Baked Jalapeño Poppers
Sure, deep fried jalapeño poppers are tasty, but think about it. What do we love so much about them? For me, it’s because they’re crispy, yet cheesy and gooey. What if I told you that you can get those exact things but with half the hassle and probably half the calories? WITH the addition of bacon!? Follow me…
Classic Baked Jalapeño Poppers
For a long time when making jalapeño poppers I’d do the whole cream cheese stuffed jalapeños, topped with cheddar cheese then wrap with bacon. Which don’t get me wrong tastes bloomin’ divine, but recently I’ve mixed things up, which has led to one of the most incredible jalapeño popper combos I’ve ever tasted.
MY Baked Jalapeño Poppers
What I’ve come up with here is essentially jalapeño ‘boats’ which are loaded with a cream cheese filling and baked with a crispy top. Here’s what you’ll need for the cream cheese filling:
Jalapeño Popper Filling
Cream Cheese Cheddar Cheese Green/Spring Onion Bacon
PreparingJalapeño Poppers
First thing you want to do is grab yourself some nice juicy fresh jalapeños. Those chillies lurking about in the back of your fridge are no good, they simply won’t hold up in the oven. And nobody likes it when jalapeños spill out in the oven 😩 From there all you’ll need is a chopping board, a sharp knife and some gloves if you fancy. Using disposable gloves are always a good idea if you’re concerned about spreading spice.
How to stuff Jalapeños (quick summary)
CRISPY Baked Jalapeño Poppers
Now comes the fun part that takes these baked jalapeño poppers through the roof. We’ve got the ‘boats’ filled, now time to add the crispy, crunchiness that everybody loves. Here’s what you’ll need:
Baked Jalapeño Crispy Layer
Breadcrumbs Parmesan Smoked Paprika
Now, if you’ve been a reader for a while you’ve heard me harp on about smoked paprika in literally every recipe. A personal preference of mine? Maybe. But here it’s a definite must. It’s give that gorgeous smokey twang to these baked jalapeño poppers and enhances all the lively flavours they offer.
How to Bake Jalapeño Poppers (quick summary)
Tips for the best Baked Jalapeño Poppers
1. Don’t over bake
You want to initially bake them until they’re just cooked through, usually until they start bubbling. It’s such a sad sight to see a sloppy jalapeño popper. An ever so slightly firm jalapeño is actually a good thing as it keeps it’s shape nicely.
2.Uniformed Size
Try and pick similar sized jalapeños so they all cook at an even rate. With the same token, try and slice symmetrically so both sides are the same depth, just for the same reason.
3. Jalapeño Poppers Dip
These are great by themselves but even better with a dip. For me I usually go with a simple sour cream to sooth out the kick of spice. However these go amazingly too:
Dips for Jalapeño Poppers
Cheese and Chive Dip Creamy Avocado Dip Marinara Dip Sour Cream and Chive Dip
How spicy are these Jalapeño Poppers?
In general, contrary to popular belief jalapeño poppers aren’t that spicy. On the Scoville scale, the jalapeño is merely mild to moderate. Having said that, some are spicier than others. If you’re at all concerned about them being too spicy, I recommend soaking the jalapeño boats in cold water. This will take away some of the kick. Just thoroughly dry with paper towels before stuffing.
And there we have it! My jalapeño popper brain has officially leaked, and the info is yours for the taking 🤣 If you’re looking for game day finger foods then definitely check out my other recipes:
Baked Finger Food
Crispy Baked Avocado Fries Crispy Baked Chicken Tenders Crispy Baked Potato Wedges Mini Loaded Potatoes Chorizo Sausages Rolls (or classic sausage rolls)
Fried Finger Food
Beer Battered Onion Rings Spicy Fried Chicken Tenders EXTRA Crispy Halloumi Fries Fried Cheese Balls Popcorn Chicken
Alrighty, let’s tuck into these baked jalapeño poppers shall we?!
How to make Baked Jalapeño Poppers (Full Recipe & Video)
If you loved these Baked Jalapeño Poppers be sure to pin the recipe for later! Already made them or have a question? Give me a shout in the comments and pick up your free ecookbook on the way!
