Description

This Slow Cooker Jalapeno Popper Chicken recipe combines tender, juicy chicken breasts with a creamy, spicy mixture of cream cheese, colby jack cheese, ranch seasoning, and jalapenos, slow-cooked to perfection. Ideal as a flavorful appetizer or served on slider buns for a delicious sandwich, this dish brings the classic flavors of jalapeno poppers in an easy, hands-off slow cooker meal.

Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients

2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts (thin sliced or regular)
1 oz ranch dressing mix
8 oz cream cheese
8 oz shredded colby jack cheese (pre-shredded)
7 oz fire-roasted chiles (drained)
2 jalapenos, seeds removed and diced

For Serving

Slider buns (such as King’s Hawaiian savory rolls)
Sliced green onion

Instructions

Prepare Slow Cooker: Spray the slow cooker insert with non-stick cooking spray to prevent sticking and for easy cleanup.
Add Chicken: Place the chicken breasts into the slow cooker in an even layer.
Coat Chicken with Ranch Mix: Sprinkle the ranch dressing mix evenly over the chicken breasts, then flip and toss the chicken to coat thoroughly with the ranch seasoning.
Soften Cream Cheese: In a microwave-safe medium bowl, microwave the cream cheese for 30 to 60 seconds until softened to enable easy mixing.
Mix Jalapeno Cheese Mixture: Add the diced jalapenos, drained fire-roasted chiles, and half of the shredded colby jack cheese to the softened cream cheese. Stir well until the mixture is smooth and evenly combined.
Layer Mixture Over Chicken: Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly over the coated chicken breasts in the slow cooker. Then sprinkle the remaining shredded cheese on top.
Cook: Cover and cook on HIGH for 3.5 to 4 hours, or until the chicken is fully cooked and shreds easily with a fork.
Shred Chicken: When cooking is complete, use two forks to shred the chicken directly in the slow cooker, mixing it well with the creamy cheese and chile mixture.
Serve: Spoon the shredded jalapeno popper chicken onto slider buns, and garnish with sliced green onions for a delicious, spicy sandwich.

Notes

Using thin sliced chicken allows for faster cooking and easier shredding, but regular chicken breasts work fine.
If you prefer less heat, reduce the amount of jalapenos or omit the seeds.
For a lower fat version, use reduced-fat cream cheese and cheese.
This recipe can be doubled for larger gatherings; just increase the slow cooking time slightly as needed.
Leftovers store well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and can be reheated gently on the stovetop or microwave.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 3 hours 45 minutes
Category: Dinner
Method: Slow Cooking
Cuisine: American

Keywords: Slow cooker chicken, Jalapeno popper chicken, Cream cheese chicken, Easy slow cooker recipe, Spicy chicken sliders