoons melted butter
Instructions
- **Preheat the oven** to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish and set aside.
- **Cook and shred the chicken**:
- - If your chicken breasts aren’t already cooked, you can poach or bake them until fully cooked through. Shred the cooked chicken using two forks.
- **Prepare the creamy mixture**:
- - In a large bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, sour cream, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Mix until smooth and well-combined.
- **Mix in the chicken and jalapeños**:
- - Fold in the shredded chicken, cheddar cheese, mozzarella cheese, and diced jalapeños. Make sure everything is evenly distributed.
- **Assemble the casserole**:
- - Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish and spread it out evenly.
- **Add the topping**:
- - Sprinkle the additional cheddar and mozzarella cheese evenly over the top of the casserole.
- - If using Panko breadcrumbs, mix them with the melted butter and sprinkle them on top of the cheese for an extra crispy texture.
- **Bake the casserole**:
- - Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly, and the topping is golden brown.
- **Cool and serve**:
- - Let the casserole rest for about 5 minutes before serving. This allows the flavors to settle and makes it easier to slice and serve.
- ---
- ### Prep Time:
- - 20 minutes
- ### Cook Time:
- - 25 minutes
- ### Total Time:
- - 45 minutes
- ---
- ### Nutrition (per serving):
- - Calories: 420
- - Protein: 30g
- - Carbohydrates: 6g
- - Fat: 30g
- - Fiber: 1g
- - Sugar: 2g
- This **Jalapeño Popper Chicken Casserole** is the perfect blend of creamy, cheesy, and spicy in one bite. It's an excellent dish for dinner parties or weeknight meals and pairs wonderfully with a side of salad or roasted vegetables. For those who prefer a little less heat, simply reduce the amount of jalapeños or opt for the milder variety.
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