The Keto Jalapeño Popper Chicken Casserole is a delicious, easy-to-make low-carb meal that your family will love! Layered with jalapeño peppers, crispy bacon, creamy cheese, and shredded chicken, this recipe captures all the flavors of a classic jalapeño popper.
If you haven’t tried a jalapeño popper before, it’s a jalapeño pepper sliced and stuffed with a cheesy filling, sometimes topped with breadcrumbs. This dish takes the popular appetizer and turns it into a flavorful weeknight meal.
Ingredients
- Chicken:
- 1 3/4 lbs boneless chicken breasts
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 1/2 cup + 2 tbsp chicken broth
- Cheese Sauce:
- 7 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
- 5 jalapeños, seeded and thinly sliced
- 1/2 tsp fresh parsley, chopped
- Toppings:
- 6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
Instructions
Preheat and Prepare
- Preheat Oven:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Cook Bacon:
- Cook the bacon slices by your preferred method. Once done, crumble them into bits and set aside.
Cook and Shred Chicken
- Slow Cooker Method:
- Place the chicken in a slow cooker on high for 3 hours or on low for 6 hours.
- Boil the chicken until it’s cooked through.
- Shred Chicken:
- Remove the cooked chicken and shred it using two forks.
Make Cheese Sauce
- Combine Ingredients:
- In a skillet, combine the pepper, paprika, cheddar cheese, whipping cream, garlic powder, onion powder, chicken broth, and softened cream cheese.
- Simmer Sauce:
- Simmer the mixture over medium-low heat, whisking for 4-5 minutes until the sauce begins to thicken slightly. The sauce should be thin enough to pour and cover the bottom of the casserole dish.
Assemble the Casserole
- Prepare Casserole Dish:
- Grease the bottom of a 9 x 13 casserole dish. Add the shredded chicken in an even layer at the bottom of the dish.
- Add Jalapeños and Sauce:
- Sprinkle 2/3 of the sliced jalapeños over the chicken. Pour the cheese sauce evenly over the chicken and jalapeños. Top with the remaining Monterey Jack cheese and 1/3 of the jalapeño slices.
Bake
- First Bake:
- Bake the casserole for 20 minutes.
- Add Bacon and Final Bake:
- Remove the casserole from the oven. Sprinkle the crumbled bacon over the top and bake for an additional 3-5 minutes.
Serve
- Garnish:
- Remove the casserole from the oven and sprinkle freshly chopped parsley over the top.
- Serve Hot:
- Serve the Keto Jalapeño Popper Chicken Casserole hot and enjoy!
Nutrition
- Calories: 433kcal
- Carbohydrates: 3g
- Protein: 32g
- Fat: 32g
- Saturated Fat: 17g
- Cholesterol: 149mg
- Sodium: 527mg
- Potassium: 482mg
- Fiber: 1g
- Sugar: 1g
- Vitamin A: 893IU
Enjoy your Keto Jalapeño Popper Chicken Casserole, a delightful low-carb meal that’s sure to please!