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    Home » Appetizers

    The Easiest Baked Jalapeno Poppers

    Published: Dec 30, 2019 » Modified: Oct 25, 2022 » By: Kylie » This post may contain affiliate links. » 11 Comments

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    Just 4 ingredients and about 30 minutes is all it takes to get these easy baked jalapeno poppers ready for your game day celebration! They're loaded with classic popper flavors of cream cheese, sharp cheddar and TONS of bacon for the best appetizer ever!

    Black and white plate filled with baked jalapeno poppers garnished with green onion
    Table of Contents show
    You Will Love These
    Ingredients and Substitutions
    Optional Add Ins
    Instructions
    Why Bake on a Cooling Rack
    Tips
    FAQ
    Make Ahead, Storage, Freezing and Reheating
    More Easy Appetizers
    Recipe
    Easy Baked Jalapeno Poppers

    You Will Love These

    • The flavors are classic (and of course delicious) but the prep is incredibly simple! These poppers have all the traditional ingredients of jalapeno poppers but none of the fussiness! Or the frying! They are perfection with just 4 ingredients!
    • All the classic popper ingredients are mixed into the filling which makes them easy to make and even easier to eat! You still get all the great flavors in the perfect little hand-held appetizer or game day snack!
    • You don't have to worry about tediously wrapping raw slices of bacon around the poppers and securing it with toothpicks! This makes these jalapeno poppers so much easier to assemble!
    • If you loved these loaded jalapeno poppers, be sure to check out my Cheesy Jalapeno Popper Dip, my Baked Spinach and Artichoke Dip, or my Easy Loaded Fries recipe!
    Black and white plate filled with baked jalapeno poppers garnished with green onion

    Ingredients and Substitutions

    • Fresh Jalapenos - This recipe is best with fresh jalapeno peppers, not pickled jalapenos. Try to find jalapenos that are about the same size to ensure that they will bake evenly in the oven.
    • Cream Cheese - Full fat cream cheese is going to give you the best flavor and the creamiest texture. Make sure your cream cheese comes to room temperature so that it's easy to mix the filling together. 1-2 hours on the counter should be long enough to come to room temp.
    • Bacon - Use your favorite bacon for this recipe. And make sure that you bake it! Lay bacon on a parchment lined baking sheet in a single layer. Bake at 400 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until crispy. Baking bacon is the easiest way to cook it!
    • Sharp Cheddar - The sharp cheddar is going to bring so much flavor to these poppers! You could use mild cheddar or Monterey jack cheese but the taste just won't be the same.
    • Green Onion - Sliced green onion is an optional garnish, but one that I definitely recommend! It adds some fresh flavor and balances out the richness of the baked jalapeño poppers. You could also use chives in place of the green onion.

    Optional Add Ins

    Use this jalapeno poppers recipe as a blueprint and make it your own! To switch things up a bit try adding:

    • garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, or other spices
    • cooked spicy sausage
    • panko bread crumbs mixed with melted butter (sprinkle on top for a crispy crust)

    Instructions

    Slice the jalapenos in half using a sharp knife, leaving the stems intact if possible.

    Wooden cutting board filled with jalapenos sliced in half lengthwise

    Use a spoon to scoop out the ribs and seeds of the jalapeno. If you're feeling spicy, leave some of the ribs or seeds in. But BE WARNED, they will be spicy!

    Sliced and seeded jalapeno on a parchment lined baking sheet

    Add cream cheese, LOTS of crispy crumbled bacon, and sharp cheddar cheese to a large bowl along with Kosher salt and black pepper.

    Large white bowl with ingredients to fill jalapeno poppers

    Mix until well combined.

    Large white bowl with ingredients to fill jalapeno poppers

    Divide the cream cheese mixture evenly between the jalapenos, gently pressing it into the cavity of each jalapeno.

    An overhead shot of a cooling rack filled with jalapeno poppers

    Then top the cream cheese filling with shredded cheese, gently pressing into the filling so that it stays put.

    An overhead shot of a cooling rack filled with jalapeno poppers

    Bake for 20 minutes, then garnish with a bit more crumbled bacon and thinly sliced green onion if desired.

    An overhead shot of a cooling rack filled with baked jalapeno poppers

    Why Bake on a Cooling Rack

    • Raising the poppers up off the rimmed baking sheet with the aid of a cooling rack will not only make it easier to remove them (less surface area touching the jalapeno bottom means less chance of it sticking) but it also allows the poppers to cook more evenly. Another pro tip: spray the cooling rack with cooking spray so the jalapeno poppers come right off!
    • Placing the poppers on a cooling rack allows the air to circulate around them and ensures that they cook evenly on all sides. One big reminder though: make sure your cooling rack is oven safe! Most are, but you'll just want to double check!!

    Tips

    • It's really helpful to wear a pair of food-safe gloves while you're making these poppers! If you don't wear gloves, you will undoubtedly end up with spicy jalapeno oil on your hands. Which is totally fine, but it's a little tricky to wash off!
    • If you do get jalapeno juice/oil on your hands, try coating them in olive oil, then thoroughly wash the oil off. You may have to do this a couple times to get all of the oil and jalapeno juice off. If you are a fellow contact wearer like myself, be sure you get all the oil off before handling your contacts. Or if you can, take your contacts out before you make these and don't put them back in until the next day!
    • Don't overbake the jalapeno poppers! I like to check on them around the 15 minute mark and give the peppers a little poke. The peppers should be tender but still have a bit of a crunch to them. There's nothing worse than a limp, over baked popper!
    Black and white plate filled with baked jalapeno poppers garnished with green onion

    FAQ

    How do you make jalapenos less hot?

    The easiest way to ensure you end up with a mild jalapeno for these poppers, is to remove the ribs and seeds - that's what holds most of the heat of a jalapeno. Baking the peppers with that cheesy bacon filling is also going to help them mellow out a bit. If you like a bit of spice, try adding some of the seeds back in to the cream cheese filling and you'll get a bit of heat in each bite!

    What do jalapeno poppers go with?

    I love to serve jalapeno poppers as a simple appetizer along with Chili Lime Meatballs, Cheesy Baked Olive Dip, Warm Spinach Dip, and Baked Brie with Jam. If we're having friends over those are my go to crowd pleasers that always go quick! If I have a craving for jalapeno poppers on a weeknight I'll serve them alongside a bowl of warm homemade chili or a comforting bowl of pasta.

    Black and white plate filled with baked jalapeno poppers garnished with green onion

    Make Ahead, Storage, Freezing and Reheating

    • Make Ahead: These poppers are perfect for making ahead of time! Assemble when it's convenient for you and store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week. These are one of my favorite appetizers to prep before we have guests over because I can just pop them in the oven when they arrive!
    • Freezing: Make sure to use full fat cream cheese if you're planning to freeze these jalapeno poppers. Low fat cream cheese will not hold up to the freezing process and you'll end up with a less than creamy jalapeno pepper filling.
      • To freeze these, just follow directions in the recipe but before baking, lay them on a sheet pan and freeze for 2 hours. Transfer poppers to an airtight container and freeze for up to 2 months.
      • Then when you're ready to bake you can take them right from the freezer to the oven! Just make sure you follow the recipe instructions below and bake them on a cooling rack on a sheet pan.
      • Also, plan to add about 5-10 minutes or so to the bake time if you baking them straight from the freezer.
    • Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week.
    • Reheating: I like to reheat these on a baking sheet in a 350 degree oven until they are warmed through and the cheese is melty.

    More Easy Appetizers

    • Easy 15-Minute Crostini Recipe
    • 4 Ingredient Cream Cheese Fruit Dip (No Marshmallow Fluff!)
    • The Best 5-Minute Cilantro Lime Sauce
    • The Easiest Smoked Chicken Wings Recipe

    Questions?
    Leave a comment below!
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    Print

    Recipe

    Easy Baked Jalapeno Poppers

    Print Recipe
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    ★★★★★

    5 from 6 reviews

    No holiday get together or game day celebration is complete without these simple jalapeno poppers! They're loaded with classic popper flavors of cream cheese, sharp cheddar and lots of bacon. 

    • Author: Kylie
    • Prep Time: 15 minutes
    • Cook Time: 20 minutes
    • Total Time: 35 minutes
    • Yield: 20 poppers 1x
    • Category: Appetizer
    • Method: Baking
    • Cuisine: American

    Ingredients

    Scale
    • 10 medium/large jalapenos
    • 8 oz. cream cheese, room temperature
    • 12 oz. bacon, cooked and crumbled
    • 8 oz. sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
    • Kosher salt
    • fresh cracked pepper
    • thinly sliced green onion for garnish

    Instructions

    1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place a cooling rack on top of the parchment paper. 
    2. Cut jalapenos in half lengthwise. Use a spoon to remove the ribs and seeds and discard. 
    3. In a medium bowl combine cream cheese, bacon (reserve a few tablespoons for garnish), ½ of the shredded cheese, and a large pinch of salt and pepper. 
    4. Divide filling evenly between the cavities of the jalapenos.
    5. Place filled jalapenos about an inch apart on the cooling rack on the baking sheet. 
    6. Divide remaining cheddar cheese evenly between the poppers. Rather than sprinkling the cheese on top, try to gently push it into the filling. This will hold it in place and keep it from all falling onto the cooling rack. 
    7. Bake for 20 minutes or until the peppers are tender but still hold their shape. 
    8. Garnish with reserved crumbled bacon and sliced green onion!

    Equipment

    cooling rack

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    9x13 baking sheet

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    Notes

    • It's really helpful to wear a pair of food-safe gloves while you're making these poppers! If you don't wear gloves, you will undoubtedly end up with spicy jalapeno oil on your hands. Which is totally fine, but it's a little tricky to wash off!
    • If you do get jalapeno juice/oil on your hands, try coating them in olive oil, then thoroughly wash the oil off. You may have to do this a couple times to get all of the oil and jalapeno juice off. If you are a fellow contact wearer like myself, be sure you get all the oil off before handling your contacts. Or if you can, take your contacts out before you make these and don't put them back in until the next day!
    • Don't overbake the jalapeno poppers! I like to check on them around the 15 minute mark and give the peppers a little poke. The peppers should be tender but still have a bit of a crunch to them. There's nothing worse than a limp, over baked popper!

    Nutrition

    • Serving Size: 1 jalapeno popper
    • Calories: 136
    • Sugar: 1.1 g
    • Sodium: 182.4 mg
    • Fat: 12.2 g
    • Saturated Fat: 6 g
    • Carbohydrates: 1.9 g
    • Fiber: 0.4 g
    • Protein: 5 g
    • Cholesterol: 30 mg

    Keywords: jalapeno poppers, jalapeno recipes, jalapeno popper filling, roasted jalapeno popper

    This post was originally published in December of 2018. It was updated in December of 2019 to include process shots, step-by-step instructions, and tips for making these jalapeno poppers perfect every single time!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Becki

      May 29, 2023 at 1:25 pm

      I’m planning on making these for upcoming Father’s Day cookout. I can’t wait to try this recipe! I love that I can prepare these in advance!! I was just wondering if you think I could use the air fryer instead of oven? If I try it in air fryer I will let you know how they turn out and will leave a star review 😊
      Thanks so much!
      Becki

      Reply
      • Kylie

        June 04, 2023 at 8:50 pm

        Yes! The air fryer would be a great option for these jalapeno poppers! I'd probably air fry them at around 350 degrees or so which should give the pepper enough time to cook through while heating the filling as well. Great question, Becki! Can't wait to hear how they turn out!

        Reply
    2. charlotte robinson

      August 24, 2021 at 12:52 pm

      I love this recipe! I didn't think I liked poppers until I made this for my son, I ate more than he did! thanks so much

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    3. Mike

      February 28, 2021 at 11:49 am

      Love this recipe. So simple and tasty. Only thing I did different was that I used a whpped cream cheese as the ingredients were much easier to mix together. Can't wait to fire up the garden this year so I can make more.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Kylie

        February 28, 2021 at 1:01 pm

        The whipped cream is such a great idea, Mike! I am definitely going to try that next time. I'm so glad you enjoyed these jalapeno poppers - thanks for leaving a review!

        Reply
        • Lisa Barnett

          August 21, 2021 at 5:45 pm

          Thank you for this amazing recipe Kylie...My poppers were absolutely delicious 😋 I've been searching for different recipes for jalapeños as I have them in my garden and I didn't expect to produce so many..lol..I can't believe how easy your recipe is..it's definitely my favorite! Have a wonderful week 😊

          ★★★★★

    4. midmodtom

      January 04, 2020 at 8:13 am

      Fantastic tips to try! Mine never turn out and now I see several places where I have failed to remove Capsaicin from your fingers rub them with fresh lemon juice

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Kylie Lato

        January 04, 2020 at 5:42 pm

        Lemon juice is a great tip too! Might have to add that to the post 🙂

        Reply
        • Debra Pons

          October 02, 2022 at 4:46 pm

          This how we always make them except we put Everglades seasoning to taste in the mix, lay a piece of bacon over the top & brush with maple syrup. Yummy

          ★★★★★

    5. Michelle Lien

      December 31, 2018 at 8:14 am

      These are amazing! Mixing the cheeses with the bacon made them super easy to make. The green onion is the perfect finish that brings the flavors together. Yum!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Midwest Foodie

        December 31, 2018 at 11:12 am

        Yay! I love to hear this!! So glad you enjoyed this recipe and thanks so much for leaving a rating and a comment Michelle!

        Reply

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    HELLO FROM THE MIDWEST - I'm Kylie and as a mom and blogger, I understand how hard it can be to get a wholesome dinner on the table at the end of a long day. Here at Midwest Foodie, I focus on sharing simple recipes that make it easy to feed your family real food.

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