Jalapeño Popper Chicken Salad
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This Jalapeño Popper Chicken Salad is a quick, easy, and flavorful Whole30 lunch that you can prep ahead and pack all week. Enjoy the flavor of a jalapeño popper in a simple salad for lunch!
Spice up your lunchbox with this Jalapeño Popper Chicken Salad
Chicken salad is one of those recipes that I hated as a kid, but cannot get enough of as an adult. You can make so many different styles and varieties of chicken salad and it’s always satisfying.
The best part is that you can prep it once on Sunday or Monday and enjoy it in your lunchbox all week. This chicken salad has all the flavor and spice of a jalapeño popper, but with healthy, Whole30 ingredients.
Plus, you won’t need to reheat this at work when you pack it in your lunch!
What kitchen tools will I need to make this Whole30 lunch?
- Sauce pan
- Mixing bowls
- Wooden mixing spoon
- Measuring spoons
- Measuring cup
- Sharp knife
- Forks for shredding
Use rotisserie chicken to simplify this recipe
Make this jalapeño popper chicken salad recipe even easier by using a rotisserie chicken. Take the shredded breast meat from the chicken and mix it into this recipe instead of poaching the chicken at home.
How to serve
Serve jalapeño popper chicken salad the same way your would any kind of chicken salad. It is delicious on a roll or toasted bread with a few pieces of crunchy romaine lettuce.
For a low carb lunch you can serve this on chopped lettuce with extra veggies like raw celery and cucumber. OR serve it on lettuce cups like little chicken salad tacos. Either way I like to make a few extra strips of crispy bacon to serve on top of the jalapeno popper chicken.
What ingredients will I need to make this low carb chicken salad?
You will be amazed at how easy it is to make this Whole30 and low carb chicken salad with just a few simple ingredients!
- Boneless skinless chicken breasts
- Bacon
- Jalapeños
- Mayonnaise – I like Primal Kitchen Mayo or my homemade recipe!
- Green onion
- Onion powder
- Garlic powder
- Avocado oil
- Salt
Ingredient Substituions
There are many ways to change up this jalapeño popper chicken and put your own spin on it. If you do not like mayonnaise, you can use full fat greek yogurt instead. Use any fresh herbs that you like to add to the flavor of this chicken salad. I like to garnish this with lots of fresh green onion.
You can saute freshly chopped garlic and onion with the diced jalapeños to add even more flavor to this healthy chicken salad.
How spicy are jalapeño peppers?
Want to make this chicken salad a little spicier? Just leave in some or all of the seeds when you slice up your jalapeño. The spice level of jalapeño can vary from pepper to pepper.
The spiciest parts of jalapeño peppers are the seeds and the membrane. They aren’t super spicy, but you can control how much spice you get from each pepper.
Let’s make some Jalapeño Popper Chicken Salad!
Step 1: Poach the chicken.
First, place chicken breasts in a sauce pan and cover with cold water. Then, bring the water to a boil, cover the pot, reduce to a simmer and simmer for 14 minutes.
After simmering, remove the chicken from the pot, allow to cool slightly and shred with two forks.
Step 2: Prep the Bacon and Jalapeños.
While the chicken poaches, prep the bacon and jalapeños. Fry the bacon over medium low heat until crispy. Then, place the bacon on a towel or rack to let the grease drip off.
Next, deseed and chop the jalapeños into small strips. If you want a spicier chicken salad, leave some of the seeds attached to the pepper.
Then, heat 1 tbsp of avocado oil over medium heat in a frying pan and add the jalapeños to the pan.
Saute for 10 minutes, add salt to the jalapeños and saute for an additional minute before removing from heat.
Step 3: Mix it all together!
In a large mixing bowl combine mayonnaise, green onion, garlic powder, and onion powder into an even mixture.
Then, add shredded chicken, cooked jalapeños, and chopped bacon to a bowl with the mayo mixture.
Mix together until each piece of chicken is coated and an even mixture remains.
Enjoy immediately or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
How long will this chicken salad keep in the fridge?
Once prepared, store this chicken salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It should keep in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Check out these other healthy chicken salad recipes
You can find the full recipe below. If you make this recipe, please rate and review it in the comments, or share it with me on Instagram!
Jalapeño Popper Chicken Salad
All the flavor of jalapeño poppers in a healthy, Whole30 chicken salad.
Ingredients
- 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 5 strips of bacon
- 3 jalapeños
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup green onion
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp avocado oil
Instructions
- Place chicken breasts in a medium sized sauce pan and cover with cold water until both breasts are covered with at least 1″ of water
- Place pot on the stove uncovered and bring water to a boil
- Reduce the water to a simmer and cover with a lid
- Simmer the chicken for 14 minutes then remove from heat
- While the chicken cookes prepare the bacon on the stovetop – fry at medium-low heat until crispy
- Also, prepare the jalapeños by deseeding and slicing into small strips. **If you want a spicier chicken salad, leave some of the seeds attached to the pepper.
- Place 1 tbsp of avocado oil in a frying pan over medium heat
- Saute jalapeños until soft, about 10 minutes. Then, add 1/2 tsp salt and saute for an additional minute
- Place cooked bacon on a towel to drain some grease and then chop into bite sized pieces
- In a small bowl combine mayonnaise, green onion, onion powder, and garlic powder
- Once cooked, remove the chicken from the water and shredd on a plate or cutting board with 2 forks
- In a large bowl combine shredded chicken, mayo mixture, sauteed jalapeños, and chopped bacon
- Mix all ingredients until evenly combined
- Enjoy immediately or store in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 4 days
Notes
If you are on the Whole30 be sure to use Whole30 compliant bacon and mayo. I like this one.
Lindy says
This chicken salad is excellent! Used a rotisserie chicken and precooked smoked Turkey bacon for quick and easy meal prep lunches. My husband and I both loved it!
★★★★★
Madeline says
YES! So glad you both enjoyed!
Nicki says
SO, SO GOOD! This is on permanent rotation. I used real bacon crumble from Costco and it tastes amazing!!!!
★★★★★
Madeline says
YUM! Thanks, Nicki!
Shannon says
Made this for lunch today between Zoom calls and it was simple, easy, and delicious! I just wish I would have doubled the recipe because we’ve almost finished it.
Already have recommended it to friends!
★★★★★
Madeline says
ah I’m so glad to hear that!! Thank you for sharing!!
Suzy says
How much is a serving? Looks great can’t wait to try it
Cathy says
SO good! I used raw jalapeños for crunch and added half of a minced shallot instead of onion and garlic powder. I also added some minced cilantro and roasted the chicken breasts because I think that adds more flavor.
★★★★
Madeline says
Thanks for sharing!
Morgan temple says
How much is a serving
Madeline says
Depends on the size of your chicken. I split it into 4 servings after cooking!
Lisa says
Great ideas!
Julie says
What is the serving size?
Madeline says
When I make this with 2 large chicken breasts I consider 1/3 of it a serving
Haleigh says
I used turkey bacon & substituted the mayo with plain Greek yogurt and ate it with romaine hearts. It tasted great! The pop of jalapeño is the best bite. I’m excited to try it tomorrow once it’s been cooled in the fridge for a day.
★★★★
Madeline says
Yum!!
CV says
I was unable to follow the complete recipe, but I did so as best as I could with the ingredients I had on hand; bacon crumbles and the remaining 45g of primal kitchen mayo I had left 🙁 blarg! It was so delicious and easy, though.
I’m excited to try in its glorious wholesomeness the next time around when I have all the ingredients.
Thank you for sharing the recipe! Absolutely love what I was ale to make right now.
Madeline says
Thank you!! I hope you enjoy it!
Toni says
I made this according to recipe but added 8oz of cooked pasta with a little more mayo and turned it into a pasta salad. Its excellent! Thanks for sharing
★★★★★
Madeline says
that sounds awesome!! Thank you for sharing!!
Jessica says
This was such a great twist on boring old chicken salad. Totally in my recipe box now.
★★★★★
Madeline says
Thank you!!
Sandy says
There were sooooo many adds and pop ups on this site I could barely get through to see the recipe
Madeline says
Hi Sandy, I’m a person not a corporation. Think of that next time you’re so quick to leave a review behind a screen. I’m a person who provides free recipes online and in turn I make some of the money back from ad revenue, but guess what? The ad revenue costs nothing to you. The advertiser pays me and you get a recipe for free! Pretty cool set up I think 😊
Carmen says
Is there a substitute for avocado oil? Could I just use olive oil, or does the avocado oil add to the flavor?
Madeline says
Nope it doesn’t add to flavor you can use olive oil!
Saisha says
Delishhhh!! I added some mustard because I love that lil kick in a chicken salad and it was perfect! Thanks Madeline!
★★★★★
Madeline says
YUM! Sounds amazing!!
Katelin says
This is absolutely amazing! It’s one of my favorites to keep on hand for lunches. Don’t be scared of the jalapeño! Our kids, who do not enjoy spicy things, absolutely love this! It’s one of the few recipes my family asks for by name.
Thanks so much for all the recipes! We have loved every one so far!
★★★★★
Madeline says
thank you!! so glad to hear that!!
Sarah says
I legit meal prepped this for lunch and then had to make more because I ate it for dinner. This is so yummy! I used Rotisserie chicken because I’m lazy, it was so easy to make and it’s SO delicious. Highly recommend!
★★★★★
Ashlee says
I used a rotisserie chicken for this (half). I cooked half a sweet yellow onion with the jalapeños in the bacon fat instead of the avocado oil – not the healthiest option but only required one pan and was delicious. I also added the shredded chicken to the pan to heat it up (I don’t like cold chicken). It was excellent.
★★★★★
Madeline says
wonderful! thank you!
Ellen Willing says
This is FIRE!! I’ve already made it 3 times since making it the 1st time! A perfect lunch to have on hand for the week. Yum, Yum, Yum!!!!
Madeline says
wonderful!! thank you!
Paula says
Can this be frozen?
Madeline says
You can! But the mayo sometimes has an odd texture after being frozen
Meredith says
Hi! I’m excited to try the dish but was wondering a couple things….
1. Why didn’t you use cream cheese instead of Mayo? (I imagine it has something do with whole30 but I’m brand new to that world so I thought I’d ask.)
2. What else do you eat this with as far as sides go? Or do you only eat this for the entire meal?
Thanks!!
Madeline says
Hi Meredith, while a jalapeno popper is traditionally made with cream cheese, chicken salad is traditionally made with mayo and yes mayo is whole30 compliant so thats a nothing reason 🙂 I usually eat it on lettuce with a. bunch of veggies as a salad!! You could also pair it with roasted vegetables if youre on whole30. if you arent you can enjoy it as a sandwich
Lizzy says
This was sooo good! Have made multiple times for easy lunches prepped throughout the week. Highly recommend!
★★★★★
Madeline says
awesome!! thank you!!
Kellie says
Very easy and tasty! I used rotisserie chicken so it was super quick!
★★★★★
Madeline says
awesome! thank you!
Katie says
This chicken salad was AMAZING. Made it tonight for my husband and I. He can’t stop talking about it!
★★★★★
Madeline says
yay I’m so glad!
Marissa says
I used a rotisserie chicken which made this quick and easy. A great lunch.
★★★★★
Madeline says
great idea!
Erin says
Making this for lunch today and so excited!
★★★★★
Madeline says
yay hope you loved it Erin!
Arica Bode says
Made this last night and oh my yummyness! This was so good and flavorful. My new fav for sure.
★★★★★
Madeline says
Great to hear. Thanks, Arica!
Taylor says
Such an easy and delicious meal prep!
★★★★★
Madeline says
Thanks so much, Taylor!