Who doesn’t love a spicy, crunchy jalapeño pepper overflowing with melted, garlicky cheese? Stuffed jalapeños are a tried-and-true favorite snack, and they’re actually incredibly simple to make. Here’s what you need to make a batch of basic jalapeño poppers, along with a few ideas to jazz them up a bit. Your guests will fall head over heels for these amazing stuffed peppers because they are equally as tasty as anything you would find at a restaurant.
Ingredients
- 12 fresh jalapeño peppers
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
Directions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- Cut the jalapeño peppers in half lengthwise; remove seeds if desired.
- Beat the cream cheese, cheddar cheese, garlic, and paprika together until combined, adding salt to taste.
- Spoon filling equally into all 24 jalapeño halves.
- Place each stuffed japaneño on the baking rack and bake for 25-28 minutes or until the cheese is golden brown. Serve immediately.
Customizations
- Stuff with crumbled sausage, sauteed onions, garlic, and mozzarella to add a touch of breakfast cuisine.
- Stuff with taco meat, crushed tortilla chips, hot sauce, and sour cream for a Mexican twist.
- Stuff with shredded chicken, wing sauce, and ranch for a spicy, not-messy buffalo “wing.”
- Stuff with crawfish meat, onion, garlic, cajun seasoning, cream cheese, and cheddar cheese for some Louisiana flavor.
- Stuff with a mozzarella stick, wrap with a wonton wrapper, and deep fry for a crunchy treat.
- Stuff with macaroni and cheese and wrap with bacon, because you can’t go wrong with that winning flavor combo.
- Stuff with cream cheese, Monterey Jack cheese, chili powder, and lil’ smokies before wrapping in bacon for a hyped-up fan favorite.
- Wrap slices of bacon around any of these stuffed jalapeños and hold it together with a toothpick.
- Wrap stuffed jalapeños in puff pastry to make fluffy jalapeño poppers.
