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Looking for the a delicious quick, flavorful chicken salad lunch try this Jalapeno Popper Chicken Salad.

This Jalapeno Popper Chicken Salad is my favorite one! Creamy chicken salad full of tender chicken, jalapenos, bacon and cheese.  This one is always a crowd pleaser and such a flavorful twist on classic chicken salad.

 

Chicken salad is always a hit and this Jalapeno Popper Chicken Salad is a spicy twist on the classic recipe that is sure to be your new favorite. 

This creamy chicken salad is full of cheese, bacon and jalapenos just like a jalapeno popper but in chicken salad form.  

My grandma makes the best chicken salad and this is a delicious twist on that classic recipe we all love. Jalapeno poppers are always a popular appetizer and those flavors go perfectly in this chicken salad.

 

Chicken salad is always a favorite of mine especially when the weather warms up.  I love having a nice bowl of cold chicken salad in my fridge in the warmer months because that means when it is too hot to cook I will have a cool and scrumptious meal in minutes without heating up the house. I really like having a homemade chicken salad in the fridge at all times in the summer.  The perfect cold dinner on a bed of lettuce or on a flaky buttery croissant!  

 

I love that this chicken salad comes together quickly and is so packed full of spicy flavor from just a few simple ingredients. We already know to make the chicken salad ahead of time because it just gets better making this perfect to prep at the beginning of the week.  This jalapeno chicken salad recipe is always a favorite in our house!   Who doesn’t love bacon and cheese in their chicken salad?!

While this is a simple recipe it goes beyond your basic chicken salad recipe with it’s creamy dressing, spicy jalapenos, crispy bacon and cheese. 

 

This is perfect for serving on buttery croissants or my family prefers thick sliced bread.  My grandma loves to just use crackers for dipping her chicken salad. You can have it as a sandwich but you can make lettuce wraps or lettuce cups out of this easy chicken salad recipe and serve with a few crackers for dipping. 

 

 

Of course this chicken salad is totally customizable. As is it the perfect jalapeno popper chicken salad but you can for sure customize this!  Add a different cheese, add more spice, add some veggies.  You can customize this to your taste and likes. 

So when the weather gets warm this makes a quick chicken salad for those days when you just want a fast meal for everyone that gets you in and out of the kitchen fast and without heating it up. I make this a lot during the hot summer days because I can make it in the morning before it gets scorching and then we have dinner or lunch ready and waiting for us.

I promise the whole family will love this Jalapeno Popper Chicken Salad.

Why This Recipe Works

• Easy and fast chicken salad.
• Family friendly.
• Crowd pleaser.
• Easy to take with you.
• Perfect all year round.
• Great summer dinner!

Substitutions:

You can substitue the jalapenos for green chiles if you want to tame the heat. You can leave out the onions or use scallions for a more mild onion flavor.  You can also add celery if you want some crunch. 

Serving Suggestions:

This is great on thick slices of soft white bread, buttery croissants, hawaiian rolls, tortilla wraps, lettuce wraps or lettuce cups.  It is also great just as a scoop with some crackers.  This is a great cooler dinner along side some pasta salad or potato salad.

Some of our favorite chicken salad recipes we love: Hawaiian Chicken Salad, Pickle Chicken Salad, Classic Carol Chicken Salad.

You will want to make this spicy chicken salad again and again! 

Frequently Asked Questions About This Recipe:

Can I use any veggies?

Yes, you could use any veggies you like in this chicken salad.  I like to keep it simple with the red onion, but feel free to add any veggies you like.  I think green onion would be great, water chestnuts, celery, red bell pepper or green bell pepper.

Can I make this jalapeno chicken salad recipe ahead of time?

Of course!  I like to make it the day before so the flavors really get to know each other.

Ingredients used for this jalapeno popper chicken salad recipe:

• Cream cheese-  Make sure yours is softened.  Jalapeno poppers always have cream cheese so of course we are going to use cream cheese for the base of this delicious recipe!
• Mayonnaise-  I like to use Dukes, but you do you!
• Garlic salt-  This adds a pop of flavor and salt. 
• Black pepper-  Just a bit for flavor. 
• Shredded cooked chicken-  This is a great way to use up leftover chicken, or just grab a rotisserie chicken.
• Diced red onion-  I love red onion in this but you can omit it or use scallions or chives. 
• Chopped pickled jalapenos-  And make sure to save some of the juice for the sauce.  
• Bacon,cooked and crumbled-  This adds a salty pop, smoky flavor and crunch. 
• Shredded cheddar cheese-  Cheddar cheese is traditionally used in jalapenos poppers but feel free to switch it up. 
• Fresh jalapeno slices for topping-  This is optional but it makes it look so pretty. 

How to make this Jalapeno Popper Chicken Salad:

1. In a mixing bowl whisk together the cream cheese, mayonnaise, garlic salt, jalapeno juice and black pepper. Whisk until smooth and blended.
2. In a large mixing bowl combine the chicken, red onion, jalapenos, bacon and cheddar cheese.
3. Gently toss the sauce into the chicken mixture until all combined.
4. Chill for 1 hour.
5. Top with fresh jalapeno slices, optional.
6. Serve!

How To Store:
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Did you make this JALAPENO POPPER CHICKEN SALAD, tell me how you liked it in the comments! For more delicious family friendly recipes you can follow me on PINTEREST, INSTAGRAM OR FACEBOOK 

Want more recipes for lunch? Check these out!

• Creamy Cucumber Salad
• Slow Cooker Hawaiian lil Smokies
• Hoagie Sub Pasta Salad
• Chicken Salad Stuffed Crescents
• Pickle Pasta salad
• Reuben Egg Rolls