Crispy Jalapeño Popper Stuffed Chicken Breast (high-protein)

I’m back with another delicious, surprisingly easy weeknight (or date night in) dinner recipe that’s going to BLOW YA MIND. I originally shared it over 5 years ago but had to remind you all to make it while jalapeños are super fresh.

Meet my crispy jalapeño popper stuffed chicken breast filled with a green onion and bacon cream cheese filling, then topped with cheddar cheese that melts into salty, ooey-gooey perfection in your mouth. Oh and let’s not forget the crispy coating for the chicken breast (it’s based off my famous baked chicken nugget recipe!) So damn good.

Get over 40g of protein with this deliciously savory chicken recipe, and serve it with your fav veggies and sides for the perfect dinner!

What is a jalapeño popper?

Traditional jalapeño poppers are hollowed out, filled with a cheese mixture, breaded and then fried. They can also be filled with a ground meat or wrapped in bacon, but you can easily keep them vegetarian.

If you’ve never had my lightened-up jalapeño poppers, do yourself a favor and get on that ASAP. They’re stuffed with cream cheese and shredded cheese, dipped in grain free tortilla chips, and then baked to crispy perfection instead of fried. In this jalapeño popper stuffed chicken recipe, we’re using the same flavors, plus a crispy exterior on the chicken to create a similar delicious effect.

Ingredients in jalapeño popper stuffed chicken

This deliciously savory stuffed chicken breast recipe is a mix of crispy, cheesy, creamy and a little spicy. Basically everything you could ask for. To make it you’ll need:

• Chicken breasts: you’ll butterfly and stuff chicken breasts before baking them to perfection. I have plenty of tips for butterflying below!
• For the cream cheese: we’re making a wonderfully savory cream cheese by mixing it with cooked, thick cut bacon, jalapeño for a kick of heat (and that jalapeño popper flavor), green onion for freshness, and garlic powder.
• Cheddar cheese: get extra cheesy by adding a slice of sharp cheddar cheese on top of the cream cheese layer.
• Panko bread crumbs: use bread crumbs to coat the outside the chicken to make it nice and crispy.
• Olive oil cooking spray: the trick to crispy breadcrumbs is to spray them with a bit of cooking spray and bake them first!
• Spices: you’ll mix onion powder and paprika with the breadcrumbs for a flavorful outside.
• Eggs: to make sure the bread crumbs stick well on the chicken.
• Milk: for a bit of extra moisture.

Can I make it gluten-free or dairy-free?

• To make gluten-free: simply use gluten-free bread crumbs in the topping.
• To make dairy-free: use your favorite dairy-free cream cheese, and skip the cheddar cheese or swap it for a slice of dairy-free cheese.

How to butterfly a chicken breast

The technique for slicing each of these chicken breasts open in order to stuff them is called butterflying. To do this:

1. Place one hand on top of the chicken breast
2. With a sharp knife, carefully slice the chicken breast horizontally down the middle. Be careful not to cut all the way through, and feel free to open it up to be sure you haven’t done so.
3. Open the chicken breast like a book, and stuff/spread with the cream cheese filling

How to make jalapeño popper stuffed chicken

1. Cook your bacon. Start by cooking your thick cut bacon until it’s nice and crispy, then chop it into pieces and add it to a bowl with the cream cheese.
2. Make the cream cheese filling. Mix your cream cheese with the chopped bacon, diced jalapeño, green onion, and garlic powder. YUM.
3. Stuff the chicken. Use a sharp knife to butterfly each chicken breast, then stuff each one with the cream cheese mixture and place cheddar cheese on top. Secure closed with a toothpick if necessary.
4. Prep the bread crumbs. Add your panko bread crumbs to a large baking sheet, spray with cooking spray, then bake them, stirring halfway through until golden. Mix them in a bowl with your spices.
5. Coat the chicken. Whisk together eggs and milk to create an egg wash, then dip each chicken breast into it, making sure to get both the top and the bottom well-drenched. Transfer to the bread crumb mixture and dredge chicken in bread crumbs, using a spoon to scoop bread crumbs on top so that chicken is evenly coated.
6. Bake & devour. Transfer the coated chicken breasts to a greased baking pan, bake them up, and then devour!

Tips for making stuffed chicken

• Don’t overstuff the chicken. Make sure to evenly divide the cream cheese mixture between all four chicken breasts to ensure that they’re not overfilled and thus prone to spilling out.
• After stuffing the chicken breast, use a toothpick to secure it shut. I like to do this to prevent the filling from escaping while cooking.
• Since chicken breasts can vary in sizes, I recommend using a meat thermometer to make sure that the chicken breast is fully cooked; the temperature should read 165 degrees F. In this recipe you’ll bake your jalapeño popper stuffed chicken breast at 400 degrees F for about 25-35 minutes.

How to store stuffed chicken breast

Keep any leftover jalapeño popper stuffed chicken breasts in an airtight container in the refrigerator and eat within 2-3 days. You can simply reheat leftovers in the microwave.

What to serve with jalapeño popper stuffed chicken

More chicken dinners you’ll love

Get all of my chicken recipes here!

If you make this jalapeño popper stuffed chicken recipe, be sure to tag #ambitiouskitchen on Instagram. We’d also love if you would leave a comment below and rate the recipe. We appreciate you! xo.