This Jalapeño Popper Chicken Fritters recipe combines tender chicken, cream cheese, and smoky bacon in one golden, crispy and delicious bite. They are quick to make, easy to serve, and perfect for appetizers or a simple light meal.
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- ❤️ Why You'll Love This Jalapeño Cheesy Chicken Fritters Recipe
- 🛒 Ingredients Jalapeño Chicken Fritters
- 🔪 How to Make Jalapeño Popper Chicken Fritters
- 💡 Tips
- ☑️ Storage Instructions
- 🍴 What to Serve with Chicken Fritters
- 🔄 Substitutions and Additions
- What Dipping Sauce Goes Well With These Fritters?
- Are These Jalapeno Popper Fritters Spicy?
- Can I Make The Mixture in Advance?
- Can I Bake These Instead of Pan Frying?
- 🍽️ More Chicken Recipes
❤️ Why You'll Love This Jalapeño Cheesy Chicken Fritters Recipe
- Tender and juicy ground chicken
- All the familiar flavors of jalapeño poppers
- Blend of creamy cheeses and smoky bacon
- Made into fritters and fried in bacon fat for ultimate flavor
- Easy to make appetizer
- Gluten-free
If you love jalapeño poppers and appreciate easy recipes, these Jalapeño Popper Chicken Fritters are about to become a regular thing in your kitchen. They’re packed with all the creamy, smoky, cheesy flavor you expect from classic poppers but in a quick skillet fritter that stays tender and juicy.
I use a mix of ground chicken, jalapeños, bacon and cheese, shaped into fritters, then fried in a little bacon fat for extra flavor. They come together fast as an easy appetizer, and with a simple side they turn into a great lunch or dinner.
If you love this chicken jalapeño popper fritter recipe be sure to try my jalapeno popper chicken dip! It's always a party hit. Or, for another fritter favorite recipe, check out these cheesy chicken fritters.
🛒 Ingredients Jalapeño Chicken Fritters
- Ground chicken: Juicy and mild, it lets the jalapeño popper flavors shine.
- Cheddar cheese, shredded: Adds richness and helps hold the fritters together.
- Bacon: Cooked first and crumbled so there’s flavor in every bite.
- Parmesan cheese, grated: Adds flavor without overpowering the chicken.
- Almond flour: Keeps the fritters tender while staying gluten free.
- Jalapeño peppers, seeded and chopped: Gives heat you can control.
- Cream cheese, softened: Makes the inside creamy and rich.
- Egg, beaten: Helps bind everything together.
- Garlic, grated: Blends in smoothly without chunky bites.
- Salt: Brings out all the savory flavors.
- Ground black pepper: Adds gentle warmth without extra spice.
*Exact measurements are listed in the recipe card below.
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🔪 How to Make Jalapeño Popper Chicken Fritters
Heat a large non-stick skillet to medium and add in your bacon. Fry until crisp, then remove, crumble and set it aside, leaving the bacon grease in the pan.
In a mixing bowl, add in the remaining ingredients.
Mix until well combined, without over mixing so the fritters don’t become dense.
Form the fritters using your hands and place them on a platter or baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
I use a cookie scooper to make sure they're all the same size. Wet your hands if they are too sticky.
Heat the skillet to medium, fry the fritters for several minutes on each side or until the internal temperature reaches at least 165°F, when checked with a meat thermometer.
Serve with your favorite dipping sauce, like ranch dressing, on the side.
💡 Tips
- Use room temperature cream cheese so it mixes smoothly into the chicken.
- Chop the jalapeños very finely to avoid pockets of heat in one bite.
- Mix just until combined to keep the fritters soft instead of dense.
- Wet your hands before shaping to prevent sticking.
- Keep the skillet at medium heat so the outside browns without burning.
- Flip gently and only once so the fritters hold together.
- Check doneness with a thermometer instead of guessing.
☑️ Storage Instructions
- Fridge: Store cooled fritters in an airtight container for up to four days.
- Freezer: Freeze cooked fritters in a single layer, then transfer to a freezer bag for up to two months.
- Reheat: You can add the thawed fritter to the air fryer to reheat and crisp up or in the oven on 350° until warmed through.
🍴 What to Serve with Chicken Fritters
These chicken fritters can go with anything from a simple side salad to a decadent side dish casserole. Here are some great ideas to consider:
- Air Fryer Sweet Potato
- Cheesy Roasted Cauliflower
- Air Fryer Twice Baked Potatoes
- Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad
- Garlic Potatoes with Green Beans
- Creamed Corn
🔄 Substitutions and Additions
- Onion: Add chopped green onions for a fresh bite without changing the texture.
- Cheese: Use pepper jack cheese in place of cheddar for extra heat.
- Pork rinds: Swap almond flour for pork rind crumbs if you want a firmer crust.
- Paprika: Add smoked paprika for deeper smoky flavor without spice.
- Party-sized: Make them smaller for party style bites or larger for meal sized patties.
- Turkey: You can use ground turkey instead of chicken if you prefer.
What Dipping Sauce Goes Well With These Fritters?
You can serve them as an appetizer with one of these healthy homemade sauces:
Are These Jalapeno Popper Fritters Spicy?
They have mild heat, but removing all seeds keeps the heat down.
Can I Make The Mixture in Advance?
Yes, cover and refrigerate for up to one day before cooking.
Can I Bake These Instead of Pan Frying?
You can, but they will not get the same crisp edges as skillet frying.
🍽️ More Chicken Recipes
- Hot Honey Chicken Wings
- Lemon Pepper Baked Chicken Drumsticks
- Monterey Chicken
- Chicken Piccata Meatballs
- Greek Sheet Pan Chicken
- Slow Cooker Salsa Verde Chicken
Easy & Delicious Low Carb Recipes eBook
Jalapeño Popper Chicken Fritters
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground chicken
- ⅔ cup cheddar cheese, shredded
- 4 slices bacon
- ¼ cup parmesan cheese, grated
- ¼ cup almond flour
- 2 jalapeño peppers, seeded and chopped
- 3 tablespoons cream cheese, softened
- 1 egg, beaten
- 2 cloves garlic, grated
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Heat a large nonstick skillet to medium and add in your bacon.
- Fry until crisp, then remove, crumble and set it aside, leaving the bacon grease in the pan.
- In a mixing bowl, add in the remaining ingredients. Mix until well combined, without over mixing so the fritters don’t become dense.
- Form the fritters using your hands and place them on a platter or baking sheet lined with parchment paper. I use a cookie scooper to make sure they're all the same size. Wet your hands if they are too sticky.
- Heat the skillet to medium, fry the fritters for several minutes on each side or until the internal temperature reaches at least 165°F, when checked with a meat thermometer.
- Serve with your favorite dipping sauce, like ranch dressing, on the side.
Recipe Notes
*Make sure to scroll up and read the post for substitutions, additions and helpful tips for making this recipe.
*Nutritional data is provided as a courtesy and is accurate to the best of my knowledge. You can verify it using the nutrition calculator of your choice. All data is based on net carbs, without sugar alcohol: Swerve, Erythritol, Monk Fruit or Allulose.
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Jen C
Delicious flavors! I made them twice. The 2nd time I made them the lazy way. I baked my bacon, then formed the meat mixture into burger size patties and baked them in the oven to avoid standing at the stove and frying them. I made a double batch each time, so the frying was very time consuming, compared to throwing a tray in the oven. For nut-free people: I omitted the almond flour both times and it was fine. I also blended all the cheeses in the bowl before adding the meat to incorporate the cream cheese without having to mix it so much.
Nutritious Deliciousness
I love hearing this. Baking the patties is such a smart workaround when you’re making a big batch. Thank you for sharing the nut‑free notes too; that’s incredibly helpful for others. And blending the cheeses first is a great trick for getting the cream cheese worked in without overmixing. I’m so glad the flavors kept you coming back.
Roxann
Sounds good