Spicy Jalapeño Chicken is a flavor-packed dish that’s surprisingly simple to make, offering a kick of heat and a creamy sauce perfect for a weeknight dinner or impressing guests. This recipe breaks down creating this delicious meal into easy steps, ensuring a satisfying and flavorful experience every time.
JUMP TO:
show
Key Ingredients for Spicy Jalapeño Chicken
- 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
- 2-3 fresh jalapeño peppers, finely minced (seeds and membranes removed for less spice, or kept for more heat)
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional, for extra heat)
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 cup heavy cream or half-and-half
- 1/4 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
- 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped (for garnish)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
How to Make Spicy Jalapeño Chicken
Whipping up this Spicy Jalapeño Chicken is a delight, promising a dish that’s both incredibly easy and bursting with satisfying flavor. The magic lies in its straightforward preparation which doesn’t compromise on a rich, creamy sauce and a tender chicken texture. In just about 30 minutes, you can have this restaurant-quality meal ready to enjoy, making it a perfect option for any busy evening.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Pat the chicken breasts or thighs dry with paper towels. Season generously on both sides with salt and freshly ground black pepper. If using chicken breasts, you might want to pound them to an even thickness to ensure consistent cooking.
- Sear the Chicken: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Once the oil is shimmering, carefully add the seasoned chicken. Sear for about 3-5 minutes per side, until golden brown. The chicken doesn’t need to be cooked through at this stage, as it will finish cooking in the sauce. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside on a plate.
- Sauté Aromatics: Reduce the heat to medium. Add the chopped yellow onion to the same skillet. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion starts to soften and become translucent, about 5-7 minutes.
- Add Jalapeños and Garlic: Add the minced jalapeño peppers and minced garlic to the skillet. Cook for another 1-2 minutes until fragrant, being careful not to burn the garlic. If you prefer a milder spice, this is a great time to stir in a bit more of the onion to absorb some of the jalapeño’s heat.
- Build the Flavor Base: Stir in the ground cumin, smoked paprika, and cayenne pepper (if using). Cook for about 30 seconds, stirring constantly, until the spices are fragrant. This helps to bloom the spices and release their full flavor.
- Deglaze and Simmer: Pour in the chicken broth, scraping the bottom of the skillet with a wooden spoon to loosen any browned bits. Bring the broth to a simmer and let it cook for about 5 minutes, allowing it to reduce slightly and for the flavors to meld.
- Create the Creamy Sauce: Reduce the heat to low. Stir in the heavy cream (or half-and-half) until well combined. Let the sauce gently simmer for a few minutes until it begins to thicken. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Remember to taste and adjust seasonings as you go.
- Return Chicken to Skillet: Place the seared chicken back into the skillet, nestling it into the creamy jalapeño sauce. Ensure each piece is coated.
- Melt the Cheese: Sprinkle the shredded Monterey Jack cheese over the top of the chicken and sauce.
- Finish Cooking: Cover the skillet and let it simmer over low heat for about 10-15 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and no longer pink in the center. The exact cooking time will depend on the thickness of your chicken pieces.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove the skillet from the heat. Garnish generously with fresh chopped cilantro. Serve the Spicy Jalapeño Chicken hot, spooning extra sauce over each piece. It’s delicious served over rice, pasta, or with a side of crusty bread.
Why You’ll Love This Spicy Jalapeño Chicken
You’ll fall head over heels for this Spicy Jalapeño Chicken because it delivers an incredible burst of flavor without the fuss. The star attraction is undeniably the creamy, subtly spicy sauce infused with fresh jalapeños, creating a taste sensation that’s miles beyond a basic chicken dish. Plus, making this at home is incredibly budget-friendly, offering a gourmet experience that’s significantly cheaper than dining out, much like a delightful chicken alfredo but with a zesty, Southwestern twist. With its customizable heat level and vibrant cilantro garnish, this dish is sure to become a family favorite; we encourage you to give this incredible Spicy Jalapeño Chicken recipe a try this week!
Storing and Reheating Tips
Storing and reheating Spicy Jalapeño Chicken is straightforward, ensuring you can enjoy its delicious flavors for days to come.
- Refrigeration: Allow the cooked chicken to cool completely before storing. Transfer the chicken and any remaining sauce to an airtight container. Refrigerated leftovers will stay fresh for up to 3-4 days.
- Reheating on Stovetop: The best way to reheat is in a skillet over medium-low heat. Add the chicken and sauce to a skillet and gently heat, stirring occasionally, until warmed through. You might need to add a tablespoon or two of chicken broth or water if the sauce has thickened too much.
- Reheating in Microwave: For a quicker option, place a serving-sized portion on a microwave-safe plate. Cover loosely with a damp paper towel to prevent drying. Microwave on 50% power in 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until heated through.
- Freezing: If you wish to freeze portions for future meals, ensure the chicken is completely cooled. Store in freezer-safe airtight containers or heavy-duty freezer bags for up to 2-3 months. When ready to use, thaw overnight in the refrigerator and then reheat using the stovetop or microwave methods for best results.
Final Thoughts
This Spicy Jalapeño Chicken recipe is a testament to how simple ingredients can create truly magnificent meals. We hope you’ll find as much joy in making and savoring this dish as we do, and we encourage you to experiment with the spice level to perfectly suit your palate.
try also :
- Lentil and Sweet Potato Salad
- Cranberry Brie Bites
- Crispy Sweet Potato Bites
- Matcha Cake Recipe
- find more in Pinterest
Spicy Jalapeño Chicken
Spicy Jalapeño Chicken is a flavor-packed dish that’s surprisingly simple to make, offering a kick of heat and a creamy sauce perfect for a weeknight dinner or impressing guests.
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Pat the chicken breasts or thighs dry with paper towels. Season generously on both sides with salt and freshly ground black pepper. If using chicken breasts, you might want to pound them to an even thickness to ensure consistent cooking.1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, to taste salt and freshly ground black pepper
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Once the oil is shimmering, carefully add the seasoned chicken. Sear for about 3-5 minutes per side, until golden brown. The chicken doesn’t need to be cooked through at this stage, as it will finish cooking in the sauce. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside on a plate.2 tablespoons olive oil, 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- Reduce the heat to medium. Add the chopped yellow onion to the same skillet. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion starts to soften and become translucent, about 5-7 minutes.1 medium yellow onion
- Add the minced jalapeño peppers and minced garlic to the skillet. Cook for another 1-2 minutes until fragrant, being careful not to burn the garlic. If you prefer a milder spice, this is a great time to stir in a bit more of the onion to absorb some of the jalapeño’s heat.2-3 fresh jalapeño peppers, 4 cloves garlic
- Stir in the ground cumin, smoked paprika, and cayenne pepper (if using). Cook for about 30 seconds, stirring constantly, until the spices are fragrant. This helps to bloom the spices and release their full flavor.1 teaspoon ground cumin, 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- Pour in the chicken broth, scraping the bottom of the skillet with a wooden spoon to loosen any browned bits. Bring the broth to a simmer and let it cook for about 5 minutes, allowing it to reduce slightly and for the flavors to meld.1 cup chicken broth
- Reduce the heat to low. Stir in the heavy cream (or half-and-half) until well combined. Let the sauce gently simmer for a few minutes until it begins to thicken. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Remember to taste and adjust seasonings as you go.1/2 cup heavy cream or half-and-half, to taste salt and freshly ground black pepper
- Place the seared chicken back into the skillet, nestling it into the creamy jalapeño sauce. Ensure each piece is coated.1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- Sprinkle the shredded Monterey Jack cheese over the top of the chicken and sauce.1/4 cup Monterey Jack cheese
- Cover the skillet and let it simmer over low heat for about 10-15 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and no longer pink in the center. The exact cooking time will depend on the thickness of your chicken pieces.
- Remove the skillet from the heat. Garnish generously with fresh chopped cilantro. Serve the Spicy Jalapeño Chicken hot, spooning extra sauce over each piece. It’s delicious served over rice, pasta, or with a side of crusty bread.2 tablespoons fresh cilantro
Notes
The exact cooking time for the chicken will depend on the thickness of your pieces.