I recently stumbled upon this Jalepeno Popper recipe on Dinner at the Zoo, tried it and loved it. Appetizers are a favorite of mine and I absolutely love when an appetizer is delicious enough that it can replace an actual meal. These bacon wrapped jalapeno poppers do just that!
So, what makes the jalapeno poppers in this recipe even better than the ones I tried? I’ll tell you! I made a few changes to the recipe that take it from really great, to utterly fantastic.
Adding Hickory Smoked Gouda Cheese
I’ll let you in on a little secret, a good cheese really makes an impact on the quality of the dish. The original recipe calls for chedder cheese. I love chedder cheese, but I thought that with the delicious bacon and spicy jalapeno, smoked gouda would really bring the recipe up a notch. I was right! The recipe is out-of-this-world delicious once the smoked gouda was added
Using Smaller Jalapenos
I love spice! The original recipe calls for using the larger, 4 inch, Jalapenos. Although that allows for a much bigger jalapeno popper, larger jalapenos tend to be milder. I love a nice spice to my jalapeno poppers. Making sure that the smaller ones are used, gives the appetizer really nice heat. The other nice thing about using small jalapenos is that the bacon wraps around the smaller jalapenos better, ensuring you have bacon with every bite!
Leaving Some of The Membrane
Contrary to popular belief, the seeds don’t carry as much heat as you would imagine. The membrane of the pepper carries the most heat. If you’re searching for a spicy jalapeno popper, than leave a little bit of the membrane intact before stuffing these delicious morsels!
Tips For Prepping
- As with any recipe dealing with peppers, make sure you wear gloves or be careful not to touch your eyes. There’s nothing worse than accidently getting pepper juice in your eyes!
- I prep the cheese mixture first, then cut the bacon in half, than slice and prepare the jalapenos. Once everything is prepped, is easy to stuff and wrap before placing in the oven to bake!
This recipe is sure to “wow” your guests. My husband and eat love this recipe so much that we occasionally make it for dinner!
If you’re searching for an additional appetizer that will please anyone, check out this amazing Spinach Artichoke Dip!
Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Popper
These delicious spicy morsels are sure to be a crowd pleaser at an party of event.
Ingredients
- 15 Jalapenos 2-3 inches in length
- 1 8oz Block of Cream Cheese softened
- 1/2 cup Sharp Chedder Cheese shredded
- 1/2 cup Smoked Gouda shredded
- 1/2 tsp Onions Powder
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 1/2 tsp Pepper
- 15 Slices of Bacon - Cut in Half do not use thick cut bacon
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet or two with aluminum foil and spray with cooking spray.
In a large bowl, combine cream cheese, salt, onion powder, pepper, gouda cheese and chedder cheese with a hand mixture. Set aside.
Cut each jalapeno in half lengthwise and remove the seeds and most of the membrane. If you would like a spicier jalapeno popper, leave more of the membrane intact.
Once all 15 jalapenos have been cut and seeds removed, stuff each jalapeno half with the cheese mixture.
Wrap each jalapeno with a half slice of bacon. If necessary, use a toothpick to secure the bacon (although with the smaller jalapenos I haven't had to do this).
place on the baking sheet and bake for 25 minutes, or until bacon is brown and cheese is melted. Let cool down for a few minutes (or cheese will burn your mouth!) Serve hot!
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