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Best Crispy Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers for Game Day

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These crispy bacon wrapped jalapeno poppers are the ultimate game day appetizer, featuring a creamy, spicy filling wrapped in perfectly crispy bacon. They’re easy to make, crowd-pleasing, and disappear fast at any party.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 12 large jalapeno peppers
  • 8 oz cream cheese, softened to room temperature
  • 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 12 slices thin-cut bacon
  • Ranch dressing or blue cheese dip for serving (optional)
  • Fresh chives, chopped for garnish (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and place a wire rack on top.
  2. Lay the bacon slices on the wire rack in a single layer. Bake for 8-10 minutes, until the bacon is just starting to render fat but is still flexible and pliable. Remove from the oven and let it cool slightly on paper towels.
  3. While the bacon is cooking, put on rubber gloves. Cut each jalapeno in half lengthwise. Use a small spoon to scrape out the seeds and white membranes. Rinse the jalapeno halves under cold water and pat them dry with paper towels.
  4. In a small mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, shredded cheddar, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Mix until well combined and smooth.
  5. Using a small spoon, fill each jalapeno half with the cream cheese mixture. Don’t overfill—the filling should be level with the top of the pepper.
  6. Cut each par-cooked bacon slice in half crosswise. Wrap one half-slice of bacon around each filled jalapeno half, securing the ends underneath. Place the wrapped poppers on the wire rack, seam-side down.
  7. Bake the poppers for 15-18 minutes, until the bacon is crispy and the filling is bubbly and slightly golden on top.
  8. Let the poppers cool on the wire rack for 5 minutes before serving. Serve warm with ranch dressing or blue cheese dip on the side.

Notes

For extra crispy bacon, switch the oven to broil for the last 1-2 minutes of cooking. Watch carefully to avoid burning. To make ahead, assemble poppers up to 24 hours in advance and refrigerate; add 2-3 minutes to baking time. For freezing, assemble completely and freeze before baking; bake from frozen at 400°F for 20-25 minutes.

Nutrition

Keywords: bacon wrapped jalapeno poppers, game day appetizer, crispy bacon, jalapeno poppers, party food, keto appetizer, gluten-free appetizer

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