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Easy Baked Jalapeño Poppers with Cream Cheese Filling

A plate of freshly baked Jalapeño poppers stuffed with cheese and topped with golden brown breadcrumbs.
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Make these simple, cheesy jalapeño poppers in the oven for a perfect spicy appetizer without the deep-frying mess. Great for game night!

Ingredients

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  • 12 fresh jalapeño peppers
  • 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 2 tablespoons melted butter
  • Optional: 12 thin slices of bacon

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Put on gloves to handle the peppers. Slice each jalapeño lengthwise down the middle. Use a small spoon or knife to carefully scoop out the seeds and white membranes. This step controls the heat level.
  3. In a medium bowl, mix the softened cream cheese, cheddar cheese, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt until well combined. This is your cream cheese stuffed jalapeños filling.
  4. Spoon or pipe the cheese mixture evenly into the hollowed-out jalapeño halves. Do not overfill.
  5. If you are making bacon wrapped poppers, wrap one thin slice of bacon around the cheese-filled side of each pepper half and secure it with a toothpick if needed.
  6. In a small bowl, mix the panko breadcrumbs with the melted butter. Sprinkle the breadcrumb mixture evenly over the tops of the filled peppers.
  7. Place the prepared poppers on the baking sheet.
  8. Bake for 18 to 22 minutes, or until the peppers are tender and the cheese is bubbly and lightly browned. If using bacon, cook until the bacon is crisp.
  9. Remove from the oven and let cool for a few minutes before serving.

Notes

  • Wear gloves when cutting the peppers to protect your skin from the capsaicin oil.
  • For less heat, remove all the white membrane inside the pepper. For more heat, leave some membrane attached.
  • If you skip the bacon, you can lightly spray the tops with cooking spray before adding the breadcrumbs for better browning.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://afripaket.com/baked-jalapeno-poppers-recipe/