Bacon Cheddar Jalapeño Poppers
We started a small garden at home this year in our little side yard, and one of the vegetables we planted were jalapeños! We have sliced them for certain meals, but one of the things PJ really wanted to make were jalapeño poppers. Our friend Beau used to make these as an appetizer for us years ago and we always loved them, so we thought it would be fun to make a vision of them.
We made a batch recently late the other night, and oh my goodness, they were SO flavorful and good and yes, hot. They have everything you want in an appetizer: creamy cheese, crispy bacon, a little kick from the jalapeños, and that irresistible "just one more" quality that almost always turns into three more.
They're simple enough for a weeknight snack but feel right at home on a football Saturday, holiday gathering, or backyard cookout.
The best part is, they come together in about 30 minutes!
Bacon Cheddar Jalapeño Poppers
Ingredients
12 large jalapeños
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 cup extra sharp cheddar cheese, freshly grated
6 slices bacon, cooked until crispy and crumbled
2 green onions, thinly sliced
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon coarse black pepper
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 400°F.
Slice the jalapeños in half lengthwise and remove the seeds and membranes. If you prefer a little more heat, leave some of the membranes intact.
In a large bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, cheddar cheese, garlic salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, most of the green onions, and about three-quarters of the crumbled bacon. Stir until well combined.
Arrange the jalapeño halves on a baking sheet. Spoon the cheese mixture into each pepper, filling them generously.
Bake for 18 to 22 minutes, or until the filling is hot, bubbly, and lightly golden on top.
Remove from the oven and immediately sprinkle with the remaining bacon and green onions.
Serve warm.
A Few Notes
Larger jalapeños are easier to fill and hold the cheesy mixture better.
Freshly grated cheese melts more smoothly than pre-shredded cheese.
If you're serving a crowd, go ahead and double the recipe. You'll wish you had.
These can be assembled a few hours ahead of time and kept in the refrigerator until you're ready to bake.
Enjoy!