Love appetizers for dinner? Try these Baked Brie Bites and these Air Fryer Chicken Wings to round out your meal! These Jalapeño Poppers are pretty much everything you could want in an appetizer. Spicy? Yes. Creamy? Yes. Cheesy? Yes. Crispy? Also yes. I mean, come on. It doesn’t get better than this! These poppers take just 10 minutes to prep and can be easily prepped ahead of time. They’re a total crowd-pleaser, are so darn easy to make, and are incredibly delicious. If you love finger foods or you’re planning a party, you might also like this Buffalo Chicken Dip Recipe, these Baked Chicken Wings or this Taco Dip!
Ingredients Needed:
Jalapeño Peppers: the number you need will depend on how large they are and how much you fill them. I recommend grabbing a couple extra just in case. You can always use extras for Taco Dip or BBQ Chicken Jalapeño Popper Cupcakes! Cream Cheese: you can use a block of cream cheese or a container, full fat or light. It won’t make a difference in this recipe! Seasonings: we’re spicing up the filling with a simple combination of garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. Cheddar Cheese: shred the cheddar finely so it incorporates well into the filling. You can use another cheese you have on hand if you prefer. Bacon: finely chopped, cooked bacon adds the perfect smoky, salty crunch. You’ll need 2 thick-cut slices, or about 3-4 thin slices. Panko Breadcrumbs: Panko breadcrumbs are the key to a crispy topping. You can skip them or use regular bread crumbs if you don’t have any!
How to Make Jalapeño Poppers
Here are some step by step photos to guide you! Please see the detailed recipe down in the recipe card.
Tips and Notes
Pick the bigger jalapeños. Smaller will work too, but the larger ones are easier to fill. Wear gloves! If you slice with bare hands, you’re in danger of the jalapeño juice getting all over your fingers. Touch your eyes with that and you’re in for an uncomfortable evening. I recommend wearing gloves. If you don’t have gloves, wash your hands very thoroughly (and multiple times) with soap, the proceed with caution when it comes to touching anything. Cut the jalapeño lengthwise. Each half should basically be a mini platform for the filling to sit in/on top of. You can leave the stem on or cut it off. Line the baking sheet. Lining the sheet with parchment paper helps prevent the poppers from sticking or burning.
Serving Suggestions
For ultimate crispiness, I recommend serving these poppers right away! They’re delicious on their own or with a side of Ranch dressing, blue cheese dip, or even Homemade Cheese Sauce.
More Appetizer Recipes You’ll Love
Air Fryer Ravioli
Baked Chicken Wings
Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks
Pigs in a Blanket
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