I want you to take a tasty adventure with an easy dish that will elevate your overall taste – try the jalapeno chicken recipe.
In this blog post, we will discuss the complete preparation process for jalapeno chicken. Later, we will also look at variations, pro tips to level up the taste, storage and freezing tips and much more.
Jalapeno Chicken
Jalapeno chicken is a dish which is prepared by marinating the chicken with spices and jalapeno peppers and then cooked until flavorful and tender. It is often baked, grilled or sauteed with chicken seasoned with garlic, minced jalapenos, cilantro, lime juice and spices like paprika and cumin.
It makes a savoury and spicy chicken dish with a little heat from the Jalapenos, famous in southwestern and Tex-Mex cooking.
Why You’ll Love Recipe
- Spicy and Flavorful: It contains other savoury flavours along with the spicy jalapeno. The mix of jalapenos and spices provides different flavors making each bite exciting.
- Easy to Prepare: It is easy to prepare, and it’s perfect for a fast dinner during the week or a relaxed meal on the weekend without cooking too long.
- Versatile: You can adjust the adjust the recipe as per your preference. You can adjust the spices in the meal by including jalapenos or other seasoning to match your taste.
- Healthy: Preparing the chicken carefully, you can consider it as a part of a balanced diet. You can decide the seasoning and oil, which makes it healthier than other dishes.
Jalapeno Chicken Recipe Tips
- Marinate the chicken: Marinating improves the tenderness and flavour of the chicken. Use minced garlic, lime juice, olive oil, pepper, salt and chopped jalapenos. You can marinate the mixture for at least 30 minutes overnight.
- Use Fresh Jalapenos: You can add fresh jalapenos for more crispiness and a spicy twist. You can adjust the amount of jalapenos based on the spiciness you want. Remove the inner parts and seeds for a milder taste.
- Grilling or Searing: Grilling or searing offers a smoky taste and crispy texture. Heat the pan or grill over high temperature before cooking the chicken.
- Balance the heat: You can add sweet elements like pineapple, honey or mango to the marinade to balance the heat.
- Add creaminess: You can add the creamy component to soften the heat and make the dish richer. Use ingredients like sour cream, cream cheese or coconut milk sauce.
Variations
- Jalapenos Popper chicken: You can stuff chicken breast with chopped jalapenos, cream cheese and shredded cheddar cheese. Wrap with bacon for more flavour. Cook them on the grill or in the oven until it is completely cooked.
- Jalapenos Lime chicken: You can marinate the chicken in a mixture of garlic, olive oil, lime juice, cilantro and chopped jalapenos. Cook on the grill until juicy and tender.
- Creamy Jalapeno chicken pasta: Cook chicken with garlic and chopped jalapenos. Then, add parmesan cheese, heavy cream and chopped spinach for a creamy sauce. For a fresh flavour, you can top it with parsley or basil.
- Jalapeno chicken tacos: You can grill chicken strips marinated in cumin lime juice and chopped jalapenos You can cook the chicken in the pan or grill the chicken. Serve it with corn tortillas, with salsa, avocado and lemon on top.
- Stuffed Jalapenos chicken thighs: You can stuff the thighs with a mix of cream cheese, jalapenos and chopped bacon. You can also insert the toothpick to hold highs together. Serve it with mashed potatoes or roasted vegetables.
What to Serve
- Cilantro Lime Rice: This is fluffy rice prepared with zesty lime juice and fresh cilantro, which contrasts with the spicy jalapeno chicken.
- Mexican Sweet Corn: Mexican sweet corn is grilled corn covered with cotija cheese, lime juice, Chili powder, and mayonnaise offering a creamy, smoky and zesty flavour to the meal.
- Black Bean Salad: A combination of bell peppers, corn, tomatoes black beans and avocado tossed with a lime-cumin dressing offers freshness and protein to the dish with chicken.
- Grilled Vegetables: You can add bell peppers, zucchini and onion seasoned with Mexican spices and grilled to perfection providing a charred and savoury flavour.
- Avocado Salad: You can serve avocado slices mixed with cilantro, red onion, cherry tomatoes and lime vinaigrette providing a cool and creamy texture to balance the spiciness of the jalapeno chicken.
Storing and Freezing
Storing
- Before storing, let the jalapeno chicken cool at room temperature.
- Wrap it tightly in a plastic wrap or put it in an air-tight container.
- You can store the jalapeno chicken in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
Freezing
- Before freezing, let the jalapeno chicken cool completely to maintain the quality.
- For packing, you can use heavy-duty freezer bags or freezer-safe containers.
- Label the content with the date and content to keep track of the freshness.
- You can freeze the chicken for up to 2-3 months.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the jalapeno chicken recipe provides delightful mixes of spices and savoury flavours. It can be enjoyed in many ways like grilling, with a creamy sauce or as a zesty marinade. The tenderness of the chicken with the spicy twist makes it a memorable dish.
You can make the cooking creative and fun by adjusting the ingredients to your liking. Whether it’s for a simple event or a simple dinner, jalapeno chicken always tastes great and makes people happy.
Read More:- Nixon Chicken Recipe
Jalapeno Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 2-3 fresh jalapeno peppers seeded and minced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon salt or to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper to taste
- Chopped fresh cilantro for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- In a bowl, mix finely chopped jalapenos, lime juice, minced garlic, paprika, olive oil, ground cumin, black pepper and salt.
- Now, put the chicken breast in a resealable plastic bag or in a shallow dish. Pour the marinade over the chicken by ensuring that everything is evenly coated. Put it in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to 4 hours for more flavor.
- You can consider the following cooking options:
- Grilling: Heat the grill over medium-high heat. Cook the chicken breast for around 6-7 minutes per side until they’re completely cooked.
- Baking: Set the temperature of the oven to 200 C(400 F). Put the marinated chicken breast on a baking sheet with parchment paper. Cook the chicken until it is done, it may take around 20-25 minutes.
- Sauteing: Heat the skillet over over medium-high flame. Add some olive oil. Cook the chicken breast on each side for around 6-7 minutes.
- Once it is cooked, take off the chicken from the heat and let it sit for few minutes. It’s time to serve it hot, you can garnish it with freshly chopped cilantro.
- You can serve it with salad, rice or your favourite side. It also goes well with grilled vegetables, avocado salsa or green salad.