Game Day Jalapeno Poppers (Printable)

Spicy jalapeños stuffed with creamy cheese and wrapped in crispy beef bacon for a flavorful snack.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 8 large fresh jalapeño peppers

→ Cheese Mixture

02 - 6 oz cream cheese, softened
03 - 3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
04 - 2 tbsp chopped fresh chives (optional)
05 - 1/4 tsp garlic powder
06 - 1/4 tsp onion powder
07 - 1/4 tsp smoked paprika
08 - Salt and pepper, to taste

→ Meats

09 - 8 slices beef bacon, cut in half

→ Optional Garnishes

10 - 2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
11 - Sour cream, for serving

# How to Prepare:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil.
02 - Slice each jalapeño pepper in half lengthwise. Using a spoon, carefully remove seeds and membranes. For less heat, remove all seeds.
03 - In a medium bowl, combine cream cheese, shredded cheddar, chives, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Mix until smooth.
04 - Fill each jalapeño half with cheese mixture, smoothing the top.
05 - Wrap each stuffed jalapeño half with a half-slice of beef bacon. Secure with a toothpick if needed.
06 - Arrange poppers on prepared baking sheet, cheese side up.
07 - Bake for 20-25 minutes until bacon is crisp and cheese is bubbly and golden.
08 - Remove from oven and let cool for a few minutes. Garnish with fresh cilantro and serve warm with sour cream if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Beef bacon brings this incredible deep savoriness that regular bacon just cant match, plus it cooks up extra crispy
  • The cheese filling stays perfectly creamy while the jalapeños mellow into something almost sweet against all that rich smokiness
02 -
  • Removing all the seeds and membranes from the jalapeños really does make them much milder, so don't skip this step if you're serving heat-sensitive guests
  • The toothpicks aren't always necessary but they prevent the bacon from shrinking and sliding off during baking, which I learned after chasing half-unwrapped peppers across my baking sheet
03 -
  • If your jalapeños are particularly curved, choose the straightest ones for easier wrapping and more uniform cooking
  • Place a wire cooling rack on your baking sheet for extra crispy bacon on all sides since the grease drips away instead of pooling around the poppers

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