Description
Spicy and Creamy Jalapeño Chicken brings sizzling Southwest flavors right to your dinner table, melding tender chicken with a kick of heat that dances across your taste buds. Perfectly balanced between rich cream and zingy peppers, this crowd-pleasing dish delivers comfort and excitement in one delightful meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
Spices and Seasonings:
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
Supporting Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 fresh jalapenos, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 2 tablespoons cream cheese
- 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
Instructions
- Season 4 chicken breasts with 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, and ½ teaspoon onion powder, ensuring each surface is evenly coated.
- Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat (375°F). Sear chicken breasts for 4-5 minutes per side until golden brown, creating a delicious exterior crust.
- Remove chicken from skillet and set aside. In the same pan, add 3 diced jalapeños and 3 minced garlic cloves, sautéing for 2-3 minutes until they release their aromatic flavors.
- Pour 1 cup chicken broth into the skillet, scraping up browned bits from the pan’s bottom. Add 1 cup heavy cream, 1 teaspoon paprika, and 1 teaspoon cumin, simmering for 3-4 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Reduce heat to low and stir in 1½ cups cheddar cheese, ½ cup mozzarella, and 2 tablespoons cream cheese until the sauce becomes smooth and creamy. Optional: Sprinkle ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes for extra heat.
- Gently place seared chicken back into the sauce, covering and simmering for 10-15 minutes until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Garnish with 2 tablespoons fresh chopped cilantro just before serving. Your spicy, creamy chicken is ready to be enjoyed.
Notes
- Check jalapeno heat before adding, as spice levels vary between peppers.
- Slice jalapenos thin and remove seeds for milder flavor, or keep seeds for extra kick.
- Use full-fat cream cheese for the richest, smoothest sauce texture.
- For a lower-carb version, serve over cauliflower rice instead of traditional rice.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
- Category: One-Skillet
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 534 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 657 mg
- Fat: 41 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 21 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 4 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 39 g
- Cholesterol: 144 mg