Jalapeno Poppers are a game day favorite! Fresh jalapenos are filled with a creamy cheese and bacon filling, topped with crispy panko, and baked to golden-brown crispy perfection.
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The BEST Jalapeno Poppers
These Jalapeno Poppers with cream cheese and bacon are the best party appetizer ever!
- Creamy, crunchy, cheesy, spicy, smoky, and salty in every bite!
- A tender jalapeno pepper baked to perfection – never hard and crunchy
- The most incredible creamy cheese filling with cream cheese and sharp cheddar, flavored with garlic and chives
- A super crispy and crunchy, buttered panko topping
- And BACON – enough said.
They are truly better than the ones I’ve had in restaurants. Plus they’re lighter because they’re baked and not fried.
There’s no need to wait for game day to enjoy these Easy, Baked Jalapeno Poppers. My family loves them any day. And you’ll catch me eating the leftovers for breakfast! (If I’m lucky enough to find any left!)
Easy, Baked Jalapeno Poppers Recipe
I love Jalapeno Poppers but I’m not a big fan of frying. I don’t like the mess or the smell, and I definitely don’t like hovering over a pan of hot boiling oil while everyone else is watching the game.
This Easy, Baked Jalapeno Poppers Recipe gives the best of both worlds – melty gooey cheese with a golden brown, super crispy panko topping and no frying. It’s super easy! And I love them even more than the deep fried ones!
Added bonus: they’re so easy to make in advance! Just pop them in the oven when you’re ready!
How to cut a jalapeno
I always wear gloves when handling this many jalapeno peppers. You many unexpectedly come across a particularly hot jalapeno, and when jalapeno oils get in the skin they can cause burns – the dreaded jalapeno hands. And whatever you do – don’t rub your eyes!
- Wear gloves.
- Set the jalapeno on the counter and see which side it naturally rests on. That will be the bottom. (This helps the Jalapeno Poppers sit upright instead of tilting over and spilling out the cheesy filling.)
- Slice the pepper in half lengthwise.
- Scrape the seeds and interior membranes out with a spoon and discard.
Ingredients
Jalapenos: Jalapenos are sliced in half and stuffed with a cheesy filling. Jalapenos can range from mild to moderate (2500-5000 Scoville units).
To tame the heat a bit, you can blanch them in boiling water for about a minute then plunge into ice water. This will take away some of the heat, while leaving them bright green. The longer you blanch them, the softer they will get. If they’re too soft, the cheese filling may ooze out and they’ll be harder to pick up and eat.
For a completely mild popper, use baby bell peppers.
Cheese: Cream cheese and sharp cheddar make an incredibly flavored, creamy, bubbly cheese filling.
Bacon: Bacon, cheese, and jalapenos were made for each other. Bacon adds a wonderful smoky, salty flavor to the filling.
Buttered Panko: Super crispy, golden brown panko adds the perfect crunch to these poppers. You’ll never miss the frying.
I sauté my panko in butter before topping the poppers. That way they’re guaranteed to be perfectly crispy and golden brown. I hate waiting for the panko to brown while all the cheese filling oozes out.
Aromatics: I flavor my cheese filling with garlic and chives. If you don’t have chives, use the green ends of green onions.
How to make
- Cut the peppers and scrape out the seeds and membranes.
- Mix the cheese filling and stuff the halved peppers.
- Brown the panko in butter then sprinkle on top of the stuffed pepper halves.
- Bake until cheese is melted and bubbly.
Topping variations
For a fun flavor variation, instead of buttered panko, try topping your poppers with crushed:
- Tortilla chips
- Doritos
- Sun Chips
- Barbecue flavored potato chips
Restaurant style Recipe
At a restaurant, these bacon cream cheese Jalapeno Poppers are breaded and fried. I love these stuffed Jalapeno Poppers with the panko sprinkled on top, but if you want the maximum crunch of a fully coated popper, here’s how to do it:
- Roll the cheese stuffed jalapeno in flour.
- Next, dip it in milk.
- Then, roll it in panko until it is fully coated on all sides.
- Place on baking sheet and spray with olive oil spray or drizzle with melted butter. (The spray will result in more even browning.)
- Bake until golden brown and the cheese is bubbly.
Vegetarian Version
It’s easy to make these Jalapeno Poppers vegetarian. Simply omit the bacon or use chopped veggie bacon.
If you omit the bacon, try topping them with crushed barbecue flavored chips to replace the smoky, salty flavor of the bacon.
Healthy Jalapeno Poppers
Baking Jalapeno Poppers is so much healthier than fried. To make them even healthier:
- Use light cream cheese
- Use low fat cheddar
- Substitute veggie bacon for the bacon
- Sauté the panko in olive oil instead of butter
- Instead of sautéing the panko, spray it with cooking spray or olive oil after it is sprinkled on the stuffed jalapeno
How to make – step by step tutorial
Cut the jalapenos:
- Wear gloves.
- Set the jalapeno on the counter and see which side it naturally rests on. That will be the bottom. (This helps the Jalapeno Poppers sit upright instead of tilting over and spilling out the cheesy filling.)
- Slice the pepper in half lengthwise, keeping the stem intact on one side.
- Scrape the seeds and interior membranes out with a spoon and discard.
Make the creamy cheese filling:
- Mix the softened cream cheese, sharp cheddar, crumbled bacon, garlic powder, chives, and salt together in a bowl.
- Using softened cream cheese makes it much easier to combine.
Stuff the halved jalapeno peppers
Using a spoon, fill the jalapeno pepper halves with the cheese filling and set on a parchment lined baking sheet.
Make the panko topping
- Sauté panko in butter until the panko is light golden brown (It will brown slightly more in the oven.)
- Sprinkle the panko on the tops of the cheese stuffed jalapenos.
How to bake
Bake the jalapeno poppers in the middle of a 400° F oven until the cheese is melted and bubbly, about 20 minutes.
The panko will brown slightly more. If it starts to brown too quickly, tent a piece of foil on top of them.
How long to bake
Because the panko is already golden brown, you only need to bake the Jalapeno Poppers until the cheese is melted and bubbly, about 20 minutes.
This prevents the jalapeno from burning on the bottom or from becoming too soft. When they’re too soft, they’re a little harder to pick up and eat.
How to make in advance
These easy baked Jalapeno Poppers can easily be made a couple of days ahead of time or even made in advance and frozen.
- Stuff the peppers, arrange them on the baking sheet, top them with panko, and hold in the refrigerator a few hours until you’re ready to bake.
- Stuff the peppers and put them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for a day or two. Keep the cooled, buttered panko at room temperature. When you’re ready to bake them, put them on a baking sheet and sprinkle with buttered panko and bake.
- Freeze the Jalapeno Poppers and cook right from frozen. It may take a few minutes longer to bake.
How to store and reheat
To store: Place cooked and cooled jalapeno poppers in an airtight storage container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
To Reheat: Reheat jalapeno poppers on a baking sheet in the oven at 325° F until heated through. You can also reheat them in the microwave.
How to freeze
Jalapeno Poppers can be made in advance and frozen. They can be baked straight from the freezer.
- Stuff the peppers and sprinkle on the panko.
- Freeze in a single layer until frozen.
- Transfer to an airtight container.
- Bake straight from the freezer. It may take a few minutes longer to bake.
How to make in the air fryer
- Place the stuffed and topped jalapeños in the basket of an air fryer
- Cook at 370° F until the tops are golden brown, the cheese is melted and bubbly, and the jalapeños are tender, about 10 minutes.
What’s the best dip/sauce to serve with
Dip Jalapeno Poppers in ranch or blue cheese dressing. The cool, creaminess is perfect for taming the heat.
What to serve with
Jalapeno Poppers are the perfect game day snack. Serve as part of your appetizer and game day spread.
Optional tip for a pretty presentation:
Cutting the top third off of the jalapenos instead of cutting them in halves makes a prettier presentation. It holds the filling in better and there’s less chance that the filling will ooze out.
Just fill the larger side and save the tops for another use. You will need extra jalapenos. (Note: I have used halved jalapenos here.)
Shop the recipe:
Baking pans: a good light-colored baking pan allows the poppers to cook properly without burning on the bottom.
Parchment paper: for no pan to wash – yay! It’s nonstick so your poppers come off perfectly. It also helps the poppers not burn on the bottom.
Recipe
Easy, Baked Jalapeno Poppers
Ingredients
- 16 jalapeno peppers
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened 227g
- 5 oz sharp cheddar, shredded 142g
- 6 oz bacon, cooked until crisp and crumbled ((use veggie bacon for vegetarian)) 170g
- 3 tablespoons chives finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
- ½ cup Panko bread crumbs 45g
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted 28g
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400° F with the rack in the middle.
- Slice the jalapenos in half lengthwise, keeping the stem intact. Scrape out the inner membranes and seeds. Wear gloves!
- In a bowl, combine cream cheese, cheddar, crumbled bacon, chives, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Spoon the cheese mixture into the jalapeno halves. Place on a baking pan.
- Melt the butter in a pan over medium heat. Add the panko bread crumbs and sauté until golden. (It will brown slightly more in the oven.)
- Sprinkle the panko over the cheese filled jalapenos.
- Bake until golden brown and the cheese is bubbly and melted, about 20 minutes.
Notes
- Use light cream cheese
- Use low fat cheddar
- Substitute veggie bacon for the bacon
- Sauté the panko in olive oil instead of butter
- Instead of sautéing the panko, spray it with cooking spray or olive oil after it is sprinkled on the stuffed jalapeno
Nutrition
Enjoy, friends!
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andrea@thekitchenlioness
Dear Kelly, while these Jalapeno Poppers look utterly delicious and like a true fun treat for the family, I must admit that I never ever tasted one in my life! The recipe sounds great, love the ingrediinets, love your presentation!
Another delightful recipe with so many helpful tips and notes and all!
P.S.: I do hope that my comment will not disappear into thin air again (a few of my previous comments seem to have taken that route...)
All the best,
Andrea
Kelly
Dear Andrea, Jalapeno Poppers are my favorite appetizer! I find them quite addicting. Give me a plateful for dinner or even reheated the next morning for breakfast - they're a real treat! Thanks so much, my friend!
Haylie / Our Balanced Bowl
Kelly, so glad to see you post a new recipe! I've missed you! And you didn't dissapoint with this baked jalapeno poppers! I love that they're filled with bacon, creamy cream cheese and that buttery panko! YUM! (Also, i'm totally on team wearing gloves when I cut my jalapenos...sometimes they literally make my skin burn! LOL!)
Kelly
I took an extra long break to spend time with my kids on their winter vacation. It was wonderful!
I'm definitely on team gloves, too! It's never happened to me, but I've seen a family member cry for hours from the burn after cleaning a lot of jalapenos. Better safe than sorry! Thanks so much, Haylie!
David @ Spiced
Oh man, I absolutely love jalapeno poppers! But seeing this post made me realize I haven't had poppers in a long time...maybe a year or more? Clearly that problem needs to get fixed. And there just so happens to be a big game coming up that provides the perfect excuse for making a batch of these. They look delicious, Kelly! Plus, bacon.
Kelly
They're my fave! Thanks so much, David!
All That I'm Eating
I love the sound of these, I would never have thought to try making them myself. I really want to now though!
Kelly
We love them and they're so easy to make! Thanks so much, Caroline!
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary
I could honestly eat my weight in jalapeno poppers, so these have me drooling!!!! I love that they are baked so now I don't have to feel quite so guilty when I devour a few dozen in one sitting! Plus, I love that you added bacon to the actual filling!! I love that idea! So much better than the ones wrapped in bacon, those never seem to get crispy. These are perfection! Cant wait to try them! Pinned!
Kelly
Omg, Chey, me too! I love the bacon flavor inside plus the super crunchy panko topping! Thanks so much!
Neil
Oh what a delicious looking appetiser Kelly! I've never made Jalapeno Poppers before but I'd make these first. That bacon cheese filling is making my mouth water!!
Kelly
It's so good! Thanks so much, Neil!