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Jalapeño Chicken (Creamy, Spicy, and Ready in 30 Minutes!)
If you love chicken dinners that pack heat, comfort, and bold flavor, this Jalapeño Chicken recipe is about to become your new weeknight favorite. It’s creamy, spicy, savory, and incredibly easy to make — the kind of dish that feels restaurant-quality yet uses simple ingredients you probably already have at home. Tender chicken seared to perfection, jalapeños sautéed until fragrant, and a luscious cream sauce tie everything together into a meal that hits every flavor note: spicy, buttery, tangy, and deeply satisfying.
This recipe is versatile enough for picky eaters (you can easily adjust the heat level), but bold enough for spice lovers who want something exciting. Whether you’re serving it over rice, pasta, mashed potatoes, tortillas, or even cauliflower rice, Jalapeño Chicken brings big payoff with minimal effort.
Below, you’ll find everything you need — ingredients, instructions, expert tips, serving ideas, tasty variations, and even fun facts that give this dish cultural grounding. Let’s dive in!
⭐ What Makes Jalapeño Chicken So Good?
- Fast — cooks in just 30 minutes.
- Creamy + Spicy — the best of both worlds.
- Customizable heat — keep the seeds for more heat or remove them for mild.
- Budget-friendly — chicken and pantry spices do the heavy lifting.
- Naturally low-carb — perfect for keto or gluten-free diets.
- Crowd-pleasing — great for family dinners or casual guests.
There’s a reason creamy jalapeño dishes are popular in both Tex-Mex and Southwestern cooking — the spice from the jalapeños balances beautifully with richness from cream and butter. This dish captures that magic in the simplest possible way.
Ingredients
The ingredient list is intentionally simple, yet each component adds flavor, texture, or aroma that makes this dish special.
For the Jalapeño Chicken
- 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts (or thighs)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp butter
- 3–4 fresh jalapeños, seeded and sliced (leave seeds for more heat)
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup chicken broth
- ½ tsp paprika
- ½ tsp cumin
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ¼ cup shredded Parmesan or Mexican blend cheese (optional)
- Fresh cilantro or green onions for garnish
- Lime wedges for serving
Instructions
1. Season the chicken
Pat chicken dry and season both sides with salt, pepper, onion powder, cumin, and paprika. This pre-seasoning helps create a flavorful crust when seared.
2. Sear the chicken
Heat olive oil and butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and sear 5–6 minutes per side until browned and cooked through. Transfer chicken to a plate.
3. Sauté the jalapeños
In the same skillet, add sliced jalapeños. Cook 2–3 minutes until softened and fragrant. Add garlic and sauté 30 seconds.
4. Build the creamy sauce
Pour in chicken broth to deglaze the pan, scraping up the browned bits. Add heavy cream and stir until smooth. Reduce heat and let the sauce gently simmer for 3–4 minutes to thicken.
5. Add the chicken back
Return the seared chicken to the skillet. Spoon sauce over the top and simmer 2–3 minutes so flavors come together.
6. Add optional cheese
Stir in Parmesan or Mexican cheese for extra richness. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
7. Garnish + serve
Top with chopped cilantro and serve warm with lime wedges.
Tips for the Best Jalapeño Chicken
1. Control the spice level
- Mild: remove seeds + membranes
- Medium: leave membranes
- Hot: keep seeds + add a 4th jalapeño
2. Don’t skip the sear
The browning creates flavor you can’t get any other way.
3. Make it lighter
Swap heavy cream for half-and-half + ½ tsp cornstarch.
4. Make it richer
Add 2 ounces of cream cheese to the sauce.
5. Slice chicken before serving
Makes it easier to soak up every drop of sauce.
Serving Suggestions
Jalapeño Chicken pairs well with:
Carb Options
- White rice
- Cilantro lime rice
- Mashed potatoes
- Buttered noodles
- Pasta shells
- Toasted tortillas
- Garlic bread
Low-Carb Options
- Cauliflower rice
- Zucchini noodles
- Steamed broccoli
- Roasted vegetables
On Top Of…
- Tacos
- Baked potatoes
- Quesadillas
- Burrito bowls
Each pairing transforms the dish into a new meal — it’s ultra-adaptable!
Variations
Creamy Jalapeño Bacon Chicken
Add 4 strips crisp bacon + bacon fat instead of butter.
Cheesy Jalapeño Chicken
Double the cheese, add shredded cheddar, and broil 2 minutes.
Jalapeño Chicken Pasta
Slice chicken and toss with cooked penne and a splash of pasta water.
Healthy Jalapeño Chicken
Use Greek yogurt instead of cream (add at the end with heat off).
Jalapeño Honey Chicken
Add 1 tbsp honey for spicy-sweet contrast.
Fun Facts About Jalapeños
- Jalapeños were originally grown in Mexico and are named after the city of Xalapa (Jalapa).
- They are one of the only peppers commonly eaten both fresh and dried (chipotle = smoked jalapeño).
- Jalapeños rank about 2,500–8,000 Scoville units, making them moderately spicy.
- Cooking jalapeños tames the heat slightly while enhancing aroma.
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Jalapeño Chicken
A creamy, spicy, flavor-packed jalapeño chicken dish ready in just 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Season chicken with salt, pepper, paprika, cumin, and onion powder.
- Heat oil and butter in a skillet; sear chicken until browned and cooked through.
- Add jalapeños and sauté until softened; stir in garlic.
- Pour in chicken broth to deglaze the pan, then add heavy cream.
- Simmer sauce until slightly thickened.
- Return chicken to skillet and coat with sauce; simmer 2–3 minutes.
- Stir in optional cheese, garnish with cilantro, and serve.
Notes
Adjust heat level by removing or keeping jalapeño seeds.
