Description
These Bacon Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers are a spicy, creamy, and crispy appetizer perfect for parties and gatherings. Fresh jalapeño halves are stuffed with a seasoned cream cheese and cheddar cheese mixture, then wrapped in smoky bacon and baked until crispy. They offer a delightful combination of heat, creaminess, and savory bacon flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
Produce
- 12 fresh jalapeño peppers
Dairy
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Spices
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Meat
- 12 slices bacon
Others
- Toothpicks for securing
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) to prepare for baking the poppers.
- Prepare Jalapeños: Cut the jalapeños in half lengthwise and carefully remove the seeds and membranes using a small spoon or jalapeño corer to reduce heat and create hollow halves ready for stuffing.
- Make Cheese Filling: In a mixing bowl, combine softened cream cheese, shredded cheddar cheese, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper, mixing thoroughly until smooth and well-combined.
- Stuff Jalapeños: Fill each jalapeño half generously with the cheese mixture without overstuffing to avoid spillage.
- Wrap with Bacon: Wrap each stuffed jalapeño half with one slice of bacon, ensuring the bacon fully covers the cheese filling, and secure with toothpicks to hold the bacon in place.
- Arrange for Baking: Place the bacon-wrapped jalapeños on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or on a greased wire rack to allow even crisping of the bacon.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 20–25 minutes or until the bacon is crispy and the jalapeños are tender.
- Cool and Serve: Remove from the oven and let the poppers cool slightly to firm up before serving. Remember to remove toothpicks before eating.
Notes
- For milder poppers, remove all seeds and membranes to reduce heat.
- Use thick-cut bacon for extra crispiness and flavor.
- Let poppers cool a bit before serving to avoid burns from hot cheese.
- These poppers can be made ahead and refrigerated before baking.
- Serve with a dipping sauce like ranch or blue cheese for extra flavor.
