Description
Golden-fried jalapeños stuffed with creamy cheese and smoky bacon – the perfect appetizer or party snack!
Ingredients
Scale
- 10 fresh jalapeños (halved and seeded)
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (or a cheddar–mozzarella mix)
- 4 slices cooked bacon, crumbled
- 2 green onions, finely chopped
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp smoked paprika (optional)
- Salt & pepper to taste
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 2 cups seasoned breadcrumbs (panko for extra crunch)
- Oil, for frying
Instructions
- Slice jalapeños in half lengthwise and scoop out seeds (leave some ribs if you like extra heat).
- In a bowl, mix cream cheese, cheddar, bacon, green onions, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Fill each jalapeño half generously with the cheese mixture.
- Dredge each filled jalapeño in flour. Dip into beaten eggs. Coat in breadcrumbs, pressing gently so they stick.
- Heat oil to 350°F (175°C). Fry jalapeño poppers in small batches for 2–3 minutes until golden brown. Drain on paper towels.
- Serve hot with ranch or chipotle dipping sauce. Garnish with extra bacon bits or chopped green onions if desired.
Notes
- Adjust the amount of jalapeños based on your preference for spice.
- For a vegetarian version, omit the bacon.
- These can be made ahead of time and frozen before frying.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 poppers
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 8g
- Cholesterol: 50mg