Keto Jalapeño Popper Chicken (Printable)

Creamy spicy chicken casserole with smoky bacon and cauliflower rice in a low-carb style.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Protein & Dairy

01 - 3 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded or diced
02 - 8 oz cream cheese, softened
03 - 1 cup sour cream
04 - 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
05 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
06 - 6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled

→ Vegetables

07 - 4 cups cauliflower rice, fresh or frozen
08 - 4 to 5 jalapeños, seeded and diced, plus extra slices for garnish
09 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
10 - 1/4 cup green onions, sliced

→ Pantry & Seasonings

11 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
12 - 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
13 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
14 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

# Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish and set aside.
02 - Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add cauliflower rice and sauté for 5 to 7 minutes until softened. Remove from heat and set aside.
03 - In a large mixing bowl, combine softened cream cheese, sour cream, 1 cup cheddar cheese, mozzarella cheese, smoked paprika, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. Mix until smooth and well combined.
04 - Fold cooked chicken, sautéed cauliflower rice, diced jalapeños, minced garlic, half the crumbled bacon, and half the green onions into the cheese mixture. Stir until evenly distributed.
05 - Spread the mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish. Top with remaining cheddar cheese and bacon.
06 - Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until the casserole is bubbly and golden on top.
07 - Remove from oven and garnish with extra jalapeño slices and remaining green onions before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It tastes indulgent and cheesy without any of the guilt or carb overload.
  • The whole thing comes together in under an hour, making weeknight dinners feel actually doable.
  • Jalapeños give you that signature popper kick without needing a deep fryer.
02 -
  • Don't skip sautéing the cauliflower rice—it removes excess moisture that would otherwise make your casserole watery and sad.
  • Always soften your cream cheese first; cold cream cheese creates lumps that ruin the entire sauce texture, and no amount of stirring fixes it.
03 -
  • Make sure your cream cheese is truly softened before you start mixing—cold cream cheese is the number-one reason this casserole ends up lumpy instead of luxurious.
  • If you're cooking for someone new to keto, emphasize the bacon and cheese flavors first; they'll forget they're eating cauliflower rice before they know it.
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