Jalapeno Popper Chicken Casserole

Name: Jalapeno Popper Chicken Casserole
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 8 servings
Ingredients: 6 slices bacon; 1 small onion, (chopped); 1 garlic clove, (minced); 1 tablespoon Challenge butter; 2 tablespoons flour; 1 cup chicken broth; 1 cup milk; 6 ounces Challenge cream cheese, (softened, and cut into 1-inch pieces); 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese; 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese; 3 jalapenos, (2 diced and 1 sliced); 2 1/2 cups cooked, (shredded chicken); 8 ounces penne pasta, (cooked)

Posted on October 14, 2016March 16, 2018 by Christin Mahrlig

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Jalapeno fans will love this Jalapeno Popper Chicken Casserole. It’s super creamy and in addition to bacon and chicken it also has pasta and plenty of cheese, both Cheddar and Monterey Jack.

So it’s really like a kicked-up mac and cheese. For grown-ups.

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Or Jalapeno loving kids.

I know there are a few of those out there. I think spicy, cheesy food is the best. But you really can tone back the jalapeno and you’re left with a super creamy chicken casserole.

The creaminess comes from Challenge Cream Cheese. It’s a super high-quality cream cheese and I love to use it in everything from cheesecakes to dips. Made with real milk, cream, and natural ingredients, Challenge Cream Cheese is totally smooth and silky in texture and it really gives whatever you use it in a superior taste. It’s all about quality ingredients.

I use rotisserie chicken for convenience and penne for the pasta, but you can really use any pasta shape.

Jalapeno Popper Chicken Casserole is perfect comfort food for fall weather.

Watch the short video below to see how to make Jalapeno Popper Casserole.

4.25 from 4 votes

Jalapeno Popper Chicken Casserole

Prep Time

20 mins

Cook Time

30 mins

Total Time

50 mins

Servings: 8 servings

Ingredients

6 slices bacon
1 small onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
1 tablespoon Challenge butter
2 tablespoons flour
1 cup chicken broth
1 cup milk
6 ounces Challenge cream cheese, softened, and cut into 1-inch pieces
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
3 jalapenos, 2 diced and 1 sliced
2 1/2 cups cooked, shredded chicken
8 ounces penne pasta, cooked

Instructions

Cook bacon in a large nonstick pan. Crumble bacon and set aside.
Add onion to bacon grease and cook until soft. Add garlic and cook 1 minute.
Add butter to pan. When melted, sprinkle flour into pan. Stir and cook 1 minute.
Gradually whisk in chicken broth and milk.
Add cream cheese and stir until melted.
Remove pan from heat and stir in half of Monterey Jack cheese and half of cheddar cheese until smooth.
Stir in diced jalapeno, chicken, pasta, and half of bacon.
Pour into a greased casserole dish. Cover with aluminum foil and bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.
Remove foil, sprinkle with remaining bacon, cheese and the sliced jalapeno.
Return to oven and bake 10 more minutes.

Recipe Notes

You can use fresh or canned jalapeno. I actually like to use 1 fresh jalapeno and 1 canned jalepeno for the diced jalapeno.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. I appreciate the opportunity to share products I love and use in my own kitchen.