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Jalapeno Poppers with Bacon

Jalapeno poppers with bacon are baked on a wire rack for crisp bacon and a bubbling, golden cream-cheese filling. Halved jalapenos are stuffed with a cheddar-forward mixture, wrapped in bacon, then baked until the bacon turns crisp.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 22 minutes
Total Time 42 minutes
Servings: 12 servings
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: Tex-Mex
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Jalapeno poppers filling and bacon wrap
  • 12 jalapenos halved lengthwise and seeded
  • 8 oz cream cheese softened
  • 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar
  • 0.5 tsp garlic powder
  • 0.5 tsp smoked paprika
  • 2 green onions finely sliced
  • 12 bacon thin-cut, halved crosswise

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan
  • 1 cast iron skillet

Method
 

Preheat and prep the baking setup
  1. Preheat oven to 400F and set a wire rack over a lined baking sheet so hot air circulates for crisp bacon.
  2. Halve the jalapenos lengthwise and seed them so the filling can sit inside each pepper half.
Make the cheese filling
  1. Mix cream cheese, shredded sharp cheddar, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and green onions until the mixture is evenly combined and scoopable.
Assemble and bake
  1. Fill each jalapeno half with the cheese mixture so the top is generously mounded.
  2. Wrap each filled jalapeno half with a piece of bacon, tucking the ends underneath so they stay put while baking.
  3. Arrange the bacon-wrapped jalapenos on the rack and bake 20-22 minutes until the bacon is crisp and the filling is bubbling with visible melt.
Rest and serve
  1. Cool for 5 minutes before serving so the filling thickens slightly and won’t run when bitten.

Notes

For the cleanest filling, soften the cream cheese fully before mixing so it blends smoothly with the cheddar and seasonings. Store leftovers in the refrigerator up to 3 days in an airtight container; reheat in a 350F oven until warmed through and bacon re-crisps. Freezing is not recommended because the jalapenos and bacon texture can soften after thawing. For a lighter option, use turkey bacon instead of bacon and bake as directed.