Crispy Bacon Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers
These crispy bacon wrapped jalapeño poppers are an easy, crowd-pleasing appetizer featuring spicy jalapeños stuffed with creamy cheese and wrapped in smoky bacon. Perfect for quick snacks or party gatherings.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20-25 minutes
- Total Time: 30-35 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings (about 2 poppers per serving) 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 medium fresh jalapeños, washed and halved lengthwise
- 8 ounces full-fat cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese (optional but recommended)
- 12 slices thin-cut bacon
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Pinch of salt
- Optional extras: chopped fresh cilantro or parsley for garnish, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Wear gloves and slice each jalapeño in half lengthwise. Remove seeds and membranes with a small spoon, leaving some seeds if more heat is desired.
- In a mixing bowl, combine softened cream cheese, shredded cheddar, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and salt. Stir until smooth.
- Fill each jalapeño half with the cream cheese mixture using a spoon or small scoop, avoiding overfilling.
- Wrap each stuffed jalapeño half with one slice of bacon, securing with a toothpick if needed.
- Place the bacon-wrapped poppers on a wire rack set over a rimmed baking sheet to allow fat to drip away and promote crispiness.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, starting to check at 18 minutes. Bacon should be golden and crispy, and filling bubbly.
- Optional: Broil for 1-2 minutes at the end for extra crispiness, watching carefully to avoid burning.
- Let poppers rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
Use thin-cut bacon for best crispiness. Wearing gloves when handling jalapeños prevents skin irritation. Pre-roasting jalapeños slightly softens their bite. Using a wire rack helps bacon crisp evenly by allowing fat to drip away. Poppers can be assembled ahead and refrigerated before baking. Reheat in oven at 350°F for 10 minutes to restore crispiness; avoid microwaving to prevent soggy bacon.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 2 poppers
- Calories: 200
- Sugar: 2
- Sodium: 450
- Fat: 16
- Saturated Fat: 6
- Carbohydrates: 3
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 7
Keywords: jalapeño poppers, bacon wrapped, appetizer, easy snack, party food, spicy, creamy, cheese, bacon