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Packed with protein and flavor, this gluten-free, low carb jalapeño popper chicken salad is the ultimate easy meal. Creamy, spicy, and ready in no time. It’s perfect for meal prep or a quick weekday lunch. Whether you’re serving it for lunch, packing it for a picnic, or laying it out as part of your weekend spread, this one always gets rave reviews.

Jalapeno popper chicken salad on croissants and ready to eat.

Table of Contents

Why I Love This Recipe

This isn’t your basic chicken salad. We’re talking shredded chicken tossed with crispy bacon, tangy pickled jalapeños, and a cheesy, creamy dressing that hits all the right notes. You’ll want to make this again and again — and the best part is, you can whip it up in minutes and chill it until you’re ready to serve.

Jalapeno popper chicken salad on croissants ready to eat.
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Recipe Ingredients

  • Cream cheese – Make sure it’s softened so it blends easily into the dressing.
  • Mayonnaise – Adds that creamy, classic base to balance out the heat.
  • Garlic salt – For a little seasoning and extra flavor.
  • Pickled jalapeño juice – Adds that perfect zip and ties everything together.
  • Black pepper – Just enough for a mild kick.
  • Cooked shredded chicken – Use rotisserie chicken or meal-prepped chicken for convenience.
  • Diced red onion – Adds a pop of color and crunch.
  • Chopped pickled jalapeños – Brings the jalapeño popper flavor to life.
  • Cooked and crumbled bacon – Crispy, salty, and perfect with the cheese.
  • Shredded cheddar cheese – Melty and sharp, it rounds out all the flavors.
  • Fresh jalapeño slices (optional) – Great for garnish if you like it spicy.
Ingredients measured out needed to make jalapeno popper chicken salad.

Variations

  • Add fresh jalapeños if you want more heat than pickled ones offer.
  • Swap cheddar for pepper jack for extra spice and creaminess.
  • Mix in chopped avocado for a cool, creamy twist.

How to Make Jalapeño Chicken Salad

STEP 1 – In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the softened cream cheese, mayonnaise, garlic salt, jalapeño juice, and black pepper until the dressing is smooth and creamy.

STEP 2 – In a large bowl, combine the shredded chicken, diced red onion, chopped jalapeños, crumbled bacon, and shredded cheddar cheese.

Bowls combined with the ingredients to make jalapeno popper chicken salad.

STEP 3 – Pour the creamy dressing over the chicken mixture and gently stir to combine. You want every bite to be coated in that jalapeño popper goodness.

Dressing mixture poured over the chicken mixture for jalapeno popper chicken salad.

STEP 4 – Cover the salad and let it chill in the refrigerator for 1 hour. This lets all the flavors meld together.

Chicken salad ready to be chilled before serving.

STEP 5 – Before serving, top with fresh jalapeño slices for a little extra heat and garnish.

Jalapeno popper chicken salad on croissants, ready to eat.

Tips

  • Use rotisserie chicken to save time and add flavor.
  • Don’t skip the chill time – it really helps the salad set and develop flavor.
  • Make it your own by adjusting the amount of jalapeños depending on your spice preference.
  • Swap the onion – Red onion adds bite, but green onion works well too.

FAQs

Is this chicken salad spicy?

It has a mild kick from the pickled jalapeños and the optional fresh slices on top. You can easily adjust the spice level by adding more or less jalapeño.

What’s the best way to serve this salad?

This chicken salad is super versatile! Serve it: On sandwich buns or croissants, in lettuce wraps for a low-carb option, with crackers or veggies for dipping, as a salad topper.

How long does it last?

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days, so it’s perfect for meal prepping. It tastes even better the next day!

Can I make it ahead?

Yes! You can prepare it a day in advance and store it in the refrigerator. Wait to garnish with fresh jalapeños until just before serving for best presentation.

Close up of jalapeno popper chicken salad on croissants, ready to eat.

This Jalapeno Popper Chicken Salad is creamy, crunchy, cheesy, and full of bold flavor. If you’re a fan of jalapeño poppers, this salad version is a must-try. Perfect for game days, picnics, or just a flavorful lunch that’s out of the ordinary. Whether you serve it on a sandwich or with celery sticks, this recipe is a guaranteed favorite.

More Healthy Lunch Ideas:

If you enjoyed this recipe, please consider leaving a STAR ⭐️ RATING in the COMMENTS 📝 SECTION below.

Twp jalapeno popper chicken salad sandwiches on a tray ready to eat.
5 from 1 vote
Servings: 6

Jalapeno Popper Chicken Salad

By JENNIFER GAMBLE
This jalapeño popper chicken salad is loaded with bold flavors, creamy goodness, and a little kick of heat! Perfect for a high-protein, low-carb lunch or quick weeknight meal everyone will love.
Prep: 5 minutes
Chill: 1 hour
Total: 1 hour 5 minutes
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Ingredients 

  • 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 3/4 cup mayonaise
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
  • 1 Tablespoon juice of pickled jalapenos
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 3 cups shredded cooked chicken
  • 1/4 cup diced red onion
  • 1/4 cup chopped pickled jalapenos
  • 8 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • fresh jalapeno slices

Instructions 

  • In a small mixing bowl, whisk together 4 ounces cream cheese, softened, 3/4 cup mayonaise, 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt, 1 Tablespoon juice of pickled jalapenos, and 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper until the dressing is smooth and creamy.
  • In a large bowl, combine 3 cups shredded cooked chicken, 1/4 cup diced red onion, 1/4 cup chopped pickled jalapenos, 8 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled, and 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese.
  • Pour the creamy dressing over the chicken mixture and gently stir to combine. You want every bite to be coated in that jalapeño popper goodness.
  • Cover the salad and let it chill in the refrigerator for 1 hour. This lets all the flavors meld together.
  • Before serving, top with fresh jalapeno slices for a little extra heat and garnish.

Notes

Use rotisserie chicken to save time and add flavor.
Don’t skip the chill time – it really helps the salad set and develop flavor.
Make it your own by adjusting the amount of jalapeños depending on your spice preference.
Swap the onion – Red onion adds bite, but green onion works well too.

Nutrition

Calories: 504kcal, Carbohydrates: 3g, Protein: 27g, Fat: 42g, Saturated Fat: 13g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 15g, Monounsaturated Fat: 11g, Trans Fat: 0.1g, Cholesterol: 113mg, Sodium: 843mg, Potassium: 282mg, Fiber: 0.2g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 538IU, Vitamin C: 7mg, Calcium: 166mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Like this? Leave a comment below!

JENNIFER GAMBLE

Hello! I’m Jennifer, but you can call me Jen. I’m a wife and mom, cook, recipe developer, nutrition coach, and food photographer.

With a formal certification in nutrition and over a decade of hands-on experience in the online food industry, I bring a well-rounded perspective to all of the recipes here on Simply Macros.

As the creator and author, I ensure that every recipe not only looks visually appealing but is also grounded in sound nutritional principles.

I hope you enjoy these recipes as much as I enjoyed creating them.

More About Me

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Recipe Rating




1 Comment

  1. Jennifer Gamble says:

    5 stars
    I love adding this recipe to my rotation of chicken salad flavors. The crunchy texture is delicious!

    Reply