Jalapeño Popper Chicken Salad mixes tender chicken, crispy bacon, cheddar cheese, and a creamy dressing for a fun twist on classic chicken salad.
Jalapeño Popper Chicken Salad
I’m totally obsessed with chicken salad—I’ve got over 10 versions on my site! So, when the idea hit to mix one of my favorite appetizers (jalapeño poppers) with chicken salad, I knew it’d be amazing.
And let me tell you, amazing doesn’t even cover it. This chicken salad is on another level! It’s packed with bold flavors: two kinds of jalapeños, crispy bacon, sharp cheddar cheese, and tender rotisserie chicken all mixed with the creamiest dressing. I can’t get enough!
Worried about the spice? It’s easy to change! I like adding honey to balance the heat—my kids love it this way. But if you want it spicier, just leave out the honey and use hotter peppers.
Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need to make Jalapeño Popper Chicken Salad:
- Chicken: Rotisserie is easy, already seasoned, and tender. Dice small for best texture.
- Jarred Jalapeños: Choose mild, medium, or hot, and a brand you like.
- Fresh Jalapeño: Combines well with jarred for more flavor and texture. Remove seeds for less heat.
- Cilantro: Adds freshness; skip it if you’re not a fan.
- Red Onion: Crunchy and sharp; soak in cold water to mellow out.
- Sharp Cheddar Cheese: Extra-sharp packs even more flavor.
- Bacon: Bake or microwave for quick prep, then dice small.
Jalapeño Popper Chicken Salad Dressing
- Sour Cream: Adds tangy flavor and creamy texture.
- Mayo: Adds flavor. Use a good brand like Best Foods.
- Garlic Powder: Gives garlic flavor without needing to chop fresh garlic.
- Ground Cumin: Has a warm and earthy flavor.
- Lime Juice: Squeeze fresh limes for the best flavor.
- Honey: Balances spice with sweetness; skip it for more heat.
- Salt and Pepper: Enhances all the other flavors; adjust to your liking.
How To Make Jalapeño Popper Chicken Salad
- Mix Dressing: Combine sour cream, mayo, spices, lime juice, honey, salt, and pepper.
- Add Ingredients: Stir in chicken, jalapeños, cilantro, onion, cheese, and bacon.
- Serve: Enjoy! Check out the serving ideas below.
How To Serve Jalapeño Popper Chicken Salad
- Croissant: My favorite way is on a croissant with lettuce.
- Toasted Bread: Try it on regular or whole wheat bread.
- Lettuce Wraps: To keep it light, use butter lettuce to make wraps.
- Avocado: Scoop it into cut avocados.
- Mixed Greens: Mix with greens or arugula.
- As Is: Enjoy right from the bowl or with your favorite crackers.
Storage
Leftovers?
- Refrigerate: Store leftover Jalapeño Popper Chicken Salad in a sealed container for up to 3 days.
- Serve Cold: Stir before serving; the flavors get better over time.
- No Freezing: This dish doesn’t freeze well, so enjoy it fresh.
Use Up Leftover Jalapeños:
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In a large bowl combine all the “dressing” ingredients. Season to taste with salt and pepper (I add 1/4 teaspoon of each). Whisk until smooth.
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Add all “chicken salad” ingredients right on top of the dressing. Gently stir until salad is well coated in dressing. Taste and adjust seasonings to taste.
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Enjoy chicken salad however you’d like (see note 1).
- On toasted bread
- In lettuce wraps using butter or Romaine lettuce
- Spoon it into halved avocados
- Serve over mixed greens or arugula
- Enjoy it straight from the bowl or with crackers
Nutrition information is for the chicken salad only, without any bread.
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 498kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 34g | Fat: 38g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 13g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 135mg | Sodium: 702mg | Potassium: 234mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1093IU | Vitamin C: 36mg | Calcium: 32mg | Iron: 1mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.