Jalapeño Popper Chicken Salad -

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This Jalapeño Popper Chicken Salad is creamy and cheesy, and packed with bold flavor. It’s the perfect quick 15-minute lunch or tasty addition to a summer party spread. I promise this jalapeno chicken salad will be gone in minutes. It’s the type of recipe you eat out of the fridge with a spoon or chip.

Jalapeno Popper Chicken Salad in a floral bowl. A white platter with crescent rolls is to the left. Another white platter with sliced tomato and lettuce is to the right.

Jalapeño poppers are the ultimate flavor combination — they’re creamy, cheesy, spicy and usually loaded with smoky bacon. They’re next-level delicious and something we crave regularly, so I decided to put that same spicy, bold spin on classic chicken salad with this Jalapeño Popper Chicken Salad. Super quick and easy to make using simple ingredients that have big flavor, this jalapeño chicken salad comes together in no time, and is the most addicting meal prep recipe.

Loaded with tender chicken, spicy jalapeños, smoky bacon, rich cream cheese and tangy mayonnaise, this Jalapeño Popper Chicken Salad is a crowd-pleaser every time it’s served. My kids love to eat it on chips or crackers as lunch or a snack (and it keeps them full too). Perfect for lunch, as a quick sandwich or wrap, or served as a party dip, it’s versatile and leftovers are always welcome. We love that it’s customizable, too – make it as spicy or as mild as you’d like… but just make it, period.

If you’re a jalapeño fan like we are, try some of our other favorite recipes with this same flavor profile. Try this Jalapeño Popper Pasta Salad for a twist on another classic, and these Jalapeño Popper Deviled Eggs are a fun appetizer for entertaining.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Big Jalapeño Popper Flavor: Get all the same flavors you love from a jalapeno popper in an easy chicken salad. It’s a hot new take on the traditional version.
Perfect Balance of Flavor and Texture. This chicken salad has it all — it’s creamy, crunchy, spicy, and cheesy in every single bite.
Ready in Minutes: With a simple process and just a few ingredients, just mix and refrigerate in 15 minutes. No complicated steps or extra work needed.
Versatile to serve this in so many delicious ways. It can be piled onto a sandwich, served with crackers, in lettuce wraps, or straight from the bowl with a fork!
Perfect for Meal Prep: This chicken salad is great to make ahead and serve later, and it’s great for feeding a large group.

Ingredients

Bacon: Crispy and smoky, for bold flavor.
Jalapeños: A star ingredient, remove the ribs and seeds if you don’t like too much heat.
Green Onions: Aromatic flavoring and a pop of color.
Shredded Chicken: I like using a store-bought rotisserie chicken, or you can bake your own boneless, skinless chicken breasts.
Cheddar Cheese: Sharp and flavorful, grate your own for the best texture.
Cream Cheese: For extra richness and creaminess.
Mayonnaise: The base for every good chicken salad. Rich and smooth, use your favorite brand.
Salt and Pepper: Be sure to season generously.

How to make Jalapeno Popper Chicken Salad

1. In a medium-size bowl, add chicken, bacon, jalapenos, green onions, and cheese.
2. Add mayo, cream cheese, and salt, and pepper to taste.
3. Stir until completely mixed.
4. Refrigerate until ready to eat.

Video

Expert Tips

Soften Cream Cheese: Let it sit at room temperature until softened before mixing in for smoother results. It’ll be easier to work with this way.
Use Rotisserie Chicken: A great shortcut for the easiest and quickest prep. Plus, they taste delicious!
Adjust Spice Level: Remove all the jalapeño seeds for mild heat, but keep some for more spice and heat.
Taste and Adjust Before Serving: Once mixed together, taste and then add salt, pepper, or more jalapeño based on your preference.
Use a hand mixer to shred the chicken. Whether you use leftover chicken or rotisserie, this is the fastest and cleanest way to shred chicken in seconds!

What to Serve with Jalapeno Popper Chicken Salad

This chicken salad is so delicious and versatile, it can be served so many different ways. Here are our favorites.

Classic: Make it a sandwich on toasted bread or piled onto a buttery croissant.
Low-carb: Skip the bread all together and serve in lettuce wraps or stuffed in mini peppers.
Party Style: Make it more of a snack or appetizer “dip” served with crackers, bagel chips, or pita chips.
Fun Presentation: Stuff the chicken salad into avocado halves or in halved bell peppers for a fun presentation.
On A Salad: Add a scoop to a simple green salad for a hearty lunch.

Variations

Add Hot Sauce: Mix in a dash or two for even more heat.
Try a Different Cheese: Swap cheddar for pepper jack cheese for a different, slightly hotter, flavor profile.
Add Crunch: Mix in some diced celery for extra texture,
Use Turkey Bacon: Swap out regular bacon for turkey bacon if you’d like a slightly lighter version.
Add Ranch Seasoning: Mix in a spoonful of your favorite store-bought ranch seasoning for extra zesty flavor.

Leanna holding a Jalapeño Popper Chicken Salad Sandwich

Storage

Store leftover chicken salad in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. Give it a stir to refresh, and add another spoonful of mayonnaise to refresh if it seems dried out. We don’t recommend freezing chicken salad, as the texture and consistency of mayo-based salads can change once thawed. Enjoy this as fresh as possible!

This chicken salad is great for meal prep and leftovers — you can prep this 1-2 days in advance and store in an airtight container in the fridge until ready to serve,

Close-up of a Jalapeño Popper Chicken Salad on a spoon being held with a hand.

FAQs

How spicy is this chicken salad?

It can be as spicy or mild as you’d like. If you like it hotter, keep the ribs and seeds of the jalapeño in. But if you’d like it milder, remove the seeds and ribs.

Can I use canned chicken?

You can, just be sure to drain the chicken completely so you don’t have a watery chicken salad.

Can I make this without cream cheese?

Yes. The cream cheese adds an extra rich and creamy element, and is a signature flavor of “jalapeño poppers” but if you don’t want to include it, you don’t have to.

What’s the best way to cook the chicken?

You can either bake boneless, skinless breasts in the oven until cooked through, or you can poach the chicken in water or chicken broth. Either work and shred well once cooked.

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