How to Make Jalapeno Poppers

If you’re hosting a game night, it will help to have your own jalapeno popper recipe; these easy appetizers can be made using simple ingredients. With rich cream cheese and fresh jalapenos, they will surely be a huge hit with everyone and will bring a party to their mouths! In this quick article, we share our quick and easy recipe for homemade jalapeño poppers.  

What are Jalapeno Poppers?  

Sometimes called jalapeño bites, jalapeño poppers are jalapeño peppers that are hollowed out to make room for stuffing such as spices, cheese, and even ground meat. They are then breaded and fried — they are commonly found as an appetizer in chain restaurants across the country. These are commonly made using a cream cheese filling which consists of onion powder, garlic powder, chili powder, Worcestershire sauce, and a little salt. 

The breading can be made from pepper, kosher salt, eggs, flour, garlic flour, and Italian-style bread crumbs. Because most of these ingredients are probably already in your kitchen, you can whip them up at a moment’s notice. Despite being so easy to cook, your guests will be super impressed that you made them yourself! 

Cheeses to Use for Filling 

If you’re looking to make the best jalapeño poppers, you may want to stick to cream cheese but feel free to to try different cheese combinations if you want. Look into mild-tasting cheeses such as cheddar cheese, tangy cream cheese, pepper jack, or mozzarella. It’s best to avoid cheeses with strong flavors such as blue cheese dressing since these can overpower your jalapeño’s flavor. 

Ways to Cook Your Jalapeño Poppers

There are many ways for you to choose from when you’re ready to cook your jalapeno poppers. Here are easy steps on how you can get the best results even if it’s your first time cooking these great snacks.  

Deep Frying

Heat up your deep fryer and allow the oil to reach 375 degrees F; it’s essential that you use a thermometer to ensure that the temperature is just right. If your oil gets too hot, your hot peppers will cook quicker than the inside stuffing. If the oil is too cool, your jalapeño poppers may absorb a lot of oil and result in a greasy mess.   

Remember to add just a few at a time in the hot oil and fry them for a total of 3 to 4 minutes or until they’re golden brown. Remove them from the oil using a slotted spoon then place them on a wire rack; be sure to line it with a baking sheet to help absorb excess oil. Do the same for the rest of your poppers.   

Baking 

While frying yields the best results for jalapeño poppers, you can also try your luck at baking them, which could result in healthier snacks compared to deep frying. First, you’ll need to preheat your oven to 400°F then place your jalapeño poppers on a baking sheet that’s been lightly greased. Bake them for a total of 20 minutes or until they become golden brown.    

Air Frying 

If you want to use your air fryer, you can get an even healthier version of this great snack. All you need to do is preheat it to 400°F. Next, put your jalapeño poppers in a single layer inside the basket and cook them for around 10 minutes or until they become golden brown. 

Jalapeño Popper Recipes

Now that you know the basics of making jalapeño poppers, it’s time to actually make them for you and your friends! Below is a great recipe you can follow for jalapeño poppers with the best flavor.

Ingredients 

• 10 to 12 jalapeno peppers seeded and halved
• 2 cups Canola oil for frying 

For Filling:

• 2 cups of softened cream cheese
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp chili powder
• ½ tsp of Worcestershire sauce
• A pinch of salt

For Breadcrumb:

• 1 ½ cups of Italian-style bread crumbs
• A pinch of salt
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• A pinch of pepper
• 2 tbsp of all-purpose flour
• 4 eggs  

Instructions

1. Start your cream cheese filling by combining the Worcestershire sauce, salt, chili powder, onion powder, garlic powder, and cream cheese together. 
2. Use a spoon to fill in your jalapeño halves with the cream cheese mixture. Ensure that the filling overflows slightly. 
3. To make the breadcrumb coating, combine your garlic powder, breadcrumbs, pepper, and salt in a large bowl. 
4. In another bowl, whisk your flour and eggs together.
5. Dip your stuffed jalapeno into the egg mixture and then dip it into the breadcrumb mixture. Ensure that they’re coated on every side, then use your hands to pack breading into your pepper to give it a good layer of crumbs. 
6. Give it a double coating by repeating step 5.  
7. Repeat this process for the rest of your jalapenos then set them aside until you need to fry them. You may put them inside your fridge to get them to become firmer before frying them. Doing this will help the coating stick better.
8. When you’re ready to fry them, use a heavy-bottomed pot for your stove or you can use your deep fryer. Make sure that you monitor the thermometer to get an accurate temperature for your oil. 
9. Preheat your deep fryer or pot to 375°F.
10. Once you have the correct temperature, place around 3 to 4 poppers at the same time, then fry them for 3 to 4 minutes or wait for them to become golden.  
11. Remove your poppers using a slotted spoon or a wire mesh basket, then place them on a wire rack. Avoid using a paper towel since this can make them soggy and may lose their crispy exterior. 
12. Keep frying the rest of your poppers as instructed until they’re all finished.   
13. Serve them with your favorite dipping sauce, such as marinara.  

Variations to the Recipe 

Because they’re so easy to make, there are so many ways for you to create your own version. It doesn’t matter what kind of cheese you want to use, you’ll still end up with something super yummy. You can even mix up the kind of peppers you want to use; while fresh jalapeños are the traditional choice, you may also use sweet bell peppers, habanero, or serrano.    

There are also various ingredients for you to choose from when you make your very own jalapeño poppers, such as:

• Goat cheese
• Crispy bacon
• Green onions
• Chili peppers
• Spicy peppers
• Sour cream
• Pickled peppers

Some of these flavor profiles provide classic combinations that are always delicious. A slice of bacon served with light and creamy cheese will always be a hit with guests. However, you can also make adjustments to the spices used in your filling. If you want to give your poppers an extra kick, you can add hot sauce or spicy jalapenos for a little heat. 

On the other end of the spectrum, you can also add more bacon bits to create the perfect blend. Whether you want to use whole jalapenos or create bacon jalapeno poppers, the possibilities for making jalapeño poppers are virtually endless. 

Conclusion 

If you’re a fan of spicy foods, you should definitely try making your own jalapeno poppers with the jalapeno recipes above. This perfect appetizer can be made in as little as 5-10 minutes, so you can make them for all kinds of celebrations, whether you’re having friends over or just looking for a quick snack on a Sunday afternoon. You can also serve them with tortilla chips to complete your snacks for trivia night or any other night for that matter!

Sources 

• Dishesanddustbunnies.com
• Sweetpealifestyle.com
• Allrecipes.com