Name: Keto Jalapeno Popper Hasselback Chicken Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 4 medium Chicken breasts ((8 oz each)); 1 tsp Sea salt; 1/4 tsp Black pepper; 6 oz Cream cheese ((softened)); 3/4 cup Cheddar cheese ((shredded)); 8 slices Cooked bacon; 1 medium Jalapeno ((sliced thinly, 1/8 inch thick)); 1 tbsp Fresh chives ((optional; chopped))

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You might be wondering… what is keto jalapeno popper chicken? I’m so glad you asked! No more boring chicken dinners, this baked jalapeno popper hasselback chicken recipe is packed with flavor and a fun way to switch up chicken breast meals! Everyone will enjoy this naturally low carb jalapeno popper chicken breast, whether they are keto or not. Layers of creamy cheese, bacon, and sliced jalapenos… what’s not to love?

For an appetizer-friendly dish with all the same flavor, try air fryer jalapeño poppers instead!

What Is Hasselback Chicken?

Hasselback chicken breast is a fun twist on stuffed chicken! Hasselback is a cooking method for chicken, though it’s also often used for vegetables, such as potatoes, as well.

To make it, we cut slits into the chicken, but not all the way through, and stuff some kind of filling inside the slices before baking. In this case, we stuff the chicken with bacon and cheese – you’ll love it!

What Is Jalapeno Popper Chicken Breast?

This jalapeno popper chicken breast recipe is hasselback chicken with jalapeno popper filling stuffed inside the slits. It’s incredibly flavorful AND easy to make! Just like jalapeno poppers, turned into a chicken dinner.

How To Make Jalapeno Popper Chicken

This cheddar jalapeno chicken recipe takes just 15 minutes to prep! Here’s how to make hasselback chicken with cheese, bacon and jalapeno pepper filling:

Prep chicken. Season chicken with salt and pepper and cut 6 slits in the top of each chicken breast in the short direction. Cut down, but not all the way to the bottom.

Make jalapeno cream cheese chicken stuffing. In a medium bowl, mash together the cream cheese and shredded cheddar. Stuff the cheese mixture into the slits.

Add bacon and jalapenos. Stuff cooked bacon and jalapeno slices into the slits.

TIP: My favorite method for cooking bacon for this recipe is bacon in the oven! But you can use the stove top, too, if you prefer. Just make sure it’s cooked, otherwise it will be floppy if you put it in raw.

TIP: As written, this chicken is pretty mild with 1 jalapeno slice per slit. Even my young kids ate it. If you like more heat, you can use 2 or 3 jalapenos instead of just one, and place more jalapeno slices into each slit before baking.

Bake. Cook until it reaches 165 degrees F and let it rest for a couple of minutes before serving.

How Long To Cook Hasselback Chicken?

The jalapeno popper hasselback chicken recipe takes about 25 minutes in the oven, but I do recommend using a meat thermometer so that it’s baked to perfection!

TIP: Cook time will depend on how large your casserole dish is. If your chicken breasts are touching, it may take an extra 5-10 minutes compared to if they are not. The 25-minute time in my oven was in the dish pictured here, with the chicken pieces touching each other.

Can You Make Low Carb Jalapeno Popper Chicken Ahead?

Yes, you can prep low carb jalapeno popper chicken ahead of time. Here are a few ways to prep ahead – you can do any (or all) of these steps in advance:

Cook bacon in the oven.
Make jalapeno popper stuffed chicken filling.
Cut slits into chicken.
Stuff the stuffing inside the chicken slits.

Store the chicken in the fridge and bake when ready.

Can You Freeze Hasselback Chicken Recipes?

Yes, you can freeze these jalapeno popper chicken breasts! You can do so before or after baking. Either way, they’ll last 2-3 months in the freezer.

When ready to eat, thaw overnight in the fridge and bake. Baking time will be the same as the recipe after thawing if you froze raw, or just about 10-15 minutes if you are just reheating.

What To Serve With Jalapeno Popper Chicken

This jalapeno cream cheese stuffed chicken is a filling meal, so it just needs a veggie side! Here are a few low carb keto vegetable side dishes to try with it:

Roasted Broccolini – Simple, easy, and can be cooked alongside the jalapeno hasselback chicken.
Keto Roasted Vegetables – This veggie side goes with just about any meal, and the leftovers are great for lunches!
Sauteed Broccoli – Another simple green side that pairs with just about anything.
Cauliflower Rice – An obvious side choice for jalapeno popper hasselback chicken, you can’t go wrong with cauliflower rice.

Tools To Make Jalapeno Hasselback Chicken

Tap the links below to see the items used to make this recipe.

Stoneware Baking Dish – This baking dish is great quality and nice enough to take low carb jalapeno popper chicken right from the oven to the table.
Instant Read Meat Thermometer – The best way to tell if your hasselback chicken recipe is cooked through is to use a meat thermometer. This is my favorite one as it reads super quickly.

Keto Jalapeno Popper Hasselback Chicken Recipe

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Ingredients

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4 medium Chicken breasts (8 oz each) ▢
1 tsp Sea salt ▢
1/4 tsp Black pepper ▢
6 oz Cream cheese (softened) ▢
3/4 cup Cheddar cheese (shredded) ▢
8 slices Cooked bacon ▢
1 medium Jalapeno (sliced thinly, 1/8 inch thick) ▢
1 tbsp Fresh chives (optional; chopped) ▢

Instructions

Tap on the times in the instructions below to start a kitchen timer while you cook.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (204 degrees C).
Arrange the chicken breasts in a single layer in a stoneware dish. Season both sides with salt and pepper.
Cut 6 slits in the top of each chicken breast in the short direction, about 1/2 inch (1.27 cm) apart, cutting about 3/4 of the way down but not all the way through to the bottom.
In a medium bowl, mash together the cream cheese and shredded cheddar. Stuff the cheese mixture into the slits.
Stack the cooked bacon slices and make 2 cuts to cut each slice into 3 pieces, which would be approximately the width of the chicken breasts. (If you don’t have any cooked, you can cook bacon in the oven like this while you prep the chicken.) Stuff the bacon slices into each slit, 6 small pieces per chicken breast.
Stuff the jalapeno slices into each slit, 6 slices per chicken breast.
Bake for about 25 minutes, or until internal temperature reaches at least 160 degrees F (71 degrees C). Remove from the oven and let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before serving - internal temperature will continue to rise. Use a meat thermometer to ensure it has reached 165 degrees F (74 degrees C) before serving.
Sprinkle with fresh chives right before serving, if desired.

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Recipe Notes

Serving size: 1 hasselback chicken breast

Nutrition Facts

Amount per serving. Serving size in recipe notes above.

Calories 475.7

Fat 30.4g

Protein 44.2g

Total Carbs 3.1g

Net Carbs 3g

Fiber 0.1g

Sugar 1.8g

Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see our nutrition policy.

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keywords: hasselback chicken recipe, jalapeno popper chicken, jalapeno popper hasselback chicken, keto jalapeno popper chicken, low carb jalapeno popper chicken

Calories: 475.7 kcal

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13 Comments

Zevon
0 May 27, 2022Reply

I made this about about two years ago, and for some reason the cream cheese got kind of clumpy/chunky/curdled – and it didn’t ruin it, it was still good, but it would have been better if that hadn’t happened. I’m about to make this again this week, so I was wondering, did I mess something up/is there some way to prevent that, or is that just an unavoidable thing that happens?
Either way, fantastic recipe, especially for a tasty keto dinner.
Thank you!
- Wholesome Yum D
  0 May 31, 2022Reply
  
  Hi Zevon, Did this happen after you baked?
Shelley
0 September 8, 2021Reply

Thank you for this recipe! I made this tonight and even my super picky child loved it. This will now go into our bi-weekly dinner rotation.
Andrea
0 July 13, 2021Reply

This was easy and quick to put together! We loved it and it’ll definitely be made again
Dances
0 March 30, 2021Reply

We love this recipe. I make this recipe 3-4 times a month now. This is the absolute most delicious chicken dish I have ever made. I live with a man that does not like chicken and he loves this so much he requests this all the time now. I made one change, I add butter to the bottom of the dish and it makes a gravy that is to die for. Thanks so much.
Debra
0 January 16, 2021Reply

I am looking forward to trying this.
Lyn Berry
0 May 26, 2020Reply

What th WHAT?? This was SO Delicious!! Followed the recipe to the T, Except added more Jaleps, cause I like it spicy. Hubby put it on the top 10 list and he’s not a Keto guy. This is just GOOD STUFF!
Pauline
0 May 12, 2020Reply

Do I have to cover it with aluminum foil or not before putting it in the oven?
- Wholesome Yum M
  0 May 12, 2020Reply
  
  Hi Pauline, No need to cover this with foil before baking.
Maggie
0 April 18, 2020Reply

Would this be okay to make with boneless thighs? Sure looks delicious!
- Wholesome Yum M
  0 April 18, 2020Reply
  
  Hi Maggie, I think that would work fine. Enjoy!
Jessica
0 April 3, 2020Reply

This was my first time making hasselback chicken (I had made potatoes before) and it was delicious! We loved the spice from jalapenos.
Nellie Tracy
0 April 3, 2020Reply

Loving this delicious comfort food!