What Is Hasselback Chicken?
Hasselback chicken breast is a fun twist on stuffed chicken! It involves deep cuts in the chicken with filling stuffed between the slices. This cooking method originated with hasselback potatoes at the Hasselbacken Restaurant in Stockholm, Sweden, but it works with a variety of other foods, including chicken.
Ingredients & Substitutions
Here I explain the best ingredients for jalapeno popper chicken, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card.
Chicken Breasts – I find that boneless skinless chicken breasts work best for hasselbacking, but you could try boneless skinless chicken thighs as well. Sea Salt & Black Pepper – For seasoning the chicken. Cream Cheese – Either full-fat or light would work. Allow it to sit on the counter for about 30 minutes to soften.Cheddar Cheese – I used cheddar cheese because I think it’s best for melting, but you could also use mozzarella, Colby jack, or your favorite melting cheese. Bacon – My favorite methods for cooking bacon for this hasselback chicken recipe are bacon in the oven or air fryer bacon! But you can use the stove top, too, if you prefer. Just make sure it’s cooked, otherwise it will be floppy if you start with it raw.Jalapeno – Use a fresh one and cut into thin slices. The seeds are the spiciest part, so leave them in if you like heat or remove them if you want a milder result. If you don’t like jalapenos, you can cut bell peppers into pieces and use those instead.Fresh Chives – Chives are optional, but I think they add a fresh flavor to the cream cheese.
How To Make Hasselback Chicken
This section shows how to make the best hasselback chicken, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card.
Variations For Hasselback Chicken Recipes
Instead of the jalapeno popper chicken stuffing, try making chicken hasselback with different fillings: As written, this chicken is pretty mild with 1 jalapeno piece per chicken slice. Even my young kids ate it. If you like more heat, you can use 2 or 3 jalapenos instead of just one, and place more jalapenos between each slice before baking.
Hasselback Chicken Caprese – Slice tomatoes and mozzarella very thinly, and cut the pieces to a width slightly wider than the thickness of your chicken breast. Stuff a piece of mozzarella, a tomato slice, and a whole basil leaf into each slit in the chicken. Drizzle with olive oil and balsamic vinegar before baking.Creamy Spinach – Make the filling like my spinach stuffed chicken recipe, then stuff that into the slits.Cheesy Asparagus – Stuff provolone or mozzarella cheese into the slits. Cut thin, small asparagus spears into 6 pieces and put a piece in each chicken slit. Or, check out my asparagus stuffed chicken recipe. Hasselback Chicken Cordon Bleu – Stuff the slits with slices of ham, Swiss cheese, and a touch of Dijon mustard.Ranch Hasselback Chicken – Add ranch seasoning to the cream cheese mixture to make a bacon, ranch, and cheese filling.
Storage Instructions
Store: Place leftover chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.Meal prep: You can prep hasselback chicken recipes ahead of time. Assemble them ahead and store in the fridge for up to 2-3 days, then bake right before serving.Reheat: Warm up in the oven at 350 degrees F, or in the microwave.Freeze: You can freeze jalapeno popper chicken, before or after baking, for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before baking or reheating as usual. For other hasselback chicken recipes, it will depend on the filling and whether it freezes well.
What To Serve With Hasselback Chicken
This jalapeno popper chicken is a filling meal, so it just needs a simple side! Here are a few side dishes to try with it:
Easy Veggies – Since this chicken is filling on its own, try pairing it alongside a lighter healthy side dish like roasted broccolini, roasted vegetables, sauteed broccoli, or cauliflower rice. Potatoes – The easiest way to tone down a spicy dish is to serve it with a side of potatoes. Try this dish over roasted potatoes, your favorite mashed potatoes (or mashed cauliflower), or baked sweet potatoes.Simple Salads – Caprese salad, spring mix salad, or a classic wedge salad would all compliment this hasselback chicken recipe.
More Cheesy Chicken Recipes
Looking for more ways to shake up plain chicken? Try some of my favorites: Please enter your first name for your account. Your saved recipe will also be sent to your email.
