Bacon Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers

This jalapeno popper recipe is as good as they get.  Wrapped in bacon and stuffed with sausage and cheese, they are over the top delicious.  They are as good as they look, they're spicy, cheesy, smokey and meaty.  Make these for your next party - they're easy to pass around and very easy to eat.

🌟 Why this recipe works

Wondering what to do with those extra jalapenos accumulating in your refrigerator? You guessed it right, jalapeño peppers stuffed with cream cheese, cheddar cheese, sausages, seasonings, then wrapped in bacon! These little delights are SO GOOD; even the pickiest of eaters will chow down.

Seriously once you taste these bacon-wrapped jalapeno poppers, you'll never want to stop making them. Actually, this is one of my go-to appetizers to impress my guests. They look fancy and even taste fancy, but they're incredibly easy to make -ready in just an hour or less.

Besides, you can prep them ahead of time and cook them when your guests arrive. How convenient is that?

So if you're looking for a great appetizer to serve guests at a tailgate, barbecue party, get-together party or Christmas dinner these little guys plus ranch dressing got you!

🍽 Key ingredients

With only 6 ingredients and a couple of essential kitchen tools, making baked bacon-wrapped jalapeno poppers has never been easier. Plus, this recipe is easy to tweak according to what you have on hand.

Jalapenos: I wanted mildly spiced jalapeño poppers, so I removed all the seeds and membranes. But if you like your poppers spicy, leave some of them in.

Bacon: Thick-cut bacon pieces work best in this recipe.

Salsa: The zesty and savory Mexican salsa is the secret ingredient that gives these jalapeno poppers a new and flavorful dimension. So DON'T skip it!

Ingredients tips

• Use straight jalapeños for the best results. Curved ones will give you a harder time stuffing and might not bake evenly. If possible, go for larger jalapenos as they are easier to stuff.

Substitutions

• Feel free to sub the mini sausages with any meat of your choice. Pulled pork, shredded chicken, turkey, or chopped chorizo are fantastic options. Besides adding texture and flavor, the meat soaks in all the goodness and prevents the cheese from sliding off.

🔪 How to make

Baked poppers are delightfully easy to make. Just cut, stuff, and toss them in the oven, and voila...done in just 40 minutes and baked to crispy perfection.

Here's how to make bacon-wrapped jalapeno poppers in the oven;

Preheat the oven to 375 F (190 C). Line the sheet pan with aluminum foil.

Step 1

Mix cream cheese, cheddar cheese, garlic salt, and salsa in a medium bowl, then set aside.

Step 2

Fill the bottom half of the jalapenos with some of the cream cheese mixtures, then press the sausage into the cheese.

Step 3

Wrap a slice of bacon around the jalapeno half tightly, secure with a toothpick.

Step 4

Place the wrapped jalapeno halves on the prepared baking sheet lined with foil and bake for about 40 minutes or until the jalapeno is cooked and the bacon is crispy.

Step 5

Allow cooling for at least 10 minutes before serving.

🙋 Frequently Ask Questions

How do you cut jalapeno poppers?

Use a knife to slice the jalapeno peppers in half lengthwise. Cutting them half crosswise won't work in this recipe. Scrape out the seeds and membranes using a spoon. You can also use your hands but ensure you wear gloves or other protective gear to prevent jalapenos' burning or stinging sensation.

What do you dip jalapeno poppers in?

Bacon-wrapped jalapeno poppers and ranch dressing are a match made in heaven - oh, it's soo good! They are also deliciously served with a bowl of marinara sauce, bbq sauce, or mexican sauce.

Does Costco have jalapeno poppers?

Yes. Each comes with 20 bacon-wrapped jalapeno poppers ready to be baked, fried, or air fried. It's a great option if you're lazy and craving these little treats.

📖 Recipe variations

As mentioned earlier, there are delicious ways to cook these bacon-wrapped jalapeno poppers. Give them a try. I guarantee you'll love 'em;

Seasoning Cream Cheese: You can add smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, or green onion to the cream cheese mixture for more flavor.

Grilled bacon-wrapped jalapeno poppers: prep the jalapenos and mix filling according to the recipe instructions. Grease grill and set to medium-high heat. Place the jalapeno peppers on the grill and cook for about 5 minutes or until the bacon crisp. Gently loosen bacon, flip jalapenos, reduce heat and cook for another 10 minutes or until bacon is crispy.

Smoked bacon-wrapped jalapeno poppers: add a couple of wood chips to the smoker and preheat to 250 F. Combine cream cheese and other stuffing as directed in the recipe. You can add garlic powder and smoked paprika for a garlicky, smoky flavor. Smoke the poppers for about 1½ hours or until jalapenos soften and the bacon begins to crisp.

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Check out these amazing recipes for your next meal. I'm sure you'll find something you'll love.

🧊 Storing and ♨️ reheating

If you've got any leftovers, which I highly doubt, you can store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator and enjoy them later. It can last up to 3 days.

I don't recommend freezing bacon-wrapped jalapeno poppers as they'll lose their crisp texture and become soggy.

To reheat, use a microwave or oven. I prefer the latter cause it maintains the crunchiness. Place the jalapenos poppers on a foil-lined baking sheet and bake at 375 F (190 C) for about 15 minutes or until heated through.

🍳 Related Recipes

Try one of these delicious comfort food recipes including my easy corn nuggets recipe.

👪 Serving size

This easy bacon-wrapped jalapeno poppers recipe is the perfect party appetizer! It's insanely delicious, appealing, quick prep time, and cooking time. It's one of those recipes you need in your back pocket for last-minute parties. The recipe makes 24 poppers, so consider doubling or tripling the batch if you're serving a big crowd.

📋 Recipe

Bacon Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers

This jalapeno popper recipe is as good as they get.  Wrapped in bacon and stuffed with sausage and cheese, these jalapeno poppers are over the top delicious.

5 from 1 vote

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Course: Appetizer, Snack

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour

Servings: 24 Servings

Calories: 85kcal

Author: Ben Rayl

Ingredients

 

1x2x3x

• 1 package cream cheese - 8 oz room temperature
• 1 cup cheddar cheese
• 1 teaspoon garlic salt
• 2 tablespoon mexican salsa
• 12 jalapenos - halved and seeded
• 24 mini sausages
• 12 slices bacon - cut in half

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 375 F (190 C).
• In a small bowl, mix together the cream cheese, cheddar cheese, garlic salt and salsa then set aside.
• Fill the bottom half of a jalapeno with some of the cream cheese mixture, then press the sausage into the cheese.
• Wrap a bacon slice around the pepper half tightly, and secure with a toothpick.
• Bake for about 40 minutes, until the jalapeno is cooked and the bacon is crispy.
• Allow to cool for at least 10 minutes before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 85kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 22mg | Sodium: 249mg | Potassium: 51mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 249IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 45mg | Iron: 1mg