Easy Bacon-Wrapped Cream Cheese Chicken Bites with Jalapenos

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Sneak Peek: These easy Bacon-Wrapped Cream Cheese Chicken Bites are flat chicken tenders stuffed with jalapeno-laced cream cheese, then wrapped with bacon. Grill, bake, or air fry these delectable little appetizers.

BACON-WRAPPED CREAM CHEESE CHICKEN BITES in an iron skilletPin

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Add bacon to anything, and it will fly off the table. That’s what a caterer once told me. I believe it. Certainly applies here. I can’t think of a better way to celebrate a holiday or special occasion than with a big plate of these spicy, cheesy, smoky, and crispy bacon-wrapped chicken nuggets.

Five Reasons Why You Have To Try These for Your Next Party

  1. These simple bites require only four ingredients.
  2. Bacon takes care of the salt.
  3. Jalapenos eliminate the need for black pepper or cayenne pepper.
  4. Grill or bake them in a conventional oven or an air-fryer.
  5. Assemble them ahead of time.
  6. These chicken bites will make the men in your life go crazy–at least, that’s my experience with my husband and sons.

Happy Cooks Speak Up

“As soon as I saw the recipe I knew I had to try these. Served them on the weekend with family including two teens! Everyone loved them – five stars from everyone. I can’t grill so did them in the air fryer. F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S. Thanks Paula. “–STEPHAN


Ingredients and Substitutions

  • CHICKEN: I like to use boneless, skinless chicken breasts or tenders. I have not tried these with chicken thighs.
  • CREAM CHEESE: Room temperature cheese is easier to spread on the chicken but a bit messier to wrap. Take your choice. You can substitute Neufchatel cheese for less fat and a slightly softer texture.
  • JALAPENOS: Fresh jalapenos are my first choice. Not only are they cheaper, but they are not as spicy as jarred pickled jalapenos that many of us always keep in our fridges.
  • BACON: I recommend using thin-sliced bacon because it bakes better and will be crispy when the chicken is cooked.

How To Assemble Bacon-Wrapped Cream Cheese Chicken Bites with Jalapenos

Pounding chicken tenders in Ziploc bagsPin
After cutting the chicken into strips, pound them until they are about a third of an inch thick (slightly more or less is fine). Doing it inside a zippered plastic bag prevents splattering.
Chopped fresh jalapeñosPin
Seed and chop fresh jalapeno peppers.
chicken tenders with cream cheese and jalapeños on topPin
Smear cream cheese filling on each tender and sprinkle with chopped jalapeno peppers. Fold the chicken pieces to enclose the filling.
 Chicken Bites wrapped in baconPin
Roll a bacon slice cut in half around the folded chicken tender and secure it with a toothpick.
baking chicken appetizers in an air fryerPin
Place chicken on a rack or in the air fryer basket in your preheated air fryer or grill. Bake at 400˚F for 8-10 minutes, turning halfway through.
chicken after bakingPin
Bake until the bacon is crispy and the chicken is cooked through.
serving chicken bites with bbq sauce.Pin
Serve with sweet barbecue sauce, ranch dressing, Chik-Fil-A sauce, or nothing, if you prefer.

Variation

I love brushing these chicken bites with Raspberry Chipotle Sauce before grilling or baking them. It’s a mini version of this popular recipe for Bacon-Wrapped Pork Tenderloin.


FAQ

Is there a substitute for the jalapenos?

If you don’t like spicy, leave out the jalapenos or skimp a bit. Or use green or red bell peppers instead.

Can I freeze jalapeños?

Did you know you can freeze whole fresh jalapeno peppers? Throw the washed peppers into a small plastic bag and freeze. Thaw the peppers under running water when ready to use, and prepare for your recipe.

Can I cook these in a conventional oven?

Yes. Place prepared bacon-wrapped chicken onto a foil-lined baking sheet. Cook at 400˚F until the bacon is crispy on both sides and the chicken is cooked.

Can I make these and freeze them to grill later?

I don’t recommend freezing them raw. The cream cheese changes in texture, and the jalapenos may become watery.


Parting Thoughts: I invite you to have fun with this recipe. Some people like to add garlic powder, paprika, or chili powder to the cream cheese. Others like to baste them with barbecue sauce during the last minute of baking. You really can’t mess them up.

If you’re a bacon lover like me, check out these recipes that would be the same without bacon: Hearty Ham Stew: Popular with Meat Lovers, Four-Layer Meat and Potatoes in a Skillet–Bacon Saves the Day, Baked Beans with Ground Beef, Sausage, and Bacon, and Bacon-Wrapped Stuffed Pork Tenderloin with Raspberry Chipotle Sauce


Help at Your Fingertips: For questions or suggestions, email Paula at saladinajar.com. If you need help, I’m happy to troubleshoot via email (faster than leaving a comment). Attach pictures and as many details as possible for the best advice.


BACON-WRAPPED CHICKEN BITES in an iron skilletPin
Yield: 16 bite-size pieces

Easy Bacon-Wrapped Cream Cheese Chicken Bites with Jalapenos

This simple recipe involves small pieces of raw chicken breast spread with cream cheese and jalapenos, rolled and wrapped with bacon, then grilled outside or in an air fryer.

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(5 stars if you loved it)

5 from 79 votes
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Video

Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 10 minutes
Total time: 30 minutes

Ingredients
 

  • 1.5 pound (680 g) raw chicken breast or tenders
  • 3 ounce (85 g) cream cheese softened slightly
  • 1 (14 g) jalapeno pepper, fresh seeded and finely chopped
  • 8 slices (176 g) thin-cut bacon cut in half

Instructions

  • Slice a chicken breast in half horizontally. Then cut each half into strips approximately 2 x 4 inches. (No need to measure, eyeball them.)
  • Place the chicken pieces in one layer inside a zippered plastic bag. Pound with a mallet or the side of your hand to make the chicken ¼ to ⅓-inch thick. Lay out several chicken pieces on a cutting board.
  • Dab a scant teaspoon (more or less) of cream cheese on top of each piece of chicken. Sprinkle a scant teaspoon of jalapeno peppers over the cream cheese. Fold the chicken to enclose the cream cheese mixture.
  • Wrap each chicken roll with one piece of bacon and secure it with a toothpick.
  • Place into a preheated air fryer or a barbecue grill.
  • Bake or grill at 400˚F (200˚C) until the bacon is brown and crispy on both sides. This takes about 8-10 minutes. Turn the chicken halfway through. Note: Because air fryers come in many shapes and forms, you may need to experiment with the time and temperature.

Notes

Be sure to wear plastic gloves when handling fresh jalapenos. The oil will attach itself to your hands and is not easily washed away. An accidental swipe of the hand close to your eyes could be a regrettable experience.
Try flattening meat inside a zip-lock bag, as pictured above. No flying pieces, no contamination on your cutting board from the chicken, and the cleanup is super easy.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 | Calories: 39kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 17mg | Sodium: 67mg | Potassium: 109mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 20IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 20mg | Iron: 1mg

All images and text ©️ Paula Rhodes for Salad in a Jar.com

5-Star Ratings Are My Favorite!Help others find this recipe in search results on the web.

Recipe slightly adapted from “Warren’s Chicken Bites” published in Home Cooking with Trisha Yearwood.

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Recipe Rating




267 Comments

  1. Evelyn Bynum says:

    Saw this recipe earlier today. Ran by the store to grab ingredients. Made these. So easy super yummy! Will make for my superbowl party!
    Thanks Paula for the recipe!

    1. Hi Evelyn,
      Always good to hear from you. Glad you like them. I wish I could help eat them.

  2. 5 stars
    As soon as I saw the recipe I knew I had to try these. Served them on the weekend with family including two teens! Everyone loved them – five stars from everyone. I can’t grill so did them in the air fryer. F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S. Thanks Paula.

    1. People ask me all the time if these are good in the oven or air fryer. Now I can say “YES.” Do you remember what temperature you used? Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment about your experience. It really helps other readers.

  3. These were good but I think some kind of sauce to top it off would help, any ideas?

    1. Hi Terry,

      Since I’m from Texas, my first thought is a good quality barbecue sauce. Maybe other readers will have some ideas.

  4. 5 stars
    MMMMMMMM So delicious.

    The flavors together must be amazing!

  5. 5 stars
    I LOVE salad in a jar! and chicken! and jalapenos! and bacon!!!!!!!!|

    MMMmmmmmmm

  6. 5 stars
    I made these tonight and they were delicious!! I left the peppers out of some of them for my kids, and they loved them, too. However even the ones with the peppers were not really hot because the peppers are seeded. The cream cheese works well because it doesn’t leak out when grilling.

  7. 5 stars
    Made these last night for a group of my friends, but didn’t cut the chicken in half and served it as a main dish (everyone ate 2 of them). Everyone LOVED them! Prep time was totally worth it. Will definitely make them again!!!!

  8. 4 stars
    Seth is really right it it melts out you need some jack in there too and make sure your pieces are little and flat out and wrap carefully so it all gets done at the same time. I am making them for the first time and its not thrilling me. I know how to change it and make it work next time. Rehearse 😛

  9. 5 stars
    I need to make this tonight!

  10. 3 stars
    This recipe is pretty basic. I can suggest a couple of tweaks. First, start out by soaking the chicken in a simple brine solution of 8 cups water, 1/4 cup salt, and 1/4 cup sugar. Brining the chicken will keep it moist and tender during grilling. Second, a few simple seasonings are neeed, I used some black pepper, garlic powder and sage sprinkled on the chicken before assembly to round the flavors out.

  11. 5 stars
    LOVE this! Just made this for dinner and it came out fantastic! The only thing I did different was mixed room temp cream cheese and the cut jalapeños into a bowl and spread it with a knife on both sides (inside not outside)of the chicken as if I were doing bread and butter! Cooked for 30@350 then another 30@385, bacon and chicken perfect as can be!!

  12. janice vegliacich-colona says:

    5 stars
    I love these! Here is my twist:
    In a small bowl mix cream cheese, jalapenos, minced garlic and a bit of drained crushed pineapple. Before assembling these, I marinated the chicken pieces in a mixture of Apple juice and worchestershire.OMG! Yum!

  13. 5 stars
    What a great idea for something to take to a party.

  14. 4 stars
    Instead of grilling them, could i just cook them?
    I really want to try them right now but i dont know if the taste will be alot different, or if it would even work!

  15. 5 stars
    Delicious! I made these last night. Very easy to make. 1 package of bacon and 2 chicken breasts fed 4 people. If you haven’t tried or made these yet, you are missing out!!!

  16. Tracie DEEEEE says:

    5 stars
    LOL…Guess what? We just mentioned another variation. My daughter suggested a spinach leaf and feta cheese wrapped in bacon. I think I can make another batch tomorrow 🙂

  17. Tracie DEEEEE says:

    5 stars
    I made this tonight. I did some as the recipe indicated and yielded 4. But to appease all the flavors the household likes, I also used the other ingredients with this recipe in a few tweaks.
    1) I made some as indicated in this recipe subbing cheddar cheese
    2) I added green onion slices to a few in both cream cheese and cheddar.
    2) I added a dab of salsa to both the cream cheese and cheddar.

    In ll I have used 2 pounds of tenderloins and I produced 16 good size portions. they were very tasty. My son dipped his in honey bbque sauce. I would recommend the original recipe as written as it was very good. But I also think with these staples, the sky’s the limit and you can experiment with a variety of flavors. Very kid friendly, too!

    I a

  18. Wrongful Death Claims says:

    5 stars
    Those look so delicious! The recipe could be interchanged though, what about using brisket instead of chicken? That’s a great idea for some delicious appetizers at a BBQ or something! NICE!

  19. Roberta Kirkeby says:

    4 stars
    We just finished eating them and they were great! Grilling in the winter is awesome. The only thing I had trouble with was keeping the filling in and should of used a little more for flavor but all in all I would make them again:)

  20. 4 stars
    I made these today for a super bowl party. They were only slightly bland for my taste. So the second batch added fresh minced garlic (3 cloves) to the cream cheese mixture, as well as some fresh cracked pepper. Once assembled I sprinkled with smoked paprika. I couldn’t grill them, so bakd them for about 20 min then stuck under the broiler to crisp the bacon. These were excellent. This is a great base recipe. I think next time I will blend in some shredded pepper jack cheese, and omit the jalepanos (or maybe not omit them, we like lots of spice). Thank you

  21. 5 stars
    These are WONDERFUL!!!! I just made them and they are great!!

  22. 5 stars
    This are fantastic! I made them today for my hubby and I and we both loved them, plus it was quick and easy!

    Thanks for the recipe.

  23. 5 stars
    Made these tonight, only I baked them at 350 degrees for 35 minutes! We loved them!

  24. 5 stars
    I am a college student and while this sounds absolutely amazing and I would love to try, I don’t have a grill. =[ Do you have an equally fattening way to make this tasty looking bite. Baking takes all the greasy fun out of it..

  25. 5 stars
    these were so good! I ended up baking them and the cheese came out of them, but I just served the cheesy sauce on top and it was delicious! thank you. I hope you don’t mind but I linked your recipe on my blog, had to share this one!

  26. 5 stars
    Made this and the triple coconut cake tonight and it was AMAZING!!!!! I’m an official fan of your site! :]

  27. 4 stars
    I made this tonight for company. I used full-sized breasts, however which made for much less work, though a longer cooking time. Instead of toothpicks, I used 4″ wooden skewers that were soaked in water before use. It was well-received. I did also season the outside of the breasts before assembling. I used fully-ripe red jalepenos, which are hotter but don’t have that ‘green’ flavour that give green jalepenos the bitter edge. This was quite good.

  28. Ismael Burciaga says:

    5 stars
    WOW! this sounds amazing. I can’t wait to try this out. I hope you don’t mind, but I posted this on my blog too and placed a link back to this article.

  29. Hoosiersmoker says:

    5 stars
    These are very similar to what I’ve come to know as ABT’s (Atomic Buffalo Turds). Difference is: Cheddar spike in the center of sausage filling. Stand up in pepper tray and smoke for a few hours at about 250 Deg. Thees look great and I will definitely try the chicken version next time. Thanks for the post!

  30. Lauren Ann says:

    5 stars
    This is one of my favorites! I found your blog through stumble & had to make these again. I coated the chicken in olive oil and I mixed the jalapeno into the cream cheese & garlic. I used canadian bacon and it was delicious 🙂 I also tried this with shrimp but used smoked gouda instead of cream cheese.

  31. 5 stars
    I need to make this tonight!

  32. 5 stars
    I LOVE salad in a jar! and chicken! and jalapenos! and bacon!!!!!!!!|

    MMMmmmmmmm

  33. 5 stars
    MMMMMMMM So delicious.

    The flavors together must be amazing!

  34. If bacon is involved ….can’t be bad. Favorite food groups…bacon & jalapenos 🙂

  35. Raymond Mosher says:

    I made the mistake of handling jalapenos and then wiping my eyes once. Trust me when I say you will never make the same mistake twice

  36. Dora Sands says:

    I injoy tham so did my husband to

  37. It’s Memorial Day and we want to grill these, but rain is on the way. Think they will be good in the oven too?

  38. I make these all of the time. I do not use the cream cheese and I use jalapeño slices. I also marinate mine in Italian dressing before putting them on the grill.

  39. These look so good. The only thing i wonder if the chicken would be completely cooked when you grill the bacon. Thank you for the recipe.

    1. Actually, the chicken cooks almost faster than the bacon. Do not use thick-cut bacon as it takes too long to get crisp. You’ll see what I mean when you try it.

  40. Can’t wait to try these but my grill is covered with snow. Can I bake them in the oven? Thank you

    1. Anne, I have not personally tried it but many of my readers say they are good. You can look through the comments for specifics.

  41. I’m going to try these for a party this weekend, I normally just stuff 1/2 jalepeno with the cream cheese and wrap the bacon, for added flavor I add some dry ranch dressing mix to the cream cheese.

  42. Could these be broiled in the oven, without losing any flavour?

    1. Cathy, Haven’t tried it but don’t know why not. Watch carefully.

  43. Whats an alternative to grilling if you don’t have a bbq or a grill pan?

  44. Found your recipe via Once a Month Mom and the tip on flattening meat in a ziplock bag…GENIUS! My bites are in the oven right now (raining here in West Texas today so no grilling outdoors). I can’t wait to sink my teeth into them! Thank you for such a great and easy recipe.

    1. Hope you enjoyed your chicken bites….and the cooler weather.

      1. The chicken bites were aWeSoMe!!! Everyone loved them (Non-jalapeno ones for the kiddos). This will for sure be a repeat recipe in our family. Thank you again!

  45. I going to make these on our summer camping trip. They should be a hit! I’ll do all the prep work at home and pop them on the grill when we get there. Thanks for posting such great recipes!

  46. Gator Girl says:

    I made these for a dinner after golf outing. I put them in the oven covered at 300 degrees while we played 9 holes. ( we live on the golf course) I checked them when we returned 2 hours later and they were perfect. Removed the foil cooked a little longer and served . They were awesome! I added a little salt and garlic and they were all gone! No leftovers:(!!!
    Thanks!

    1. Gator Girl,
      I have lots of people ask me how to make these in the oven. Thanks for sharing how you did it.

  47. Made them today for Memorial Day BBQ. Huge hit

  48. This was awesome but I did tweak the recipe since my family loves heat. I created a dry rub of salt, pepper, red pepper flakes and garlic powder for the chicken–had it marinating for about 15-20 min. I did use the fresh jalapenos pepper but I kept the seeds in…definitely has some serious kick now. Thanks for the recipe!

  49. Have you baked these in the oven? Was wondering time & temp.
    THANKS

  50. Made these camping – I used the “chive & onion” flavored cream cheese spread – everyone loved them.

    1. That’s a great idea Kelly. And camping is a good time to make these as they are rather labor intensive. Thanks for writing.

  51. Thanks for sharing this! I am going to be trying it tomorrow!

  52. Really nice, thanks for the recipe!

  53. Lori McGahey says:

    These are to die for! Easy to make!

  54. I made these last night and they were incredible. I did some of them without jalapenos but added cheddar for the children. I basted them with bbq sauce on the grill. Thanks for the recipe.

  55. I think I just found what’s missing in my life… these. They look so good!

  56. I purried the jalapeno and mixed the juice with the cream cheese. Evened out the spice.

  57. Stephanie says:

    Is there a substitute for grilling? Our grill is out of commission right now…it didn’t survive the winter!

    1. Hi Stephanie,
      I have only baked these once and I can’t remember how I did it, but it worked. If you look through the comments, you will see how some people have done it. Sorry about your grill.

  58. cynthia hickman says:

    hello i like all your dishes, but i have a tip for , when using fresh jalapeno take some lemon juice an wash your hands in follow by soap, and that should take care of it, im sharing this because it happen to me, and i got this off of foodnetwork.com

    1. Thanks Cynthia, Great tip!

  59. Occupy Bacon sent me.

  60. Hoping I can use these in a low carb/gluten-free superbowl round up. Let me know if that’s okay by you at carketch29@yahoo.com. Thanks!

  61. My sister makes something similiar to these that are amazing!! She just halves the jalapenos and puts a piece of chicken inside a half and an onion slice and wraps it in bacon and puts a toothpick through! Let me tell ya sooooo good!

  62. the wisk doctor says:

    Can’t wait to make these for my dish to pass christmas party!!! I love southwest chicken rolls so I think I’ll marinade the chicken Adobe style and stuff with spinach, corn, cheese and jalapeno peppers!!! Whoa, I’m drooling!!!

  63. I’m thinking of making these for a thanksgiving app, would the bacon crisp up the same if I baked this?

  64. Elizabeth says:

    You had me at, “Bacon wrapped.” Looks great, can’t wait to give it a try.

  65. I make the peppers with cream cheese and bacon but since my boyfriend doesn’t like cream cheese I use pepper jack cheese instead and it gives it a little bit more of a kick I’m going to try this tonight with the pepper jack cheese.

  66. 5 stars
    I made these tonight and they were delicious!! I left the peppers out of some of them for my kids, and they loved them, too. However even the ones with the peppers were not really hot because the peppers are seeded. The cream cheese works well because it doesn’t leak out when grilling.

    1. Hi Karen,
      Thanks for writing to say so. I was surprised about the cream cheese too when I first made these.

    1. Thanks for the link Sarah. Looks like they turned out really good for you.

  67. Evelyn MacLean says:

    Just found the recipe for the bacon/chicken/jalepino bites, can’t wait to try it!!

    Thankyou!

  68. My mom showed me this over skype last night.. pretty sure she has the picture as her desktop image.. and I immediately made it for dinner. But, I stuffed the chicken breast! It was so amazing! My boyfriend ate 2. So thank you for the wicked recipe!

    1. Kara,
      Sounds like your boyfriend was impressed. My sons go crazy for it.

  69. Sounds great!! Not sure why you think pickled Jalapenos are hotter than fresh Jalapenos though… super not true…

    1. Hi Sam,
      That was a generalization based on my own experience. However, pickled or not, jalapenos come in all different levels of “hotness” so you make a good point. Thanks for writing.

  70. Just wanted to say thanks for the recipe, we tried it out last night and it was yummy.

    1. Glad you like it, Sarah!

  71. Jessica, I have not baked them myself, but many others have. One girl told me, 350 degrees for 35 minutes. Another reader suggests putting them under a broiler to crisp the bacon at the end. You may have to experiment a bit.

  72. jodi@garlicgirl says:

    Love this and I’m making these for my next festivity. Just pinned!

  73. 5 stars
    Made these last night for a group of my friends, but didn’t cut the chicken in half and served it as a main dish (everyone ate 2 of them). Everyone LOVED them! Prep time was totally worth it. Will definitely make them again!!!!

  74. 4 stars
    Seth is really right it it melts out you need some jack in there too and make sure your pieces are little and flat out and wrap carefully so it all gets done at the same time. I am making them for the first time and its not thrilling me. I know how to change it and make it work next time. Rehearse 😛

  75. Kayla Boyd says:

    What’s for dinner tonight

  76. judy marney says:

    after cutting any kind of peppers put some dish detergent in the palm of your hand and then generously add salt rub real good together for 5 mins …

    1. 5 mins?? That long? But it’s worth it. That can be some serious hurt. Thanks for sharing. pr

  77. 3 stars
    This recipe is pretty basic. I can suggest a couple of tweaks. First, start out by soaking the chicken in a simple brine solution of 8 cups water, 1/4 cup salt, and 1/4 cup sugar. Brining the chicken will keep it moist and tender during grilling. Second, a few simple seasonings are neeed, I used some black pepper, garlic powder and sage sprinkled on the chicken before assembly to round the flavors out.

    1. Matt,
      I like your ideas! Adding sage is very interesting. pr

  78. 5 stars
    LOVE this! Just made this for dinner and it came out fantastic! The only thing I did different was mixed room temp cream cheese and the cut jalapeños into a bowl and spread it with a knife on both sides (inside not outside)of the chicken as if I were doing bread and butter! Cooked for 30@350 then another 30@385, bacon and chicken perfect as can be!!

  79. janice vegliacich-colona says:

    5 stars
    I love these! Here is my twist:
    In a small bowl mix cream cheese, jalapenos, minced garlic and a bit of drained crushed pineapple. Before assembling these, I marinated the chicken pieces in a mixture of Apple juice and worchestershire.OMG! Yum!

    1. Janice,
      Your version is absolute genius!! pr

  80. 5 stars
    What a great idea for something to take to a party.

  81. I made these at work today. Smoked them with maple wood @ 200F, then finished at about 300F to crispy up the bacon. They turned out fantastic and everyone loved them. Thanks for the great recipe!

    1. Don, do you work in a restaurant? Or maybe a fire station? I can only imagine how good they must have been with the chicken all smoky. Great idea. Paula

  82. Here’s an awesome tip for all of you jalapeno lovers like me! Baby wipes don’t just alleviate the burning pain it stops it immediately! I had been dicing fresh from the garden “Biker Billy” jalapenos and realized I had to GO ! So I quickly washed my hands with soap and water dried my hands and went to Go #1. ( Trying to keep it nice here ) and OMG what pain ! Nothing made it go away until I thought …. I had baby wipes from my grandaughters visiting ! Voila ! Pain gone ! Completely ! Amazing ! Just an fyi to fellow jalapeno lovers !

    1. Sandy,
      What an awesome tip about the baby wipes! I’m committing this one to memory. Thanks for writing. pr

  83. Here is a remedy for the pain jalapenos can cause, but first my stupid move, I had washed my hands with soap and water after cleaning jalapenos. Then I used the bathroom and OMG ! I knew I was in trouble, nothing helped alleviate the pain! Then I remembered I had a carton of baby wipes (I babysat a grandaughter alot ) So I used a baby wipe and the pain was instantly gone. Instantly !

  84. Omg, my mouth is watering!!!! Can’t wait to try this recipe!

  85. i added a packet of ranch seasoning to the cream cheese…..came out wonderful!

    1. Shannon,
      Love your idea. Thanks for sharing. paula

  86. 4 stars
    Instead of grilling them, could i just cook them?
    I really want to try them right now but i dont know if the taste will be alot different, or if it would even work!

    1. Hi Cynthia,
      Some of my readers say they are delicious baked in the oven. Haven’t tried it myself so can’t recommend time and temperature. PR

  87. 5 stars
    Delicious! I made these last night. Very easy to make. 1 package of bacon and 2 chicken breasts fed 4 people. If you haven’t tried or made these yet, you are missing out!!!

    1. Thanks for the testimony Laura. pr

  88. Tracie DEEEEE says:

    5 stars
    LOL…Guess what? We just mentioned another variation. My daughter suggested a spinach leaf and feta cheese wrapped in bacon. I think I can make another batch tomorrow 🙂

  89. Tracie DEEEEE says:

    5 stars
    I made this tonight. I did some as the recipe indicated and yielded 4. But to appease all the flavors the household likes, I also used the other ingredients with this recipe in a few tweaks.
    1) I made some as indicated in this recipe subbing cheddar cheese
    2) I added green onion slices to a few in both cream cheese and cheddar.
    2) I added a dab of salsa to both the cream cheese and cheddar.

    In ll I have used 2 pounds of tenderloins and I produced 16 good size portions. they were very tasty. My son dipped his in honey bbque sauce. I would recommend the original recipe as written as it was very good. But I also think with these staples, the sky’s the limit and you can experiment with a variety of flavors. Very kid friendly, too!

    I a

    1. Hi Tracie,

      Love your creativity–and thanks for sharing it with all of us. pr

  90. I’ve actually made this. I just kinda thought of it very randomly, I was stoned when I cooked them. xD They were delicious, but I believe I used regular cheese instead of cream cheese along with the majority of the ingredients listed here:p

  91. Homemade Recipes says:

    Yum! Great recipes for appetizers!

  92. Wrongful Death Claims says:

    5 stars
    Those look so delicious! The recipe could be interchanged though, what about using brisket instead of chicken? That’s a great idea for some delicious appetizers at a BBQ or something! NICE!

  93. Can you bake these? If so, for how long?

    1. Sami, I haven’t tried baking them myself but one reader says she bakes them at 350 degrees for 35 minutes. You might try it. Paula

  94. OMGGGGGGG. These are fantastic looking. I’d eat them with El Yucateco green hot sauce. Yum.

  95. I made earlier this week on the bar b q.
    They were excellent. I also stuffed some sliced bell peppers.
    They were good too!

  96. Justin Hoddy says:

    What would be a good time and temp for oven baking them? Any ideas? It’s to cold to grill in OK.

    1. I haven’t tried it myself. One reader recommended 350 degrees for 35 minutes. Sounds good to me. Pr

  97. Roberta Kirkeby says:

    4 stars
    We just finished eating them and they were great! Grilling in the winter is awesome. The only thing I had trouble with was keeping the filling in and should of used a little more for flavor but all in all I would make them again:)

  98. I will be making these they look wonderful

  99. 4 stars
    I made these today for a super bowl party. They were only slightly bland for my taste. So the second batch added fresh minced garlic (3 cloves) to the cream cheese mixture, as well as some fresh cracked pepper. Once assembled I sprinkled with smoked paprika. I couldn’t grill them, so bakd them for about 20 min then stuck under the broiler to crisp the bacon. These were excellent. This is a great base recipe. I think next time I will blend in some shredded pepper jack cheese, and omit the jalepanos (or maybe not omit them, we like lots of spice). Thank you

    1. Hi Jenni, Hope you had a good Super Bowl Party. Love your suggestions for spicing these up a bit. pr

  100. Could I bake these instead of grill them?

  101. Christine says:

    Just stumbled across this on pinterest and I LOVE the idea. I’m going to attempt to make it for a Superbowl party. I do not own a grill, sadly, but would a grill pan do the job?? Thank you!!!

  102. 5 stars
    These are WONDERFUL!!!! I just made them and they are great!!

  103. To make a little less fattening I used reduced fat laughing cow spreadable cheese and it came out amazing! My boyfriend devoured them. I also added a little pepper ad garlic powder on the insides and around the chicken before wrapping the bacon. We loved these! Great and easy recipe! Thanks!

    1. Nadia, I’m so glad to hear the laughing cow cheese is good in these. I’m going to try that next time along with the seasonings. pr

  104. When I make these, I use canned jalapeno peppers. I mix equal parts of honey and the juice from the can of peppers for a marinade. I also put them on skewers for easy turning. Delicious.

    1. Joni,
      These are the best ideas ever! Thank you so much for sharing. pr

  105. Just wondering for the grilling part, how hot do you have the bbq and do you put them straight on the grill or use one of those veggie cookers? I’ve never put bacon straight on so just wondering what is the best way… could these be done in the oven?

    1. Tina, straight on the grill. Haven’t tried them in the oven but others have. You might read through the comments.

  106. A caterer years ago in Houston made these and it became a family favorite. It was originally made with dove meat but I adapted it to chicken. Flattening the chicken is important. I used a white cheese instead of cream cheese. I also marinaded it in a white wine. You can cut the roll-ups in half if you want to serve as an appetizer.

  107. Cassie DeReese says:

    I also make these with deer meat…venison back strap

  108. Duck hunting season in Louisiana! We substitute the chicken for the ducks….actually the only way I will eat duck. The kids call them duck bombs!

    1. Hi Tammy, I think that is the only way I would eat duck too. Thanks for writing.

  109. My boyfriend LOVES these! I’ve made them for him before and will make them again tomorrow. What kind of an entree goes well with these?

    1. Loren, that’s a good question. Maybe barbecue, macaroni and cheese or baked beans?

  110. My husband is a big duck hunter and we do these with duck breast…will have to try this! YUM!

  111. Tamara Cosby says:

    We are grilling these as I type this!!! Soon excited!!!

  112. 5 stars
    This are fantastic! I made them today for my hubby and I and we both loved them, plus it was quick and easy!

    Thanks for the recipe.

  113. 5 stars
    Made these tonight, only I baked them at 350 degrees for 35 minutes! We loved them!

    1. Shelly, I just had somebody ask me how long and what temperature if baking instead of grilling. Now I know. Thanks for taking the time to come back and tell me about your experience. Paula

  114. Any tips on how long and what temp to bake them? Its a rainy day here in ohio 🙁

  115. Chris Tompkins says:

    This look absolutely fantastic! I’m always on the lookout for new ways to use chicken….add that heat and I’m all in. Thanks for sharing!

  116. 5 stars
    I am a college student and while this sounds absolutely amazing and I would love to try, I don’t have a grill. =[ Do you have an equally fattening way to make this tasty looking bite. Baking takes all the greasy fun out of it..

  117. lynette355 says:

    We do these with pepper slices and a dab of cream cheese. Wrap with turkey bacon too. Then me grill them out doors. Yummy. Cuts the gat using turkey bacon. And just a dab of the cream cheese cuts the fat too. Grilling helps too as any grease left then drips down into the fire. So we feel these are a pretty lean choice!

  118. mrfantastic says:

    Try substituting the chicken with duck breast. its fantastic.

  119. These look yummy! I make something VERY similar……just add a slice of water chestnut . Put the thin slice of chestnut on top of the cheese mixture, then roll and wrap!

  120. 5 stars
    these were so good! I ended up baking them and the cheese came out of them, but I just served the cheesy sauce on top and it was delicious! thank you. I hope you don’t mind but I linked your recipe on my blog, had to share this one!

  121. I tossed it in a little bit of ranch dressing right before I severed it was amazing !!

  122. So creative! Thanks for the tasty-sounding recipe.

  123. tori pride says:

    Going to the store right now to get cream cheese for these! super excited!!!! 🙂

    1. Hi Tori, Hoped they turned out really good for you. Thanks for dropping by.

  124. 5 stars
    Made this and the triple coconut cake tonight and it was AMAZING!!!!! I’m an official fan of your site! :]

    1. Glad to hear it, David.

  125. Making these as I type! Thank you for the recipe 🙂

    1. Hope they turned out great!

  126. holzgrill says:

    yummi. I gotta try these one day on the BBQ

  127. We use backstrap of the deer for this recipe instead of chicken. It’s so good!

  128. Awesome Idea! Should these be BBQed or Baked?

    1. Allison,
      In the picture, they were grilled (barbecued). I have readers tell me they have baked them with great success although I haven’t tried it myself. Paula

  129. *Just Fran* says:

    I have had a recipe similar to this on my to-try list forever. Your photos have prompted me to really give it a go. I think we will love it.

  130. This looks so fantastic! I can’t wait to make it!

  131. New to cooking, and have had multiple failures. I decided to try this recipe out because of the picture. Followed your directions and it turned out AMAZING, whole family loved them. Love the site, the pictures, and the easy to follow cooking direction.

  132. 4 stars
    I made this tonight for company. I used full-sized breasts, however which made for much less work, though a longer cooking time. Instead of toothpicks, I used 4″ wooden skewers that were soaked in water before use. It was well-received. I did also season the outside of the breasts before assembling. I used fully-ripe red jalepenos, which are hotter but don’t have that ‘green’ flavour that give green jalepenos the bitter edge. This was quite good.

    1. I have never used fully ripe jalapenos. Have to give that a try. I like your idea of making this an entree.

  133. Rosemaryandthegoat says:

    We do grilled stuffed jalapeños all the time but never like this. I will give this a try and I know it will be a hit. I have been catering for 20 years and it’s true about bacon.

  134. Ismael Burciaga says:

    5 stars
    WOW! this sounds amazing. I can’t wait to try this out. I hope you don’t mind, but I posted this on my blog too and placed a link back to this article.

  135. Lindsey @ Why Just Eat says:

    Well don’t those little things just look delicious and a half! Going on my next bbq menu for sure!!

  136. These look fantastic. I’m wanting to make them a bit bigger for a dinner entree, and I was wondering if they would be okay baked in the oven instead of grilled?

  137. Hoosiersmoker says:

    5 stars
    These are very similar to what I’ve come to know as ABT’s (Atomic Buffalo Turds). Difference is: Cheddar spike in the center of sausage filling. Stand up in pepper tray and smoke for a few hours at about 250 Deg. Thees look great and I will definitely try the chicken version next time. Thanks for the post!

  138. I just found your site via Pinterest (which of course makes you a little famous). But you are now in my favorites. Keep cooking!

  139. Lauren Ann says:

    5 stars
    This is one of my favorites! I found your blog through stumble & had to make these again. I coated the chicken in olive oil and I mixed the jalapeno into the cream cheese & garlic. I used canadian bacon and it was delicious 🙂 I also tried this with shrimp but used smoked gouda instead of cream cheese.

    1. Lauren Ann, You are full of great ideas. Can’t wait to try some of them.

  140. Made these and everyone loved them. SUPER easy to make and simple ingredients. I went really light on the jalapenos thinking it would be too spicy, but could barely taste them so next time I need to kick it up a notch. Also, I would make more than the 16 listed in the recipe…they go fast!

  141. These look amazing!! I am going to have to make them with my kids this summer. I sent you an email, but I would love to feature this on my blog!

  142. Hi Romaine,

    This recipe sounds wonderful! And it’s so simple! I live in Southern Thailand and as you would imagine, it’s difficult to find some ingredients here. This recipe, however, is one I can definitely make…except maybe for the jalapeno peppers. Although I’ve seen them here, when they are about, they are only available fresh (not pickled) and are typically very expensive.

    Thanks again!
    -Jeeem-

    1. Hi Jeeem, No jalapeno peppers? Bet you have something similar. Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment. I know you will enjoy this recipe.

  143. Oh my god…those look incredible. How can you ever go wrong with bacon, chicken, and jalapenos? Only adjustment I’d make is maybe throw some extra shredded cheese in there but I’m also kind of a cheese addict…

    1. Nick, Of course. More cheese makes anything better.

  144. Holly Day says:

    Those bacon wrapped jalapenos look yummy! I will certainly give them a try – it’s new to me as in my area we don’t eat such things. I’m hosting a party in a few weeks and am just looking for some yummy and mouthwatering recipes. Thanks for sharing.

  145. thank you for making me hungry at 5 in the morning ( in india) LOL

  146. Nice recipe!

    But don’t waste a zip-loc when flattening your chicken breasts. Two sheets of saran wrap (on above and one below the chicken) work just as well! Just make sure to cut the pieces of saran wrap large, since the chicken will be expanding.

    1. Hi JJ, Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to write. Good hint. I prefer Ziplocks only because they contain any splatters. Guess I’m kinda messy with the whole process. But plastic wrap is certainly a viable alternative.

  147. Mary Fioretti says:

    What a great idea on the chicken bites. My husband will love, love, love these.

  148. This recipe looks really YUMMY. I have never thought of wrapping chicken with bacon but I am going to try it the next time we bbq chicken.

  149. Anne-Marie @ This Mama Cooks! says:

    Life is better with bacon. Period.

  150. fajas colombianas says:

    The bacon made this taste awesome. And that extra jalapeno add’s an intense flavor to it.

  151. what katie's baking says:

    AMAAAAAAZING!

  152. ayngelina says:

    Wow looks delicious!

  153. I just made these and they were good but not very spicy at all. I was hoping for a little bit more heat from the peppers but they were super mild. It is a good appetizer for a party and I will be making them again.

    1. A couple of thoughts Cindy, Jalapeno peppers vary wildly in amount of heat so you may have gotten a mild pepper. Also, you could use chopped pickled jalapenos out of jar and get a lot more spice if that’s what you’re after. Glad you liked them anyway.

  154. Renee (Kudos Kitchen) says:

    Oh my goodness! This is a terriffic idea! I’ll be trying your recipe just as soon as possible! Thank you so much for sharing it!!! BTW, cute, cute, cute header. Would make an adorable trivet! Hope you don’t mind me saying that 😉

  155. Can anything be used besides jalapenos?

    1. EdWoodman says:

      You can add a pinch of cayenne pepper to the cream cheese.

  156. Think I’m gonna try these for our Super Bowl gathering 🙂

  157. there turning out great but is there anyway i can cook em like half and when i go to the party later just pop em in the oven to cook the rest of the way. just so they are hot when people eat em

  158. Thanks so much… makin em tonight for a party, probably will be the life of the party!!!

  159. Try using a spice rub on the chicken to add depth to the flavors. Let me know what you think and
    I post the info.

  160. Can You toss them in the oven instead of frying? I live in an apartment with a crappy electric stove.

  161. I made these last night and they were amazing. You don’t need a grill either, I just did it on the frying pan. If you keep a careful eye on them the bacon wont burn and they were oh so delicious.

    This is coming from a 20-year old guy in college who really doesnt have the time to make anything special. It’s easy and SO GOOD.

  162. Hey I know this recipe says grill but is it possible to do this in oven? And in what temperature?

  163. yes they do look delicious and such a great idea but wouldnt the middle wit the cream cheese being there be rare because the bacon cooks fast,but idk i guess if you tenderized the pieces enough..

    1. Seth, You don’t use much cream cheese and the chicken is thin so there’s not a problem. Try it. I think you’ll really like them.

  164. This sound like something we do here in Texas, except I use quail breast instead of chicken. They are great. Like your site Paula, I will check back from time to time.

  165. I made these last night after stumbling across your site. The wife was concerned that she may not like them because of the jalapenos, but she loved em and so did I. Even my teenage daughter loved them.

  166. Replace the Chicken with Shrimp and use deli Havarti Cheese. Throw them on the grill just till the cheese melts and Shrimp turns white. I guarantee you will never taste anything like it. They sell these at restaurants for $14.00 a half dozen. I make them at home for about $4.00 a dozen. They never stick around long.

    1. Thanks for sharing Clint. That sounds fantastic. Will definitely give it a try.

  167. I love that there are four ingredients for such a delicious appetizer. Totally doable–and delicious! Thanks!

    Also, great photo spread. What program did you use to make that? So simple, clear, and space-saving.

    1. Thanks for your kind words Evelyn. I use Photoshop for single pictures but I construct the storyboards in Photoshop Elements–only because I haven’t figured out how to do it yet in Photoshop.

  168. MMMMMMMMMMM!!!!! those look yummy! i bet my dad would love ’em

  169. My mom has made a similar recipe for years- without the cream cheese and substituting tenderized deer roast marinated in italian dressing for the chicken.
    I’ve seen huge platters full disappear in minutes.
    It’s the best deer recipe you’ll ever try.

  170. My girl and i made these one night. They were DELICIOUS!

  171. A friend of mine makes something very similar. He’s on the BBQ circuit. He calls them Armadillo Eggs. Same ingredients, but instead he puts the chicken in tiny cubes with the cheese inside a cored jalapeno shell. Wrap the bacon and grill. I’ve made them too, and I found that boiling the jalapeno’s first to soften them a bit helps before grilling. Anyway, I’ll try this variation for our family reunion in two weeks. Thanks for the post.

  172. Made these yesterday and they were amazing. I didn’t de-seed the jalapenos though (I like spicy food), and used a whole strip of bacon for each.

  173. I mix shredded cheddar and jack with the cream cheese. You should try it. It’s better.

    1. I will try. Sounds fabulous!

  174. Joanne K. says:

    Wow! My son found this recipe and forwarded it to me. I made them tonight and they are fabulous!! They will definitely be a repeat. I used fresh jalapenos and the heat was just right. Mine came out a big big for a one bite appetizer so I will adjust them the next time. I could see mixing some Colby Jack shredded cheese in softened cream cheese for an alternative. Wide open for interpretation! Thank you for a great recipe and a great web site. Salad in a jar – that’s my next try.

    1. Colby Jack would be wonderful.

      Can’t wait to hear if you try the Salad in a Jar.

  175. Creepy Friendly says:

    I’m currently cooking these cant wait to see how they turn out!

  176. Marassaya says:

    had these last weekend but without the cream cheese. also used strips of jalapeno, not diced. and they used rabbit. OMG!!!! it was wonderful. there is an Australian restaurant near Gilbert, Arizona that we went to. they served them.

  177. love this creative variation. I’m usually boring and use wrap asparagus with bacon… but the jalapeno idea is great!

  178. These were awesome! We just made them for dinner (I prepped them and my boyfriend grilled them). The next time, I will add a bit of seasoning to the chicken and/or cream cheese. Maybe a bit of pepper, garlic and onion powder.

    1. The extra seasoning seems like a wonderful idea!

  179. tamara o'pry says:

    we smoked ours and then finished them off in the oven. YUM!!!

  180. Petalbelles says:

    Jalapeno poppers meet chicken with bacon on the side? I am shivering with anticipation. I’m picking up the fixins’ tonight.

  181. Demetrius says:

    I make pretty much the same dish, but with shrimp. Preparation can be a little time consuming, but they are great. We dip them in ranch dressing. Fresh jalapenos are the best.

    1. Shrimp sounds absolutely fantastic!

  182. I make these without the chicken. I use the half a jalp for each one and put the cream cheese in the pepper shell and then wrap in bacon. I’m sure its delicious with the chicken added.

    They are definitely my favorite appetizer.

  183. Just curious, how would this taste without cream cheese? Family is not big on it!!!!

    1. Seems like it would change the character of the dish dramatically. Do they like “spicy”? Perhaps you could roll a strip of jalapeno up inside the chicken and then wrap with bacon. Let me know if you try it.

      1. Maybe try mixing a chipotle dressing and shredded cheddar in place of the cream cheese? Personally, I like the cream cheese

    2. maybe you could mix some shredded cheddar-jack in the cream cheese.. the bacon-jalapeno marriage needs something creamy to make it dreamy. unless you don’t do dairy at all, in which case i send my condolences.

      we cannot all scream for ice cream.

  184. Craig Michael says:

    Hi,
    I stumbled across your Awesome Web page!!!!!
    I can’t wait to be able to start cooking!!!!!!

  185. saw this today and so will be eating them!:)

  186. This is just beautiful! I’m going to make it this week!

  187. lettucefan278 says:

    the jar of lettuce looks good

  188. Really like the thought of making the chicken bites for appetizers at our next gathering!

  189. Heed the warning about being careful of chili oils…anyone who works in the industry will tell you that it’s not the eyes you really have to worry about, but pretty much any sensitive areas or mucous membranes. It’s easy to cripple yourself with pain for a while.

    Adding bacon does make everything go quickly, but so does frying. I’m wondering how these would be with a tempura batter and a cilantro lime chili aioli.

  190. We’ve been making something similar for awhile… but we use pheasant and stuff the bits inside the jalapeno halves. Then drizzle honey over them after baking them in the oven.

    1. Honey? M-m-m-m. Sounds good. We also like to dip them in barbecue sauce.

  191. Wow, those look crazy good! And what a fun appetizer for a summer party!

  192. These look like they might be fattening. Where can I find more? 🙂 I agree – I read “bacon-wrapped” and had to get the recipe. These look so wonderful – you have a knack with making non-baked goods look quite appetizing – I’d hate to see what mine looked like. This looks like a real winner in my family (cept for mom) – but peppers aren’t for everyone! Oh – 64 was the high today, cloudy and sprinkles. Welcome to the club – and Happy 4th!

  193. Mmmm–very appealing appetizer for my next BBQ!

  194. Wow, these look so so good! I will definitely make them sometime, I know everyone will love them!

  195. TheKitchenWitch says:

    Those suckers would be gone in about 2 seconds at my house! I am definitely making these–we love our spicy food!

  196. Romaine,
    These chicken bites look wonderful. I may have to make these for my sister when she comes back from CA. I will tell her I am making them for her but I agree with Kyle. I want some!!! I am printing this out now! Thanks so much.

  197. I miss the Texana restaurant and their Joe-Bob’s chicken. This looks like a good substitute. Thanks.

    1. I miss that place too!

  198. Crystal's Cozy Kitchen says:

    Those look absolutely delicious!

  199. I`d like to tase such little and delicious bites 🙂