Jalapeno Popper Chicken Breasts

Y'all might remember that I love jalapeno poppers.  And I'm sure you remember when I came up with this fabulous pizza as a nod to my favorite spicy appetizer!  So it should come as no surprise when the idea for this dish popped into my head.  Of course, I might not actually be the first to do this, but I haven't seen it (though I also haven't gone looking, since this popped into my head and I made this for dinner the very night of my epiphany).  This is fabulous served with Firecracker Slaw and Sweet Potato Fries.

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

8 ounces cream cheese

1/3 cup diced jalapenos (pickled; if you use fresh, you might want to reduce this amount)

8 slices bacon

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

Combine the cream cheese and jalapenos, mixing well.  On the underside of each chicken breast, spread a quarter of the cream cheese mixture.  Fold the breast over, creating a chicken bundle.  Wrap two pieces of bacon around the bundle, perpendicular to each other (forming a cross) and secure with toothpicks.  This does two things:  Holds the chicken bundle together, and keeps the cream cheese from oozing out (too much) during baking.  Alternatively, if you have large chicken breasts, you could cut a "pocket" into each breast and stuff the pocket with the cream cheese, then wrap with bacon and secure.  Either works fine.

Place breasts on a rimmed baking sheet and bake for 30-35 minutes or until cooked through.  You could probably grill these too.  The possibilities are endless.  Just make them.  You can thank me later!

Serves 4.