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Fresh jalapenos are stuffed with a mixture of cheeses and seasoning and wrapped in smoky bacon and cooked on the barbecue until tender.
Holly’s Hot Pepper Poppers
- Flavor: These bacon-wrapped jalapeño poppers have a smoky, salty flavor with creamy, cheesy filling and a mild kick of heat.
- Prep Note: When cutting several jalapenos, please, please, wear gloves. The oils in the peppers can affect (and burn) your skin if you’re cutting several peppers.
- Recommended Tools: Plastic kitchen gloves are recommended for wearing while cutting the poppers. Cook them directly on the grill, using a grill mat. This helps reduce flare-ups.
- Serving Suggestions: Serve these bacon-wrapped jalapeño poppers as a crowd-pleasing appetizer alongside ranch or blue cheese dip.
Ingredients
- Peppers: To reduce the heat from jalapenos (and other spicy peppers), be sure to remove all of the seeds and membranes. You can use any peppers in this recipe, including sweet baby red & yellow peppers.
- Filling: The creamy filling combines tangy cream cheese, sharp cheddar, fresh green onion, and a hint of garlic. Make sure the cream cheese is softened so the filling mixes smoothly and spreads easily into the jalapeños.
How to Prepare Bacon Jalapeno Poppers
- Prep Peppers: Cut jalapenos and remove the seeds/membranes.
- Mix filling: Combine cream cheese, cheddar, and seasonings.
- Fill Peppers: Spoon the mixture in and wrap in bacon (full recipe below).
How to Cook Bacon Wrapped Poppers
Grilled Jalapeno Poppers: I slightly pre-cook the bacon; this also helps reduce flare-ups, and it always results in crisper bacon without overcooking the peppers. To grill cream cheese poppers from frozen, we turn the grill down and cook them low and slow to ensure the middle heats & melts.
Oven Baked Bacon Wrapped Poppers: In the winter, we bake this stuffed jalapeno popper recipe in the oven. Preheat to 425 degrees, place on a parchment-lined pan, and bake about 18-23 minutes or until bacon is crisp and cheese is melted. Broil 1 minute at the end if needed. So easy!
To Make Ahead and Freeze
Jalapeno poppers are the perfect snack to have on hand for unexpected guests. I often make a couple of large trays and freeze them (before cooking). Once frozen, I move them to a sealed container (or freezer bag) and store them for a few months.
When guests pop by, pour a pitcher of mojitos, heat the grill, and throw these on right from frozen.
More Amazing Appetizers
Did you enjoy these Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers? Leave a comment and rating below.
Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers
Equipment
Ingredients
- 6 jalapeños
- 6 ounces cream cheese the block, not the spreadable
- 1 green onion finely minced
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1.5 ounces sharp cheddar cheese shredded
- 12 slices bacon
Instructions
- Cut the stem off each jalapeno and cut in half lengthwise. Using a small spoon, scrape out seeds & membranes.
- In a small bowl combine cream cheese, green onion, garlic powder and cheddar cheese. Stuff into the jalapeno halves.
- Wrap each jalapeno completely with bacon ensuring the cheese is covered. Secure with toothpicks.
To Grill
- Place jalapenos on grill cut side down and grill just until bacon begins to crisp (about 6 minutes). Gently loosen bacon from the grill and flip jalapenos over. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook an additional 10-12 minutes or until bacon is cooked and cheese is melted.
To Bake
- Preheat to 425°F, place on a parchment lined pan and bake about 18-23 minutes or until bacon is crisp and cheese is melted.
Video
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Appetizer
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I absolutely love Holly’s recipes!
They always great and delicious!
I look forward to getting my email with new recipes!!!
Thank you!
These are by far the best poppers and the best recipe…helps to slightly cook bacon before wrapping so poppers don’t get soggy..
Made on the grill, very yummy!
Can these be hollowed out instead of halved? making them for just a couple of people and don’t want to break out 2 packages of bacon :-)
I have never tried but it sounds like it should work.
Your photos all have the stems attached while the directions tell you to cut the stem off
For aesthetic purposes you can leave the stems on, but for eating I would recommend cutting the stems off.
These were great. Took them to a party and they disappeared in five minutes!
very good
OMG!! These are the best things ever!!!!
You can cook these in the air fryer Delish!
Recipe was easy to follow. I had to finish them off in my air fryer. My grill didn’t get hot enough. They were perfect. Thanks for sharing your recipe!
Great recipe. Ate them all! Them made some more for everyone else.
Haha, I love that, Lyonrc! Thanks for sharing.
I’m excited to try these! In the picture, they are shown with some kind of dip. What is good to dip these in?
They are delicious on their own or served with almost any dip! I love pairing it with a sour cream based dip or even a ranch dip to balance the spiciness as well!
Holy crap. These are DELICIOUS!!!! The only thing I changed was how I cooked them. I cooked them in my air fryer: 395 degrees for 15 minutes. HEAVEN!!
how Lang can you freeze them before grilling?
Hi Bec, they should last in the freezer for a few months.