Jalapeno Poppers Recipe (With Crispy Bacon!) - Wholesome Yum (2024)

Jalapeno Poppers Recipe (With Crispy Bacon!) - Wholesome Yum (1)

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Table Of Contents hide

  • Why You’ll Love This Baked Jalapeno Poppers Recipe
  • How To Make Jalapeno Poppers In The Oven
  • How Long To Cook Jalapeno Poppers?
  • Tips For The Best Jalapeno Poppers
  • Storage Instructions
  • More Easy Hot Appetizer Recipes
  • Tools To Make Cream Cheese Jalapeno Poppers
  • Jalapeno Poppers Recipe (With Crispy Bacon!)

There are a million and one ways to make jalapeno popper recipes, but this easy baked jalapeno poppers recipe is my favorite! That’s because these bacon cream cheese jalapeno poppers have the bacon crumbled on top (instead of wrapping), which makes them extra crispy and also cook more quickly. With just 7 ingredients, 10 minutes of prep, and 15 minutes of patience while you wait for them to bake, they are one of the fastest crowd-pleasing appetizers for game day — or any day.

You’ll want to know how to make jalapeno poppers for fun snacks any time of year, but especially for tailgating during football season. They also make a perfect addition to an appetizer platter for any other kind of party. Pair them with other healthy appetizers like a cheese ball, easy bacon deviled eggs, spicy buffalo cauliflower, or even baked chicken wings.

Why You’ll Love This Baked Jalapeno Poppers Recipe

  • Creamy and cheesy, with zippy jalapeno taste
  • Crumbled bacon on top for amazing crunch
  • 7 simple Ingredients
  • Fast 10-minute prep, ready in 25 minutes
  • No deep frying or bread crumbs needed
  • Naturally low carb and gluten free
Jalapeno Poppers Recipe (With Crispy Bacon!) - Wholesome Yum (2)

Ingredients & Substitutions

This section explains how to choose the best ingredients for jalapeno poppers with bacon, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.

  • Jalapeno Peppers – When you prep the jalapenos, you can remove the stems if you want or leave them on. It’s totally up to you! The seeds and white ribs add extra spice, so if you prefer them a little milder, simply scoop them out while you’re prepping your jalapeños.Sometimes I also make these cream cheese jalapeno poppers with sweet mini peppers instead for my kids, since they don’t tolerate the heat of jalapeno peppers.
  • Cheddar Cheese– Shredded cheddar cheese gives this jalapeno popper recipe a classic flavor, but you can use any melting cheese you like, such as pepper jack, colby jack, or mozzarella.
  • Cream Cheese– I used full-fat plain cream cheese, but low-fat or dairy-free substitutes should also work if needed.
  • Green Onions– Make sure the green onions are sliced into small pieces, so that they don’t overpower the other ingredients.
  • Garlic– I used fresh minced garlic for the best flavor, but you could use jarred minced garlic as well. To use jarred, you will need 2 teaspoonsto equal the 2 cloves of garlic. In a pinch, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder would also work as a substitute.
  • Fresh Cilantro– Minced fresh cilantro adds an intense herby flavor. If you aren’t a fan of this fresh herb, you can simply omit it.
  • Bacon – I have a shortcut for you here — use store bought bacon bits to save time! You can lightly fry them for 1-2 minutes to crisp up before using in the recipe. But if you have time and want the tastiest results, make bacon in the oven or air fryer bacon fresh, then crumble into bits. Each slice of bacon makes about a tablespoon of bacon bits.

Jalapeno Poppers Recipe (With Crispy Bacon!) - Wholesome Yum (3)

VARIATION: Prefer bacon wrapped jalapeno poppers?

Use my air fryer jalapeno popper recipe to make those. You can also cook that recipe in the oven instead, using the baking time below.

Jalapeno Poppers Recipe (With Crispy Bacon!) - Wholesome Yum (4)

How To Make Jalapeno Poppers In The Oven

This section shows how to make bacon cream cheese jalapeno poppers, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.

  1. Prep. Preheat the oven. Line abaking sheetwithparchment paperorfoil. Slice jalapenos in half and remove the ribs and seeds.
  2. Mix the filling. In a small bowl, stir/mash together cream cheese, shredded cheddar cheese, green onions, cilantro, and garlic.
  3. Stuff the peppers. Use a small spoon to fill the jalapeno halves with the cream cheese mixture. Place onto the lined baking sheet.
Jalapeno Poppers Recipe (With Crispy Bacon!) - Wholesome Yum (5)
Jalapeno Poppers Recipe (With Crispy Bacon!) - Wholesome Yum (6)
  1. Top with bacon. Sprinkle each jalapeno popper with bacon bits, pressing lightly into the cream cheese filling to help them stick.
  2. Bake. Cook jalapeno poppers in the oven, until the peppers are soft and the bacon on top is crispy.
Jalapeno Poppers Recipe (With Crispy Bacon!) - Wholesome Yum (7)
Jalapeno Poppers Recipe (With Crispy Bacon!) - Wholesome Yum (8)

How Long To Cook Jalapeno Poppers?

At 400 degrees F, baked jalapeno poppers take just 15 minutes in the oven — perfect for when you crave something spicy in a hurry!

While this is a baked jalapeno poppers recipe, you can also make it in the air fryer if you need to keep your oven free. Make it as written and just cook in the air fryer instead (about 10 minutes at 325 degrees F), or try air fryer jalapeno poppers, which have the bacon wrapped around instead of crumbled on top.

Jalapeno Poppers Recipe (With Crispy Bacon!) - Wholesome Yum (9)

Tips For The Best Jalapeno Poppers

I do have a few additional tips to help you make this easy jalapeno poppers recipe even easier!

  • Wear gloves when handling jalapenos. The capsaicin in them can irritate your skin, or worse, if you touch your eyes later, it will sting like crazy. Even when using gloves, wash your hands well after you assemble the bacon cream cheese jalapeno poppers. Trust me on this one!
  • Pre-cook the bacon. Make sure your bacon is cooked first, as adding raw bacon on top won’t get crispy enough. You can make bacon in the oven, air fryer bacon, or use store-bought bacon bits as a shortcut.
  • Use room temperature cream cheese. Set your cream cheese out on the counter ahead of time, which will make it much easier to mix. If you forget, you can heat it in the microwave for 15-30 seconds to soften it (be sure to unwrap it first!).
  • Use the jalapeno seeds for more heat. If you prefer more spice, include the seeds and membranes from the jalapeno peppers. Stir them into the filling mixture before stuffing it into the pepper halves.
  • Don’t toss the extra filling. The exact amount of filling you need will vary a bit depending on the size and shape of your jalapenos, but the amounts in this cream cheese jalapeno popper recipe are usually pretty spot on. If you have any extra filling left, you can use it as a spread on almond flour crackers. (Some people might even make extra just for the dip… ahem.)
Jalapeno Poppers Recipe (With Crispy Bacon!) - Wholesome Yum (10)

Storage Instructions

  • Store: It’s unlikely that you’ll have leftovers (I mean, who is going to leave these bacon jalapeno poppers sitting on a tray?), but if you do, you can just store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
  • Meal prep: Make the filling and assemble your homemade jalapeno poppers recipe up to a few days ahead. Keep them in the fridge for up to 3 days, then bake them when you’re ready to serve.
  • Reheat: To reheat jalapeno cream cheese poppers, put them in the oven at 350 degrees F, until warm.

Can You Freeze Jalapeno Poppers?

Yes, you can freeze jalapeno poppers. Assemble, place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, and freeze until solid. (You can do this before or after baking.) Then, transfer to a freezer bag and store them in the freezer. They’ll last 1-2 months if frozen raw, or up to 4 months if frozen after baking.

To serve, arrange the frozen poppers on a baking sheet and bake at 375 degrees F, until hot.

Jalapeno Poppers Recipe (With Crispy Bacon!) - Wholesome Yum (11)

More Easy Hot Appetizer Recipes

If you like this stuffed jalapeno popper recipe, you might also like some of these other easy hot appetizers:

Warm Ranch Dip

Spinach Stuffed Mushrooms

Bacon Wrapped Dates

Crab Dip Recipe

  • Baking SheetThis baking sheet is my absolute favorite, never sticks, and is made in the USA.
  • Nesting BowlsThese bowls are always getting use in my kitchen. They come in multiple sizes, stack to save space, and look great for serving, too.

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Recipe Card

Jalapeno Poppers Recipe (With Crispy Bacon!) - Wholesome Yum (17)

4.97 from 51 votes☝️ Click stars to rate or click here to leave a review!

Jalapeno Poppers Recipe (With Crispy Bacon!)

Cream cheese, cheddar, crispy bacon, and jalapenos make the best easy baked jalapeno poppers recipe. Ready in 25 minutes with loads of flavor!

Prep: 10 minutes

Cook: 15 minutes

Total: 25 minutes

Author: Maya Krampf from WholesomeYum.com

Servings: 12 (adjust to scale recipe)

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Recipe Video

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Ingredients

Tap underlined ingredients to see where to get them.

Instructions

Tap on the times in the instructions below to start a kitchen timer while you cook.

  1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (204 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil.

  2. In a small bowl, stir/mash together the cream cheese, shredded cheddar cheese, green onions, cilantro, and garlic. (You can heat a bit if the cream cheese is too hard.)

  3. Fill the jalapeno halves with the mixture. Place onto the lined baking sheet.

  4. Top each jalapeno popper with about 1/2 tablespoon of crumbled bacon, pressing lightly into the cream cheese filling.

  5. Bake about 15 minutes, until the peppers are soft and the bacon on top is crispy.

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  • Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Wings

  • Bacon Wrapped Asparagus

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Recipe Notes

Serving size: 1 jalapeno popper

Nutrition info is per popper, but you could easily have more as a serving.

Nutrition Facts

Amount per serving. Serving size in recipe notes above.

Calories84

Fat7.6g

Protein2.5g

Total Carbs1.4g

Net Carbs1.1g

Fiber0.3g

Sugar0.6g

Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see our nutrition policy.

Course:Appetizer, Side Dish

Cuisine:American

Keywords:bacon jalapeno poppers, baked jalapeno poppers, cream cheese jalapeno poppers, how to make jalapeno poppers, jalapeno poppers

Calories: 84 kcal

© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead. 🙂

Baked Jalapeno Poppers With Bacon

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FAQs

How do you get the batter to stick to jalapeno poppers? ›

A lot of recipes I found make the mistake of breading the jalapeño poppers with just a dip in milk followed by breadcrumbs, but it's hard to get a good single coat because liquids fail to stick to the pepper skin. To solve this, I do a double layer of dredging, first soaking the poppers in milk followed by flour.

What are the ingredients in TGI Fridays jalapeno poppers? ›

Cream Cheese, Jalapeo Pepper, Wheat Flour, Water, Bleached Wheat Flour, Soybean Oil, Modified Food Starch, Contains Less than 2% of Salt, Sugar, Annatto Extract (Color), Caramel Color, Oleoresin Paprika (Color), Yeast, Yellow Corn Flour, Dextrose, Dried Garlic, Dried Onion, Egg Whites, Leavening, Nonfat Dry Milk, ...

How do you cook real good foods jalapeno poppers? ›

Perfect for those quick dinners on a summer night! Air fry at 350 degrees for 12-14 minutes. Make sure to keep an eye on them since all air fryers vary! Check out our store locator to find our low carb, high protein Bacon Wrapped Stuffed Jalapeños near you.

What compliments jalapeno poppers? ›

They pair perfectly with other classic appetizers like nachos, chicken wings, or any kind of dip. Homemade jalapeño poppers are also a great warm-up for tailgate-style entrees, such as hot dogs or hamburgers. As far as sauces go, you'll love dipping these jalapeño poppers in garlic aioli, ranch, or even queso.

How do you get breading to stick? ›

When it comes to breading meat, most breading procedures are basically the same. But taking the extra time to soak your meat in buttermilk and let the flour set will ensure that your breading is fully adhered for the perfect breaded pork chops or breaded chicken.

How do you keep cream cheese from melting in jalapeño poppers? ›

Let the poppers cool for at least 10 minutes before serving.

Because the filling is made up entirely of cheese (and therefore totally melty straight from the oven), it's important to let the poppers cool before serving them, which will set the cheese a bit.

How does Papa John's make their jalapeño poppers? ›

Made with PHILADELPHIA® Cream Cheese spread on our original fresh dough and rolled up with jalapeños for a creamy kick. Baked fresh and cut into eight rolls. Served with ranch dipping sauce.

What's in Arby's jalapeño poppers? ›

Stuffed Jalapeño Poppers are a delicious, crispy, jalapeño popper recipe that is loaded with flavor, including bacon, cream cheese, cheddar cheese, green onions and fried to perfection.

What fast food makes jalapeño poppers? ›

9 piece - Jalapeno POPPERS® Bites | Menu | Carl's Jr.

Are you supposed to flip jalapeño poppers? ›

Put the jalapeno poppers on the grill for about 6 minutes. Flip them over when the bacon is beginning to crisp. Turn down the grill to medium-low heat and grill an additional 10-12 minutes. Take them off when the bacon is cooked and cheese is melted.

Why are jalapeño poppers so good? ›

While jalapeño can naturally be quite spicy, the cheesy filling helps to cut down on this heat, making the popper more palatable. The fried exterior gives the popper a nice crunch, while the inside has a deliciously creamy consistency.

What are the benefits of eating jalapeño poppers? ›

Introduction
  • Jalapeno peppers are a good source of vitamin C, providing 139% of the daily value. ...
  • Jalapenos contain capsaicin, a compound that may help boost metabolism and aid in weight loss. ...
  • Jalapeno peppers are also a good source of vitamin B6, with 10% of the daily value.
Apr 30, 2024

What cheese is best for jalapeños? ›

Cheddar cheese is one of the most popular choices. If you want strongly flavored jalapeño poppers, you may want to use a sharp, aged cheddar, such as Barely Buzzed. Its coffee rub gives it a kick that will match the intensity of your jalapeños.

How to get panko to stick to peppers? ›

Use the FEBuary method of breading--F=flour, E=eggs, B=breadcrumbs. Coat a few peppers at at time in the flour, then in the egg mixture, and finally in the breadcrumbs pressing to make sure the coating sticks.

How do you take the heat out of jalapeño poppers? ›

Soak Chiles in a Vinegar and Water Solution

This method is useful when making stuffed jalapeño peppers, which starts with chiles that have been boiled for a few minutes. Submerge seeded, cooked whole jalapeños in a mixture of 1 part vinegar to 3 parts water and let them soak for about an hour.

Can you deep fry cream cheese? ›

Heat oil about 2 cm deep. Fry in hot oil until golden. Remove carefully from the oil using a slotted spoon. Drain on absorbent paper to absorb excess oil.

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