Description
A creamy, spicy chicken salad inspired by the classic jalapeño poppers. Tender chicken is combined with crunchy bacon, creamy cheese, and a tangy, spicy dressing to create a flavorful and satisfying salad that’s perfect for a quick meal or a light lunch.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded or chopped
- 1/2 cup cooked bacon, crumbled
- 1/2 cup cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 2–3 fresh jalapeños, seeded and finely chopped (adjust to taste)
- 1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Fresh cilantro or parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the shredded chicken and crumbled bacon.
- In a separate smaller bowl, mix together the cream cheese, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, lime juice, garlic powder, and onion powder until smooth and well combined.
- Add the chopped jalapeños to the cream cheese mixture and stir to combine. Adjust the amount of jalapeños based on your desired spice level.
- Pour the creamy dressing over the chicken and bacon mixture. Toss everything together until the chicken is evenly coated with the dressing.
- Stir in the shredded cheddar and mozzarella cheeses. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
- Garnish with fresh cilantro or parsley if desired.
- Serve immediately or refrigerate for 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together. Enjoy on its own, in a sandwich, or with crackers or lettuce wraps!
Notes
- For a lower-carb version, serve the salad in lettuce wraps or on top of a bed of greens instead of bread.
- For extra crunch, add some chopped celery or bell peppers to the salad.
- To make the salad spicier, leave some of the seeds in the jalapeños, or add a pinch of cayenne pepper to the dressing.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Mix
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 27 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 4 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg