Jalapeño poppers are the perfect appetizer — spicy, crispy, cheesy, and creamy. These bites maintain the perfect balance of spicy jalapenos, the savory cheesy filling, and a crispy breadcrumb topping toasted to golden brown perfection. These jalapeno poppers are the life of any party, whether it's a party of one watching a late-night movie, a family get-together, or a game day party with friends. They are truly a delight from tip to stem. Plus, they are easy to make ahead and freeze well.
Why You’ll Love Jalapeño Poppers
- They’re so easy to make. Jalapeño poppers might seem difficult to make, but they’re actually so easy to make. You simply cut and prep the peppers, stuff them, top them with breadcrumbs, and pop them in the oven. Then, after baking, you can finally stuff them into your mouth!
- They look and taste amazing. If you have guests to impress, make these jalapeno poppers. They look beautiful and make a great addition to a table of snacks for party guests. And it’s true that they taste as good as they look. These appys are spicy, creamy, cheesy, salty, and savory.
- Prep them ahead of time. You can prepare jalapeno poppers a day before you need them. Just store them in the fridge, bake them when it’s time, and serve them hot and fresh! It's one less thing to stress about when preparing for a party or game day.
Ingredients and Substitutions
To make these delicious jalapeño poppers, you will need the following ingredients (full quantities in the recipe card below):
- jalapeño peppers
- cream cheese
- garlic powder
- paprika
- cheddar cheese - feel free to substitute with Tex Mex Mexican cheese blend, Monterey Jack cheese, or mozzarella cheese.
- chives or green onions
- Panko breadcrumbs
- vegetable oil - use any vegetable oil that you have on hand such as avocado oil.
You will also need measuring cups and spoons, mixing bowl, and half sheet baking pan.
How to Make the Best Jalapeño Poppers
- Prepare jalapeños. Prepare the jalapeños by slicing them in half lengthwise and remove all the seeds and membranes. Make sure to wear gloves during the preparation and do not touch your eyes or nose while cutting the jalapeño peppers.
- Prepare filling. In a small mixing bowl, combine cream cheese, garlic powder, paprika, cheddar cheese, and chives. Mix well until smooth and set aside. In a separate bowl, stir together the breadcrumbs and oil until well mixed. Set aside.
- Stuff the jalapeños. Fill each halved jalapeño evenly with 2 tablespoons of the cheese mixture and spread with 1 tablespoon of the crumb mixture on top.
- Bake. Place the jalapeño poppers evenly on a large half sheet baking pan and bake in a 400F preheated oven for 20 minutes until golden brown. Optionally, you can broil for another 3-5 minutes to make the crumb toppings more crispy and golden (but keep a close eye on them to make sure they don't burn). Let cool for 5-10 minutes and serve with your favorite dipping sauce.
Recipe Tips and Tricks
- Don’t overfill the jalapenos: The cream cheese mixture will settle as it heats up in the oven. So, to avoid a cheesy mess, be sure not to overfill your peppers.
- Make ahead instructions: You can prep these poppers up to one day ahead of time, store covered in the refrigerator, and bake them when it’s time to serve them fresh at your party or dinner.
- How to store: Store leftover jalapeno poppers in the refrigerator for 3-5 days. Reheat them in a preheated 400F oven for about 15 minutes until warmed through. You can also reheat them in the air fryer for 5-10 minutes until warm and crispy.
- How to freeze: Jalapeño poppers freeze well both before and after baking. You can freeze them overnight on a baking tray making sure that they are not touching. Then, transfer them to a freezer bag or airtight container for freezer storage. You can thaw them in the fridge or bake/reheat them from frozen (add a few extra minutes to the cooking time).
More Appetizers
- Bacon Wrapped Chicken Bites
- Pigs in a Blanket
- Pizza Crescents Rolls
- Chili Nachos
- Sweet Chili Chicken Bites
- Air Fryer Short Ribs
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Recipe
Jalapeño Poppers
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 6-8 servings
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
Jalapeño poppers are the perfect appetizer — spicy, crispy, cheesy, and creamy, toasted to golden brown perfection. Plus easy to make ahead and freeze well.
Ingredients
- 8 jalapeño peppers (about 3-4 inches long)
- 8 ounces cream cheese (1 block), softened
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
- 2 tablespoons chives or green onions, finely chopped
- ¼ cup Panko breadcrumbs
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 F.
- Prepare the jalapeños by slicing them in half lengthwise and remove all the seeds and membranes. Make sure to wear gloves during the preparation and do not touch your eyes or nose while cutting the jalapeño peppers.
- In a small mixing bowl, combine cream cheese, garlic powder, paprika, cheddar cheese, and chives. Mix well until smooth and set aside.
- In a separate bowl, stir together the breadcrumbs and oil until well mixed. Set aside.
- Fill each halved jalapeño evenly with 2 tablespoons of the cheese mixture and spread with 1 tablespoon of the crumb mixture on top.
- Place the jalapeño poppers evenly on a large half sheet baking pan and bake for 20 minutes until golden brown. Optionally, you can broil for another 3-5 minutes to make the crumb toppings more crispy and golden (but keep a close eye on them to make sure they don't burn).
- Let cool for 5-10 minutes and serve with your favorite dipping sauce.
Notes
Don’t overfill the jalapenos: The cream cheese mixture will settle as it heats up in the oven. So, to avoid a cheesy mess, be sure not to overfill your peppers.
Make ahead instructions: You can prep these poppers up to one day ahead of time, store covered in the refrigerator, and bake them when it’s time to serve them fresh at your party or dinner.
How to store: Store leftover jalapeno poppers in the refrigerator for 3-5 days. Reheat them in a preheated 400F oven for about 15 minutes until warmed through. You can also reheat them in the air fryer for 5-10 minutes until warm and crispy.
How to freeze: Jalapeño poppers freeze well both before and after baking. You can freeze them overnight on a baking tray making sure that they are not touching. Then, transfer them to a freezer bag or airtight container for freezer storage. You can thaw them in the fridge or bake/reheat them from frozen (add a few extra minutes to the cooking time).
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
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