Creamy Pepperoncini Chicken

Creamy Pepperoncini Chicken is a no-fuss pantry-staple slow cooker meal with little prep and tastes great served on a toasted bun.

If you’re looking for a quick and easy, yet utterly delicious dinner idea then this Creamy Pepperoncini Chicken is the dinner for you.

This recipe has five ingredients, plus salt and pepper, so technically seven. Plus it is a completely toss-it-in-and-go with about 5 minutes of prep.

What are Pepperoncini Peppers?

There’s a lot of information out there about pepperoncini peppers, and some of it is conflicting.

The pepperoncini or peperoncini as it’s known in its homeland of Italy, is a mild sweet pepper. It ranks above the bell pepper and banana pepper on the Scoville scale but far below a jalapeño.

Depending on your own personal heat tolerance, some pepperoncinis can give a bit of heat zing. I tend to be on the wimpy side and I’ve bit into some and felt the burn, then others, nada.

Are banana peppers and pepperoncinis the same thing?

Banana peppers and pepperoncinis are not the same thing. They are closely related and similar but alas, more like cousins than siblings.

Banana peppers are even milder than pepperoncinis, making them even closer to bell peppers than a jalapeño on the Scoville scale.

Physically, at a quick glance they look the same, but upon further inspection, their skins are quite different. Pepperoncini peppers have wrinkly skin while banana peppers have smooth skins.

They are similar in color but banana peppers are a bit more yellow than the pepperoncini. Both are pickled, but it’s easier to find a fresh, non-pickled banana pepper in your local market than it is a pepperoncini pepper.

Can I use banana peppers instead of pepperoncini peppers?

For this recipe, absolutely.

Pepperoncinis are often pickled and served with your pizzas, subs, and nachos. But it is not uncommon to swap them out for the banana peppers. This recipe will work just fine using banana peppers.

How to make Creamy Pepperoncini Chicken

As mentioned about, this is a toss it in the slow cooker and go meal.

Start by generously seasoning the chicken breast with salt and pepper. The brine from the pepperoncini can be salty, so if you’re salt-sensitive, reduce how much you salt at first.

Place the seasoned chicken breast in the slow cooker. Top the chicken with the diced onions and pimentos.

Pour the brine from the pepperoncinis around, but not necessarily over the chicken. Pouring it over could ‘wash’ way the seasoning on the chicken. Cover all with the pepperoncini peppers.

Now for the most labor-intensive part of the whole operation, slicing the cream cheese. Layer those slices over the peppers. Cover and cook.

Once it’s done, you can use two forks to shred it or, make it even easier and pull out your hand mixer and shred away. I do like to pull out a few of the pepperoncini peppers to top the sandwiches with, but that’s not required.

Disclaimer: Using the hand mixer in the crock could scratch it, so exercise caution. Removing all the contents of the slow cooker to a large mixing bowl is encouraged if scratching the crockery insert is a concern.

I also like to toast the buns, giving the sandwich a nice crunch to the creamy meat mixture. But again, this isn’t required.

Is this peperoncini chicken recipe spicy?

It can be. As I mentioned, I am a bit on the wimpy side, so it did pack a punch.

To decrease the possible heat, add only a half cup of the brine, at most. Substitute low-sodium chicken broth or water for the remaining half cup of liquid.

The jar of brine itself should yield approximately a cup. Play with the ratios as best for your and your family’s tastes.

What to serve with Creamy Pepperoncini Chicken?

If you’re looking to make this a full meal, here are some fun and delicious ideas:

• Cast Iron Skillet Bacon Wrapped Pickles from Dutch Oven Daddy
• Pear, Prosciutto, and Arugula Salad (from me)
• Slow Cooker Garlic Parmesan Potatoes from The Magical Slow Cooker
• Loaded Quinoa and Edamame Salad (from me)
• Malbec Sangria from Wet Whistle Drinks
• No-Churn Caramel Ice Cream with Chocolate Chips from Fearless Dining

Thank you for sharing!