Jalapeño Popper Chicken Salad
A creamy, spicy Jalapeño Popper Chicken Salad combining rotisserie chicken with sharp cheddar, crispy bacon, and fresh jalapeños, all tossed in a zesty sour cream and mayo dressing. Perfect for a flavorful lunch or light dinner, inspired by the classic jalapeño popper flavors with a fresh twist.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes (for cooking bacon and prepping ingredients)
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 to 6 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: No cooking required except for bacon; mix and assemble
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Low Salt
Ingredients
Scale
Dressing
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 3/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 1 tablespoon honey or to taste
- Salt and pepper to taste (about 1/4 teaspoon each)
Chicken Salad
- 3 cups diced rotisserie chicken
- 1/4 cup jarred jalapeños, well drained and diced
- 1/4 cup finely diced fresh jalapeño (about 1 large jalapeño)
- 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh cilantro (optional)
- 1/3 cup finely diced red onion
- 1/2 cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
- 6 slices bacon, cooked and finely diced
For Serving
- Serving suggestions: Serve on lettuce wraps, in sandwiches, atop mixed greens, or with crackers (see note 1)
Instructions
- Prepare the Dressing: In a large bowl, combine sour cream, mayonnaise, garlic powder, ground cumin, lime juice, and honey. Season with salt and pepper (about 1/4 teaspoon each). Whisk everything together until smooth and well blended.
- Combine Chicken Salad Ingredients: Add the diced rotisserie chicken, both diced jarred and fresh jalapeños, chopped cilantro if using, red onion, shredded sharp cheddar cheese, and finely diced cooked bacon directly into the bowl with the dressing.
- Mix Gently: Using a spatula or large spoon, gently fold all the ingredients together until the chicken salad is evenly coated with the creamy dressing mixture. Be careful not to overmix to keep the texture nice and fluffy.
- Taste and Adjust: Taste the chicken salad and adjust seasoning if needed. You can add more salt, pepper, or a squeeze of lime juice to brighten the flavors.
- Serve: Enjoy the Jalapeño Popper Chicken Salad as you like—it’s excellent served in lettuce cups, as a sandwich filling, on crackers, or over a bed of fresh greens.
Notes
- Serving Suggestions: This chicken salad pairs wonderfully with crisp lettuce leaves for low-carb wraps, toasted bread slices for sandwiches, or as a dip with crackers or tortilla chips.
- Spiciness: Adjust the amount of fresh and jarred jalapeños to control the heat level according to your taste preferences.
- Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Bacon: For extra crunch and flavor, cook bacon until crisp and drain well before dicing.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (about 150g)
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 6 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg
Keywords: Jalapeño Popper Chicken Salad, spicy chicken salad, creamy chicken salad, jalapeño chicken recipe, rotisserie chicken salad, bacon chicken salad, low carb lunch
Find it online: https://tastygenius.com/jalapeno-popper-chicken-salad/
