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    Home » Recipes » Main Dishes

    Air Fryer Jalapeno Popper Stuffed Chicken

    Published: Sep 22, 2022 Modified: Sep 22, 2022 by Kristin King / This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe | Pin Recipe
    Side close up shot of two baked stuffed chicken breasts on a white plate with a fork on the side.
    Side close up shot of a fork holding up a piece of baked stuff chicken with two large pieces in the background on a white plate.
    Side close up shot of two baked stuffed chicken breasts on a white plate with a fork on the side.

    This bold Air Fryer Jalapeno Popper Stuffed Chicken is a super flavorful upgrade to your ordinary chicken dinner. This crispy dish is gooey and cheesy with a little extra jalapeño kick.

    Easy to prepare in the air fryer, this will become a tasty weeknight favorite. No air fryer? Don’t fret! This post includes oven directions too so nobody misses out on this delicious chicken meal.

    Side close up shot of two baked stuffed chicken breasts on a white plate with a fork on the side.
    Stuffed with a creamy filling and covered in a crispy breadcrumb coating, this baked stuffed chicken recipe will become a weeknight favorite!
    Jump to:
    • 💚 Why You'll Love This Recipe
    • 🧂 Ingredients Needed
    • 🔪 Instructions
    • ❔ FAQs
    • 💭 Expert Tips and Tricks
    • 💡 Substitutions and Variations
    • 🥫 Storage and Reheating
    • ⏲️ Make Ahead Instructions
    • 🍴 What To Serve With This Dish
    • ✔️ More Chicken Recipes You'll Love
    • Jalapeno Cream Cheese Stuffed Chicken
    • 📋 Recipe Card
    • 💬 Reviews and Comments

    💚 Why You'll Love This Recipe

    This air fryer jalapeno cream cheese stuffed chicken is a fantastic recipe when you need a flavorful and hearty dinner in just 30 minutes! With the heat of jalapenos and savory bacon, this satisfying chicken dinner will be a huge hit with your family.

    Best of all, you likely have many of the ingredients in your kitchen already! Take the classic flavors of bold jalapeno poppers and turn them into a filling meal that's easy to prepare in the air fryer.

    For another delicious chicken dish that features jalapeno, try these Oven Baked Chicken Thighs with Jalapeno Artichoke Topping! Or make Sheet Pan Chicken Thighs for an easy one-pan meal.

    🧂 Ingredients Needed

    Overhead shot of ingredients - chicken breast, jalapeños, cream cheese, bread crumbs, shredded cheese, bacon, salt, onion powder, pepper, and garlic powder.
    With only a few simple ingredients, you will love making this quick and easy recipe!
    • jalapeno peppers - these flavorful peppers provide the perfect amount of heat.
    • cream cheese - makes the filling for your stuffed chicken creamy and gives it a delicious subtle tang.
    • shredded cheddar - melty cheese goes perfectly with any kind of chicken.
    • bacon - gives your jalapeno popper chicken an extra savory flavor that pairs well with the popper flavors.
    • salt & pepper
    • garlic powder & onion powder - a great combination of seasonings to form a flavorful base.
    • chicken breast
    • seasoned bread crumbs - create a crispy crust and pack in extra flavor from the seasoning.

    🔪 Instructions

    Three panel grid of process shots 1-3 - chopping jalapeños, and mixing ingredients to make filling.
    With only fifteen minutes of prep time requires, this recipe is super quick and simple to make!
    1. Dice the jalapeno peppers as small as possible. For less kick, remove any seeds or membranes.
    2. Add diced jalapenos to a large bowl with cream cheese, shredded cheddar, chopped bacon, salt, pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder.
    3. Mix will and set aside.
    Three panel grid of process shots 4-6 - stuffing chicken with jalapeno filling, coating with bread crumbs and seasoning, and cooking in the air fryer.
    This baked stuffed chicken breast recipe is super quick and simple to prepare!
    1. Carefully slice chicken breasts along the side to form a pocket (but not enough to fully butterfly the chicken breasts) then spoon in enough of the cream cheese filling to stuff the chicken.
    2. Add the bread crumbs to a dish and coat the stuffed chicken breasts and optionally season with additional salt and pepper.
    3. Air fry at 350 degrees F for 18 minutes (or until cooked through) then let sit for 5 minutes.

    ❔ FAQs

    How do you know when chicken is cooked all the way?

    The best way to ensure chicken is fully cooked is to check that the internal temperature has reached at least 165 degrees F.

    What sauce is good with jalapeno poppers?

    If you want to serve additional sauces with this jalapeno popper stuffed chicken, pair it with some ranch, blue cheese dressing, guacamole, sour cream, or mango salsa.

    Can I use canned jalapenos for this stuffed chicken?

    Absolutely! This will eliminate a step of prep since you won't have to dice your own jalapenos.

    How spicy is jalapeno popper stuffed chicken?

    It has a pretty good kick from the jalapenos. You can lower the heat level by removing any jalapeno seeds or the inner white parts. Another substitution you can make is to use green chiles instead of jalapenos for a milder kick.

    Side close up shot of two baked stuffed chicken breasts on a white plate with a fork on the side.
    The whole family will enjoy this creamy, crispy, and delicious recipe for jalapeno cream cheese stuffed chicken breast!

    💭 Expert Tips and Tricks

    • To make this as baked stuffed chicken breast instead of air fried, prepare as instructed and bake for 20-25 minutes at 450 degrees F.
    • If you like your chicken extra crispy, use Panko bread crumbs instead.
    • A squeeze of fresh lime juice will bring a pop of sharp and acidic flavor for a whole other layer with your chicken.
    • Garnish with jalapeno slices for extra heat and a beautiful presentation.

    📌 You can also make this as baked stuffed chicken breast, which is just as easy as cooking your jalapeno popper stuffed chicken in the air fryer! This flavorful and comforting chicken dinner will become a new weeknight favorite.

    💡 Substitutions and Variations

    • Feel free to use any cheese or a blend of cheeses: sharp cheddar, mozzarella, pepper jack, or even a Mexican blend are great options for your jalapeno cream cheese stuffed chicken.
    • Another way to pack this dish with bacon flavor is to wrap your chicken breasts in thin strips of bacon before air frying instead of pre-cooking and dicing it for the filling.
    • Add some paprika to your bread crumbs for some extra warmth and color.

    🥫 Storage and Reheating

    Store your stuffed chicken breasts in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. To reheat, pop it back in the air fryer or in the oven for a few minutes until everything is heated through. You can also microwave it, but it may alter the texture.

    ⏲️ Make Ahead Instructions

    One easy way to prepare ahead of time is to pre-cook and cut your bacon. You can also dice the jalapenos ahead of time. In fact, feel free to make the filling up to a day or so before cooking this dish and store covered in the fridge, then simply load into your chicken breasts and cook when it's time!

    🍴 What To Serve With This Dish

    For a flavorful topping, spoon some Authentic Pico de Gallo over your chicken!

    To keep with the jalapeno theme, serve your chicken with Jalapeno Cheddar Biscuits. Make this quick and customizable Air Fryer Broccoli, or since your oven will be free, make a delicious Cornbread Casserole or some Oven Fried Crispy Green Bean Fries!

    ✔️ More Chicken Recipes You'll Love

    • Best Chicken Grilled Cheese - Upgrade grilled cheese night by adding hearty chicken to your sandwiches.
    • Buffalo Chicken Cobb Salad - A bold and tasty salad that's loaded with protein and lots of nutritious ingredients.
    • Baked Breaded Lemon Chicken - This simple but tasty chicken dinner is a must-have recipe for any home chef!
    • Smothered Chicken Wings- You'll love this comforting and satisfying recipe from Stay Snatched!
    Side close up shot of a fork holding up a piece of baked stuff chicken with two large pieces in the background on a white plate.
    Ready in only 30 minutes, this recipe for baked stuffed chicken breast is the perfect weeknight meal to make in a hurry!

    If you love the flavors in this recipe, try making these easy, gluten-free, delicious jalapeno poppers!

    Jalapeno Cream Cheese Stuffed Chicken

    Love this recipe? Awesome! Snap a photo and tag me on Instagram. You can find me at DizzyBusyandHungry or #dizzybusyandhungry!

    ⭐ Did you make this recipe? Please give it a star rating below! ⭐

    📋 Recipe Card

    Overhead shot of two baked stuffed chicken breasts on a white square plate with a fork on the side.

    Air Fryer Jalapeno Popper Stuffed Chicken

    Recipe Author: Kristin King
    The air fryer makes it simple to prepare this jalapeno popper stuffed chicken for an easy and tasty dinner!
    5 from 17 votes
    Print Recipe Share by Email Bookmark Saved!
    Prep Time 15 minutes mins
    Cook Time 18 minutes mins
    Total Time 33 minutes mins
    Course Entree
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4
    Calories 497 kcal

    Equipment

    • 1 Air Fryer

    Ingredients
     

    • 3 jalapeno peppers
    • 8 ounces cream cheese, softened (1 package)
    • ½ cup shredded cheddar
    • 4 cooked bacon slices, chopped
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon pepper
    • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
    • ½ teaspoon onion powder
    • 4 chicken breasts
    • 1 cup seasoned bread crumbs
    US Customary - Metric
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    • Clean the jalapeno peppers and dice small. Make sure to remove the seeds and the whitish membrane to which the seeds are attached if you want less kick.
      3 jalapeno peppers
    • Add diced jalapeno, cream cheese, shredded cheddar, chopped bacon, and spices to a large bowl and mix together. Set aside.
      8 ounces cream cheese, softened, ½ cup shredded cheddar, ½ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon pepper, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon onion powder, 4 cooked bacon slices, chopped
    • Slice the chicken breasts along the side of each breast to form a pocket in the middle. Don’t cut from end to end and don’t cut through so much as to butterfly the breast. Fill each chicken pocket with a portion of the cream cheese filling.
      4 chicken breasts
    • Season each breast with additional salt and pepper (if desired). Add the bread crumbs to a shallow dish, place each breast on top of the crumbs and flip to fully coat the breast.
      1 cup seasoned bread crumbs
    • Lightly spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray. Spray the top of the chicken with oil, the place the chicken in the air fryer basket with the pocket facing up. Press down slightly to form a flat bottom
    • Cook at 350 degrees F for 18 minutes or until fully cooked. Then remove and let rest for 5 minutes.

    Notes

    • Oven directions: Prepare as directed, then bake in the oven at 450 degrees F for about 20-25 minutes.
    • Substitute Panko breadcrumbs for an even crispier results.
    • Leave in the jalapeno peppers' white membranes and/or the seeds for a spicier result.
    • Add another layer of flavor by squeezing some lime juice over the chicken when serving.
    • Garnish with some fresh or jarred jalapeno slices, if desired.

    Video

    Nutrition

    Calories: 497kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 65g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.03g | Cholesterol: 166mg | Sodium: 1465mg | Potassium: 1110mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 412IU | Vitamin C: 16mg | Calcium: 369mg | Iron: 3mg

    Nutritional information is an estimate. The nutritional values for your final dish may vary based on measuring differences and products used.

    Want to make cooking even easier?Sign up here to receive FREE DBH exclusive content, including my favorite kitchen shortcuts and hacks, and unlock access to the DBH resource library with many other free downloads!

    Thanks so much for reading! I also invite you to follow me on FACEBOOK, PINTEREST, or INSTAGRAM to keep up with what's going on in my kitchen.

    And you might want to check out my Dizzy Busy and Hungry store on Amazon for a whole bunch of great kitchen products I love!

    Happy cooking!

    Close up of a signature of Kristin.

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Nora

      July 24, 2023 at 11:54 pm

      5 stars
      I made this tonight and it was so good!!

      Reply
      • Kristin King

        July 25, 2023 at 7:32 pm

        Yay! So glad to hear that you enjoyed this recipe. Thanks for stopping by to let me know! 🙂

        Reply
    2. Emily

      September 22, 2022 at 4:19 pm

      5 stars
      This was amazing, I couldn't believe how quick it was to make! The kick from the jalapeno is so good!

      Reply
    3. Andrea

      September 22, 2022 at 4:19 pm

      5 stars
      Wow! This chicken is bursting with so much flavor! I can't wait to surprise my family with this delicious meal.

      Reply
    4. Renee | The Good Hearted Woman

      September 22, 2022 at 3:56 pm

      5 stars
      My husband loves this chicken! We serve it with a raspberry bbq sauce and it's delish. Thanks!

      Reply
    5. Angela

      September 22, 2022 at 3:46 pm

      5 stars
      Wow! What a flavor combo. This was so easy to make and my family absolutely loved it. Thanks for the great recipe.

      Reply
    6. sonal

      September 22, 2022 at 3:42 pm

      5 stars
      How fun is this! Never thought of doing jalapeno popper chicken breasts! Makes a great meal. Air fryer is the best gadget in the kitchen.

      Reply

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    👋 Hey there, I'm Kristin! As a full-time working wife and mom, my life is such a whirlwind, it makes me dizzy sometimes! So I have been working to develop quick, easy, family-friendly recipes for 20+ years, and this site is where I share them with you! Happy cooking!

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