Jalapeño Popper Chicken

One of my all time favorite appetizers when we go out is Jalapeño Poppers.  They can be fried, broiled, stuffed with cream cheese, wrapped with bacon… I don’t care how they are served just get them in my belly!  I had some left over jalapeños from my daughter’s Black and Teen Silver Birthday Party and decided that I would make some home made jalapeño poppers. When I was searching online for a basic recipe to build on, I saw this post from “Cassie Craves” showing her version of a  jalapeño popper chicken.  It was then that my tummy spoke to me and I knew that my mouth would not stop watering until I had it.   I added some ingredients and mixed it up a little bit and this is what I got…

Here is what’cha need: 

• 4 Boneless, skinless chicken breasts (I only used three when I made it,but you can use more or less, just adjust the ingredients accordingly)
• 1 – 1½ sleeves crushed buttered crackers
• 5-8 pieces of bacon
• ½ c bread crumbs (Bisquick or flour would prob work too)
• 4 oz (1/2 block) cream cheese (let sit out a bit so it is soft)
• 1 egg
• 3- 4 chopped up jalapeño peppers (use more or less depending on how spicy you like it- but either way, DON’T FORGET TO TAKE OUT THE SEEDS!) Yowza!
• 1 ½ c shredded cheddar cheese (I actually used cheddar and jack cheese)
• 1 tsp crushed red pepper
• 1 tsp garlic salt & 1 tsp pepper

 Here is what’cha do:

Preheat oven to 375’
Cook bacon & chop into bits
Pound chicken so it is about ¼ – ½ inch thick.  Season chicken with garlic salt and pepper
Combine cracker crumbs and breadcrumbs in a medium bowl.   
Place an egg in another small bowl.
In another small bowl, mix cream cheese,  ½ c shredded cheese,  jalapeños, bacon bits and crushed red pepperd. Stuff cheese mixture in each chicken breast.   Fold chicken over in half and secure shut with toothpicks.

 Dip the stuffed chicken into the egg mix and then dip into the crackers. Get in there and use your hands to make sure you have coated the entire piece of chicken in the breadcrumbs.

When you have done all your chicken, place in a baking dish and top with the remaining cheese.
Bake for about 35 minutes or until the chicken is cooked all the way through.

Doesn’t it look yummy!  I served ours with asparagus and My (Almost) Outback Mac & Cheese.  Super creamy and rich, very delicious.  

You know what would be great?  If there was a raspberry dipping sauce. I love- love- love it when I order poppers and they come with the raspberry dip.  To make just beat raspberry jam and add water until you get the consistency that ya want.  YUM! 

Wish I would have thought of that earlier, guess I will just have to make it again soon.  <wink>

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