Jalapeño Popper Chicken Pasta (Print)

Creamy spicy chicken pasta with jalapeños, cheddar, and a crispy Parmesan breadcrumb topping.

# What You Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 oz penne or fusilli pasta
02 - Salt, for boiling water

→ Chicken

03 - 10 oz cooked chicken breast, diced or shredded

→ Vegetables & Aromatics

04 - 2 fresh jalapeños, seeded and finely chopped
05 - ½ small onion, finely chopped
06 - 3 cloves garlic, minced

→ Cheese & Dairy

07 - 4 oz cream cheese, softened
08 - 1 cup whole milk (240 ml)
09 - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (115 g)
10 - 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese (115 g)
11 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter

→ Topping

12 - ½ cup panko breadcrumbs (30 g)
13 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
14 - ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese (30 g)

→ Seasonings

15 - ½ tsp smoked paprika
16 - ½ tsp salt
17 - ¼ tsp black pepper

# Directions:

01 - Set the oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
02 - Boil salted water and cook the pasta until al dente. Drain and set aside.
03 - Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and jalapeños; sauté for 3 to 4 minutes until softened. Add garlic and cook for one more minute.
04 - Lower the heat to low. Stir in cream cheese until smooth. Gradually whisk in whole milk, then add cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses; stir until fully melted and creamy. Season with smoked paprika, salt, and pepper.
05 - Fold the cooked chicken and pasta into the cheese sauce until evenly coated.
06 - Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish.
07 - In a small bowl, mix panko breadcrumbs with melted butter and grated Parmesan cheese.
08 - Sprinkle the breadcrumb mixture evenly over the pasta. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes until the topping is golden brown and the dish is bubbly.
09 - Optionally garnish with extra chopped jalapeños and serve immediately.

# Helpful Hints:

01 -
  • It tastes indulgent without requiring any fancy techniques or ingredients you don't already have.
  • The heat from the jalapeños builds slowly, so it surprises you in the best way.
  • It comes together in under an hour, including baking time, so weeknight dinners actually feel manageable.
02 -
  • The cream cheese can clump if the pan is too hot—keep it low and stir constantly, and you'll be fine.
  • Don't cook the pasta all the way to soft; it finishes in the oven and becomes perfect instead of mushy.
  • The breadcrumb topping makes this dish, so don't skip it or rush the buttering step.
03 -
  • Make the panko topping while the pasta finishes cooking—multitasking that actually saves time instead of stressing you out.
  • If the baked pasta looks done but feels watery, you used too much milk or didn't let the sauce reduce enough before adding the pasta; trust your eyes over the timer.
Go back