Description
Spicy “smoked jalapeño popper chicken bombs” deliver explosive flavor with creamy cheese and smoky heat. Crispy exterior gives way to molten inner goodness, promising a delectable bite you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 4 chicken breasts
- 1/2 lb bacon
Filling:
- 8 oz cream cheese
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 3 jalapeno peppers
- 2 cloves garlic
Seasonings and Coating:
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 egg
Instructions
- Preheat smoker or oven to 275°F, preparing a baking sheet with parchment paper for optimal cooking surface.
- Butterfly chicken breasts carefully, creating a wide, flat surface that allows maximum filling coverage without tearing the meat.
- Finely dice jalapeno peppers and mince garlic, removing seeds for milder heat if preferred, then blend with softened cream cheese and shredded cheddar to create a vibrant, creamy filling.
- Season the chicken breasts internally and externally with salt, black pepper, and smoked paprika, ensuring comprehensive flavor integration.
- Spread the cheese and jalapeno mixture evenly across each chicken breast’s interior, leaving a small border to prevent overflow during rolling.
- Carefully roll the chicken breasts, tucking in the sides to seal the filling completely, creating compact cylindrical shapes.
- Wrap each rolled chicken breast tightly with bacon strips, securing the protein’s structure and adding an additional layer of flavor.
- Whisk the egg and brush each bacon-wrapped chicken bomb, then generously coat with breadcrumbs for a crispy exterior.
- Drizzle olive oil over the prepared chicken bombs to enhance browning and promote a golden, appetizing appearance.
- Smoke or bake for approximately 1-1.5 hours until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F, ensuring thorough cooking and food safety.
- Allow the chicken bombs to rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing, enabling the filling to set and juices to redistribute.
Notes
- Customize heat levels by adjusting jalapeno seed removal, creating a personalized spice experience for different taste preferences.
- Ensure clean knife cuts and uniform bacon wrapping to maintain structural integrity and prevent filling leakage during cooking.
- Replace breadcrumbs with crushed pork rinds for a low-carb alternative that delivers similar crunch and texture for keto dieters.
- Use toothpicks to secure bacon edges if needed, preventing unwrapping during smoking or baking process and maintaining aesthetic presentation.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 1.5 hours
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Smoking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 560
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 920 mg
- Fat: 36 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 22 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 40 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg