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You are here: Home / Recipes and Cooking Tips / Jalapeno Popper Chicken Casserole

Jalapeno Popper Chicken Casserole

August 12, 2020 by Alea Milham 7 Comments

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jalapeno popper chicken casserole with pasta and bacon
jalapeno popper pasta bake recipe with chicken and bacon
jalapeno popper chicken casserole with bacon and rotini pasta

This jalapeno popper chicken casserole recipe is a family favorite!

jalapeno popper chicken casserole topped with sliced jalapeno peppers

This Jalapeno Popper Chicken Casserole recipe combines the delicious flavor of jalapeno popper dip with the ease of a chicken pasta casserole. Top with bacon and cheese and you have a dinner that will be a hit with your family and friends.

My youngest son is not that fond of chicken, so I cook the chicken and the bacon together. This allows the chicken to take on the flavor of the bacon making it more appetizing to my picky eater. Sneaky? Maybe, but it is effective! Cooking the chicken and bacon together also saves time and only dirties one pan. Cut both the chicken and bacon in bite-size pieces before adding them to the frying pan, so they are done cooking in the time it takes to boil the pasta.

Make-Ahead Tip: You can assemble the casserole the day before, then refrigerate it until you are ready to cook it.

Freezer Meal: Assemble the casserole, then cover it in foil and freeze it. It can be frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw it in the refrigerator, then the day before you plan to cook it. Once thawed, bake for 20 minutes at 350 degrees.

Jalapeno Popper Chicken Casserole Recipe

This delicious jalapeno popper casserole recipe is made with jalapeno popper dip, chicken, bacon, and pasta.

Ingredients:

  • 1 pound boneless/skinless chicken, cut into bite-size pieces
  • 1 pound bacon, cooked and crumbled
  • 16 ounces rotini pasta ( you can use gluten-free noodles to make this gluten-free)
  • 2 – 8 oz packages of cream cheese, softened at room temperature.
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 2 cups Mexican Cheddar Jack Shredded Cheese, divided
  • 6 Jalapeno Peppers, deseeded and diced
  • 6 green onions, thinly sliced

Directions:

  1. Grease a 12 x 9 casserole dish.
  2. Cook pasta according to the package directions.
  3. While the pasta is cooking, cut the bacon and chicken into bite-size pieces. Then cook the bacon and chicken together in a large skillet. Cook until the chicken is cooked through and the bacon is crispy. Remove to a plate and blot the excess fat away.
  4. Dice the peppers and slice the onions.
  5. In a medium bowl, combine the cream cheese, sour cream, 1½ cups of Cheddar jack cheese, diced Jalapeno peppers, and most of the sliced onions (save a few for the top). Stir to thoroughly combine ingredients.
  6. Once the pasta has been drained, place it in the casserole dish. Add the cooked chicken and bacon (save a little of the bacon for the topping if you wish). cooked pasta, chicken, and bacon in a casserole dish
  7. Spoon the jalapeno mixture over the top of the pasta. Gently stir to coat the pasta.
  8. Top with remaining ½ cup of cheese. Sprinkle the extra bacon piece, onion slices, and jalapeno slices over the top. jalapeno popper chicken casserole topped with cheese and jalapeno slices
  9. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

baked jalapeno popper chicken casserole in a vintage casserole dish

Make-Ahead Jalapeno Popper Chicken Casserole Recipe

You can make this chicken pasta casserole recipe ahead of time and either refrigerate it or freezer for up to a month. Use a disposable aluminum casserole pan. Follow all of the steps through step 8. Then instead of baking it, cover the pan with foil and store it in the refrigerator for a day or in the freezer for up to a month.

If you freeze this casserole, allow it to thaw in the refrigerator before baking it.

Printable Recipe for Jalapeno Popper Chicken Casserole

jalapeno popper chicken casserole with bacon and rotini pasta
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5 from 4 votes

Jalapeno Popper Chicken Casserole Recipe

This delicious jalapeno popper casserole recipe is made with jalapeno popper dip, chicken, bacon, and pasta.
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Keyword Jalapeno Popper Chicken Casserole
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings 12
Calories 581kcal
Author Alea Milham

Ingredients

  • 1 pound boneless/skinless chicken cut into bite-size pieces
  • 1 pound bacon cooked and crumbled
  • 16 ounces rotini pasta
  • 2 - 8 oz packages of cream cheese softened at room temperature.
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 2 cups Mexican Cheddar Jack Shredded Cheese divided
  • 6 Jalapeno Peppers deseeded, and diced
  • 6 green onions thinly sliced

Instructions

  • Grease a 12 x 9 casserole dish.
  • Cook pasta according to package directions.
  • While the pasta is cooking, cut the bacon and chicken into bite-size pieces. Then cook the bacon and chicken together in a large skillet. Cook until the chicken in cooked through and the bacon is crispy. Remove to a plate and blot the excess fat away.
  • Dice the peppers and slice the onions.
  • In a medium bowl, combine the cream cheese, sour cream, 1½ cups of Cheddar jack cheese, diced Jalapeno peppers, and most of the sliced onions (save a few for the top). Stir to thoroughly combine ingredients.
  • Once the pasta has been drained, place it in the casserole dish. Add the cooked chicken and bacon (save a little of the bacon for the topping if you wish).
  • Spoon the jalapeno mixture over the top of the pasta. Gently stir to coat the pasta.
  • Top with remaining ½ cup of cheese. Sprinkle the extra bacon piece, onion slices, and jalapeno slices over the top.
  • Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

Nutrition

Calories: 581kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 39g | Saturated Fat: 18g | Cholesterol: 117mg | Sodium: 535mg | Potassium: 427mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 932IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 216mg | Iron: 1mg

 

A serving spoon scooping out the jalapeno popper chicken casserole.

More Jalapeno Popper Recipes

Jalapeno Popper Tater Tot Casserole

Easy Jalapeno Popper Potato Salad Recipe

Jalapeno Popper Dip Recipe

This Jalapeno Popper Crescent Roll makes a tasty appetizer!

Jalapeno Popovers Recipe

Low-Carb Jalapeno Popper Stuffed Spaghetti Squash

This was originally written on February 7, 2015. It was updated on August 10, 2020.

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About Alea Milham

Alea Milham is the owner of Premeditated Leftovers and the author of Prep-Ahead Meals from Scatch. She shares her tips for saving money and time while reducing waste in her home. Her favorite hobby, gardening, is a frugal source of organic produce for her recipes. She believes it is possible to live fully and eat well while spending less.

Comments

  1. Rosalie says

    October 13, 2022 at 4:51 pm

    5 stars
    Made this for supper tonight. It was delicious!

    Reply
  2. Diane says

    August 1, 2022 at 5:02 pm

    Can you substitute sour cream and cream cheese for something else? Maybe plain Greek yogurt?

    Reply
  3. Caron says

    July 22, 2022 at 9:44 am

    Do I just cover top of pasta or stir gently to combine?

    Reply
    • Alea Milham says

      July 24, 2022 at 10:40 pm

      I stir to combine.

      Reply
  4. Beck Bulow says

    May 26, 2021 at 5:02 am

    5 stars
    excellent

    Reply
  5. Kimberly says

    March 24, 2021 at 1:05 pm

    5 stars
    I loved this casserole. The prep time of 15 minutes, for me, was terribly inaccurate. I’m not sure if they meant after everything was down to room temperature, cooked (chicken and bacon), prepared and diced. Just to get things blended, into the casserole dish and toppings added, took up the 15 minutes. I’m guessing the next time may be a bit less time.
    Nevertheless, it was all definitely worth it! ❤️

    Reply
  6. Jan says

    January 2, 2021 at 1:33 pm

    5 stars
    Leaving out the pasta would make a perfect Keto low carb recipe. This looks so much better than other jalapeño popper casseroles. Am definitely trying.

    Reply

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Welcome. I'm Alea!

On Premeditated Leftovers I share simple recipes made with whole foods, practical shopping tips, time saving techniques, and meal planning strategies. I also share tips for minimizing food waste, so more of the food that is purchased ends up on the table.

While volunteering as a budget counselor, I realized that food is the element of most people’s budgets where they have the greatest control. I set out to develop low-cost recipes from scratch to prove it’s possible to create delicious meals on a limited budget. Eating well while spending less is about more than just creating recipes using inexpensive ingredients; it’s about creatively combining ingredients so you don’t feel deprived and are inspired to stick to your budget.

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