You might be wondering… what is keto jalapeno popper chicken? I’m so glad you asked! No more boring chicken dinners, this baked jalapeno popper hasselback chicken recipe is packed with flavor and a fun way to switch up chicken breast meals! Everyone will enjoy this naturally low carb jalapeno popper chicken breast, whether they are keto or not. Layers of creamy cheese, bacon, and sliced jalapenos… what’s not to love? For an appetizer-friendly dish with all the same flavor, try air fryer jalapeño poppers instead!
What Is Hasselback Chicken?
Hasselback chicken breast is a fun twist on stuffed chicken! Hasselback is a cooking method for chicken, though it’s also often used for vegetables, such as potatoes, as well. To make it, we cut slits into the chicken, but not all the way through, and stuff some kind of filling inside the slices before baking. In this case, we stuff the chicken with bacon and cheese – you’ll love it!
What Is Jalapeno Popper Chicken Breast?
This jalapeno popper chicken breast recipe is hasselback chicken with jalapeno popper filling stuffed inside the slits. It’s incredibly flavorful AND easy to make! Just like jalapeno poppers, turned into a chicken dinner.
How To Make Jalapeno Popper Chicken
This cheddar jalapeno chicken recipe takes just 15 minutes to prep! Here’s how to make hasselback chicken with cheese, bacon and jalapeno pepper filling:
Prep chicken. Season chicken with salt and pepper and cut 6 slits in the top of each chicken breast in the short direction. Cut down, but not all the way to the bottom.
Make jalapeno cream cheese chicken stuffing. In a medium bowl, mash together the cream cheese and shredded cheddar. Stuff the cheese mixture into the slits.
Add bacon and jalapenos. Stuff cooked bacon and jalapeno slices into the slits.
TIP: My favorite method for cooking bacon for this recipe is bacon in the oven! But you can use the stove top, too, if you prefer. Just make sure it’s cooked, otherwise it will be floppy if you put it in raw.
TIP: As written, this chicken is pretty mild with 1 jalapeno slice per slit. Even my young kids ate it. If you like more heat, you can use 2 or 3 jalapenos instead of just one, and place more jalapeno slices into each slit before baking.
Bake. Cook until it reaches 165 degrees F and let it rest for a couple of minutes before serving.
How Long To Cook Hasselback Chicken?
The jalapeno popper hasselback chicken recipe takes about 25 minutes in the oven, but I do recommend using a meat thermometer so that it’s baked to perfection! TIP: Cook time will depend on how large your casserole dish is. If your chicken breasts are touching, it may take an extra 5-10 minutes compared to if they are not. The 25-minute time in my oven was in the dish pictured here, with the chicken pieces touching each other.
Can You Make Low Carb Jalapeno Popper Chicken Ahead?
Yes, you can prep low carb jalapeno popper chicken ahead of time. Here are a few ways to prep ahead – you can do any (or all) of these steps in advance:
Cook bacon in the oven. Make jalapeno popper stuffed chicken filling. Cut slits into chicken. Stuff the stuffing inside the chicken slits.
Store the chicken in the fridge and bake when ready.
Can You Freeze Hasselback Chicken Recipes?
Yes, you can freeze these jalapeno popper chicken breasts! You can do so before or after baking. Either way, they’ll last 2-3 months in the freezer. When ready to eat, thaw overnight in the fridge and bake. Baking time will be the same as the recipe after thawing if you froze raw, or just about 10-15 minutes if you are just reheating.
What To Serve With Jalapeno Popper Chicken
This jalapeno cream cheese stuffed chicken is a filling meal, so it just needs a veggie side! Here are a few low carb keto vegetable side dishes to try with it:
Roasted Broccolini – Simple, easy, and can be cooked alongside the jalapeno hasselback chicken. Keto Roasted Vegetables – This veggie side goes with just about any meal, and the leftovers are great for lunches! Sauteed Broccoli – Another simple green side that pairs with just about anything. Cauliflower Rice – An obvious side choice for jalapeno popper hasselback chicken, you can’t go wrong with cauliflower rice.
Stoneware Baking Dish – This baking dish is great quality and nice enough to take low carb jalapeno popper chicken right from the oven to the table. Instant Read Meat Thermometer – The best way to tell if your hasselback chicken recipe is cooked through is to use a meat thermometer. This is my favorite one as it reads super quickly.
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