Looking for comfort? Pull out the slow cooker and make this amazing Jalapeño Chicken that is perfect for an easy dinner without standing over the stove.
Jalapenos can add the perfect “kick” to a recipe so we’ll use them in traditional recipes at times, to give them a little extra bite! We loved using jalapenos in this jalapeno ranch dip, this artichoke jalapeno dip, and this jalapeno sausage gravy, in case you want to try those too!
I love using the crockpot for a winner, winner, chicken dinner! The chicken is super tender, and the cheese combines for a perfectly creamy sauce, much like slow cooker chicken enchiladas and this delicious cheesy chicken recipe! Also, it’s an easy way to make a one-dish meal, such as Taco Chicken Casserole, yum.
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Strong flavors: Removing the seeds and membranes gives you a great jalapeño flavor without too much spice if that isn’t your thing.
- Slow cooked, quick: This only takes 3 hours, meaning you can pop it in at lunch and still have a hands-off dinner, similar to this garlic parmesan chicken in the crockpot.
- Easy-to-use leftovers: The flavors and elements here also make a great dip, so feel free to shred or dice up leftovers to use with chips, or dare I say, shred it like we do with this shredded Caesar chicken in the crock pot.
Ingredients Needed
I’ve highlighted a couple of ingredients below with some relevant notes. Aside from this, the ingredients needed are pretty basic.
- Chicken – Boneless skinless chicken breasts are the perfect protein pairing for cheese and peppers. We love using chicken breasts in our easy dinners because they’re so versatile. Make sure you check out this creamy Caesar chicken too!
- Sour cream – Cools off the heat!
- Cream cheese – The perfect way to add creaminess to any dish.
- Bacon – Love the salty crunch this adds to the creamy topping.
- Jalapeños – Both diced and sliced, I love the flavor of these and they aren’t too spicy.
- Cheese – Two types to add layers of flavor.
Substitutions
Sometimes substitutions are necessary because of ingredients that are unavailable or needed for dietary restrictions. Here are some suggestions that can help:
- Chicken – swap in chicken tenders here. Aim for about a pound and a half. These are a great option to spread the meal out to more servings. I use chicken tenders in this slow-cooker orange chicken recipe too.
- Bacon- if you don’t eat pork, try using turkey bacon. Cook it nice and crisp to get the same added texture.
Variations
- Cook Method – creamy jalapeño chicken can also be made in the oven. Prepare ingredients as listed except place them in a 9×13 greased baking dish or casserole dish. Bake uncovered at 375° for 30 minutes or until the center of each chicken breast reaches 165° degrees.
Equipment
A 6-quart slow cooker is the usual size most people have in their kitchens. 3 chicken breasts will fit perfectly in the bottom. If you have a 7- or 8-quart size, be aware that it may cook slightly faster.
How to Make Slow Cooker Jalapeño Chicken
*Be sure to see the recipe card below for the full ingredients list & instructions!*
Start by bringing your cream cheese to room temp for easy mixing!
STEP 1. Mix it up. Combine sour cream and cheeses in a bowl. Add the diced peppers, onions, and 4 slices of crumbled bacon (Image 1).
Tip: Make sure you dice the cream cheese while cold (it’s easier!) and place in a mixing bowl to soften. The smaller pieces will warm up quicker so that you can easily stir in the remaining ingredients.
STEP 2. Coat chicken. Add the chicken breasts to the bottom a crockpot (Image 2). Carefully spread the entire cheese mixture evenly over the tops of the chicken (Image 3).
STEP 3. Cook low and slow. Check the temperature for safety after about 3 hours (Image 4).
STEP 4. Serve. Top with remaining jalapeños and bacon and serve.
Recipe Pro Tips
- Heat it up. Enjoy spicy food? You can leave the membranes in one or a couple of the diced jalapeños to add heat to the dish.
- Use your fingers. It’s sometimes easier to use your fingers (moistened with water) to spread the cheese mixture over the chicken. A spatula may lift the cheese more than it spreads it.
Recipe FAQs
If you are in a rush or your cream cheese isn’t softening up nicely, you can microwave in short bursts. Just make sure it’s the only thing in your bowl and do this step first. You don’t want it hot, just soft enough to stir in the other ingredients. A few lumps are fine as they will melt while the chicken cooks.
This is absolutely a safe cooking method for raw chicken! To ensure everything works well, you want to make sure the chicken is in a single layer. This will promote even cooking. Using an instant-read thermometer is the safest way to know chicken is done (you’re aiming for 165° F). This way you aren’t cutting into it, releasing juices and trying to see the color.
You may have overcooked it. Chicken breasts have so little fat it is easy for them to dry out. Covering them with our cream cheese mixture helps somewhat, but this is why using a thermometer is key. Cooking times are just a range and every slow cooker is different. Using the thermometer ensures that you stop cooking as soon as the proper temperature is reached.
What to Serve with Jalapeño Chicken
When serving crockpot chicken recipes that are super cheesy or saucy, I like to add in a lighter side dish. To stick with our Mexican theme, why not try a quick 3 bean salad or this elote dip!
Looking to add more to the chicken rather than eating it alone? Try over rice, wrapped in flour tortillas, corn tortillas, or with tortilla chips. You can even turn this into a shredded chicken dip or topping.
Storage
This crockpot jalapeno chicken can be stored in an airtight container in your refrigerator for up to 4 days. It can also be stored in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.
To reheat, thaw in the fridge and reheat in a baking dish at 350° for about 15 minutes or until the chicken is completely heated through.
More Chicken Recipes You’ll Love
Did you make this? I’d be so grateful if you left a “star” rating below to let me know what you thought! Then, the next time you need a quick and easy recipe, come back to Fantabulosity to browse all of my easy recipes!
Recipe
Crockpot Jalapeno Chicken
Ingredients
- 3 large boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 8 oz cream cheese cut into 1-inch cubes and softened
- ¼ cup sour cream
- ½ cup Colby Jack cheese shredded
- ¾ cup Cheddar cheese shredded (divided)
- 5 jalapenos, diced seeds and membranes removed
- 1 jalapeno, sliced seeds and membranes removed (optional)
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 5 strips bacon cooked (divided)
- ½ tablespoon minced garlic
- ½ small sweet onion diced
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine cream cheese, sour cream, Colby jack cheese, ½ cup cheddar cheese, garlic, and pepper until very smooth.
- Mix in diced jalapenos and onion, and then coarsely crumble 4 bacon strips into the mix.
- Place chicken breasts into a 6-8 quart crockpot and spread your cream cheese mixture over each chicken breast.
- Cover your crockpot and cook on high for 3-4 hours. A meat thermometer ensures the chicken’s internal temperature is at least 165 degrees.
- Sprinkle remaining cheddar cheese, and jalapeno slices, and crumble the last strip of bacon over the chicken breasts. Cover and let sit for about 10 minutes or until the cheese has melted.
- Serve warm and enjoy.
Notes
- Serve these with rice and your favorite vegetable.
- You can freeze leftovers and reheat in the oven.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more.
Kelly says
Delicious!
I can’t do dairy, so I substituted Tofutti sour cream and cream cheese. I also used VioLife shredded cheese. I used cayenne pepper instead of black pepper (can’t do that either). Normally, it doesn’t turn out as well as this one did! I will add this to my list of “go to” recipes. Absolutely wonderful!
Jessica says
Hi Kelly! I’m SO happy to hear that this turned out great, dairy free! Thank you for sharing what you used to make it, in case it helps someone else too!