Monday, April 30, 2012

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.

7 comments:

  1. Yum! I've made something similar, but without the bacon. They're delicious!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Kate, love this idea and might suggest that you add a subscribe by email feature to your blog for those of us who like to follow that way. I, for one, like the etiquette section as well as your recipes!

    ces2147@verizon.net

    ReplyDelete
  3. looks good, everything is better with bacon

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi Kate, visiting from my Tummy Tuesdays. This sounds like it should be inspired by/as Buffalo Chicken Bundles. Ooooh, sounds good. Thanking you now instead of later. Have a great upcoming week-end.

    ReplyDelete
  5. These looks delicious Kate! Thank you so much for sharing your awesome recipe with Full Plate Thursday. Hope you are having a great week.
    Come Back Soon!
    Miz Helen

    ReplyDelete
  6. I'm so excited! I have all these ingredients in my home right now. Dinner is in the bag!

    ReplyDelete
  7. These look absolutely yummy. thanks for linking them in to Food on Friday. Have a great week.

    ReplyDelete