Description
Jalapeño Popper Stuffed Chicken brings creamy, spicy flavors together in one impressive dinner dish. This crowd-pleasing recipe combines cheesy filling with tender chicken for a meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 chicken breast, skinless, boneless (220 grams/7 ounces)
- 2 jalapenos, deseeded and finely diced
- 60 grams/2 ounces cream cheese
- 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, finely shredded
Seasoning Ingredients:
- 1/4 teaspoon cooking/kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika (or ordinary paprika)
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon cooking/kosher salt
Cooking Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180C/350F (160C fan), ensuring the cooking environment is ready for the chicken.
- Carefully slice horizontal pockets into each chicken breast, maintaining the integrity of the meat without cutting completely through.
- Soften cream cheese in the microwave for 30 seconds, then blend thoroughly with mozzarella, parmesan, diced jalapenos, garlic powder, black pepper, and salt to create a creamy, zesty filling.
- Generously fill each chicken pocket with the prepared mixture, securing the openings with 2-3 toothpicks to prevent leakage. Dust both sides of the chicken with paprika and a pinch of salt.
- Heat oil in an oven-proof skillet over medium-high heat, searing the chicken breasts for 2 minutes per side until a golden-brown crust develops.
- Transfer the skillet directly into the preheated oven, baking for approximately 15 minutes or until the chicken’s internal temperature reaches 67C/155F, ensuring thorough cooking.
- Remove from the oven and allow the chicken to rest for 5 minutes, enabling the juices to redistribute and maintain maximum tenderness before serving.
Notes
- Customize heat levels by adjusting jalapeno quantity for spice-sensitive palates.
- Use gluten-free cream cheese and check mozzarella ingredients for gluten-free certification to make the recipe celiac-friendly.
- Remove toothpicks carefully before serving to prevent accidental biting and potential choking hazard.
- Ensure chicken is completely sealed to prevent cheese from leaking during cooking, which maintains the stuffing’s creamy texture and prevents burning.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2
- Calories: 525
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 810mg
- Fat: 31g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 9g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 47g
- Cholesterol: 135mg