Description
Spicy, cheesy smoked jalapeño popper chicken bombs deliver a flavor explosion that’ll make taste buds dance. Crispy exterior gives way to a creamy, zesty filling you’ll crave at every gathering.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken:
- 4 chicken breasts
- 1/2 lb ground chicken
Cheese and Filling:
- 8 oz cream cheese
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 4 jalapeno peppers
- 1/4 cup green onions
Coating and Seasoning:
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- 2 eggs
- 1 tbsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp olive oil
Instructions
- Carefully slice chicken breasts lengthwise, creating a pocket for stuffing, ensuring not to cut completely through the meat.
- Dice jalapeno peppers and green onions, removing seeds from peppers for milder heat if desired.
- Mix cream cheese, cheddar cheese, diced jalapenos, and green onions in a bowl until thoroughly combined.
- Generously stuff each chicken breast pocket with the cheese and pepper mixture, pressing edges to seal completely.
- Combine breadcrumbs, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper in a shallow dish.
- Whisk eggs in a separate bowl for coating.
- Roll each stuffed chicken breast in whisked eggs, then coat evenly with seasoned breadcrumb mixture.
- Preheat smoker to 225°F, preparing for indirect heat cooking.
- Brush each chicken bomb with olive oil to enhance browning and prevent sticking.
- Place chicken bombs in the smoker, cooking for approximately 1.5 hours or until internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Remove from smoker and let rest for 5-10 minutes to allow juices to redistribute.
- Slice and serve hot, revealing the melted cheese and spicy jalapeno filling.
Notes
- Customize heat levels by removing jalapeno seeds or using milder peppers like Anaheim for sensitive palates.
- Ensure chicken is completely sealed to prevent cheese leakage during smoking, using toothpicks if necessary.
- Opt for low-fat cream cheese and reduced-fat cheddar to create a lighter version of this indulgent dish.
- Create a gluten-free alternative by substituting breadcrumbs with crushed pork rinds or almond flour for coating.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Smoking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 29 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 37 g
- Cholesterol: 150 mg