This easy recipe for jalapeno poppers is perfect for your next tailgate. Or party. Or just when you want a spicy, cheesy snack! Bet you can’t eat just one (trust me, you will WANT to eat more than just one!)
Why we love this recipe
These jalapeño poppers are a snap to make, and I really, truly did want to eat every single last one of them my own self…and I actually did eat two of them.
But then I exercises all my self control and left the rest of these cheesy, spicy, bacon-y treats for my housemates. I’m generous that way. 😂
All you need for this addictively delicious recipe is some cream cheese, some cheddar cheese (all the cheese!), some bacon, a little barbecue sauce and a handful of jalapeno peppers. Oh, and some gloves – the disposable surgical kind. More on that later.
You are going to stuff those peppers with the cheese, wrap them with the bacon, brush them with sauce and cook them up until the bacon is crisp and the cheese is melty and the world is perfect, jalapeno popper-wise.
A word to the wise on preparing these or anything else involving a jalapeno pepper. WEAR GLOVES. I am not kidding. If you don’t, and a few hours later you rub your eyes (or take out your contact lenses, even worse)…I don’t even want to think about it.
Okay then! Now go make them for the spiciest person you know.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities and nutritional information.
Recipe FAQs
There is an official heat scale for peppers, and it’s called the Scovill Scale. Jalapenos are on the milder end of the scale, at about 2500 on the scale. It’s spicy, but still okay for spice wimps like me! If you want to go milder, go for Anaheim or Poblano peppers. If you want to bring on the spice, Serrano peppers start at 10,000 on the Scovill Scale. 🔥
Jalapenos (and some of their pepper cousins) are in the produce section of your supermarket. You want the fresh ones for this recipe.
YES. YES YOU DO. I speak from experience.
Any kind you like! I am a mustard bbq sauce fan, but honestly your favorite bbq sauce is the one you should use.
They can! But they should be enjoyed the same day at some point.
Leave your question (or comment or suggestion) in the Comments box below the recipe and I will answer pronto!
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PrintJalapeno Poppers
This easy recipe for jalapeno poppers is perfect for your next tailgate. Or party. Or just when you want a spicy, cheesy snack!
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 36 poppers 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: Tex-Mex
Ingredients
- 18 slices bacon, cut in half
- 18 fresh jalapenos
- 1 8 ounce package cream cheese
- 1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese
- 1 scallion, sliced
- 1/4 cup barbecue sauce
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400 and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and put a cooling rack on top. Lay the bacon in a single layer on the rack and cook for 10 minutes. Your bacon will be partially cooked but still pliable and perfect for wrapping. Keep the oven on after you take the bacon out to cool.
- While the bacon is cooking, PUT ON GLOVES! (I get the box of latex surgical gloves at CVS. They are perfect for this sort of thing).
- Cut the jalapenos in half length-wise and take out the seeds and membranes with a spoon or your gloved fingers.
- Combine the cream cheese, cheddar and scallions in a bowl until combined.
- Stuff each jalapeno half with cheese mixture.
- Wrap each bacon half-slice around the pepper and secure with a toothpick.
- Brush with bbq sauce.
- Now and only now may you remove the gloves.
- Bake in the 400 degree oven for 25 minutes or until bacon is cooked and sizzling.
- Can be served hot or at room temperature, if they last that long.
Mark says
These taste awesome!!
Kate Morgan Jackson says
Mark! So glad you like them!
Lydia says
I have just prepared these bacon wrapped jalapenos, easy recipe and they smell delicious cant hardly wait to taste!
Kate says
Thanks Lydia! They are pretty addictive! :)
Crismo says
I find that in the time it takes to properly cook the bacon the cheese goes away…
What am I doing wrong?
Kate says
Hmmm – I’m guessing you are liking your bacon crispy. I would try precooking it a little (so that it is about halfway cooked but still flexible) before wrapping the poppers, and see how that works for you?
Maureen says
Jalapeno poppers are my dad's and hubby's all time favorites. I will try this later tonight and surprise them with this new twist. They will surely love it! poppers
Kate Morgan Jackson says
Honestly, I use whatever happens to be in my fridge at the moment, and we always have some because we are always picking up interesting NEW ones. Right now I have a super-spicy one called (I am not kidding) "Burnt Sacrifice Judgement Day Sauce." You can find it at http://www.burntsacrifice.com. Yum.
Stan Smith says
I’m the maker of Burnt Sacrifice and Holy Chocolate (http://www.holychocolate.com) and I’m glad you liked my sauce. I worked really hard on it.
Anonymous says
Is there a certain bbq sauce you use. Flavor wise?
Anu says
thank you for posting. these look easy and delicious. thanks also for letting me know where to get the gloves – I had no clue! Really love your blog. I made the chicken shepherd's pie and a co-worker just smelled it and asked for the recipe :)
Anonymous says
It is very interesting for me to read that post. Thanx for it. I like such themes and everything that is connected to them. I definitely want to read more on that blog soon.
Nutmeg Nanny says
These look super delicious! The bacon wrapped around the jalapeno is calling my name :)