Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers

If you’re a fan of the perfect combination of spicy and savory, then you are in for a treat with these Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers. Imagine a fiery jalapeño pepper filled with creamy cheese, wrapped in crispy bacon, and baked to perfection. With just a few simple ingredients and easy-to-follow steps, you’ll be able to create a crowd-pleasing appetizer that will have your taste buds craving for more. So get ready to tantalize your palate with these irresistible bacon-wrapped delights!

Ingredients

To make delicious bacon-wrapped jalapeño poppers, you will need the following ingredients:

Jalapeño peppers

• 10-12 fresh jalapeño peppers

Cream cheese

• 8 ounces (226 grams) of cream cheese, softened

Bacon slices

• 10-12 slices of bacon

Toothpicks

• Toothpicks for securing the bacon

Preparation

Before we dive into the cooking methods, let’s first prepare the jalapeño peppers, stuff them with cream cheese, and wrap them in bacon. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

Preparing the Jalapeño peppers

1. Start by wearing gloves to protect your hands from the spicy jalapeño peppers. This will prevent any accidental irritation.
2. Rinse the jalapeño peppers under cold water and pat them dry with a paper towel.
3. Using a sharp knife, carefully cut off the stem end of each pepper.
4. Next, cut the peppers in half lengthwise. You’ll end up with two long halves for each jalapeño pepper.
5. Using a spoon, gently scrape out the seeds and membranes from each jalapeño half. Removing the seeds will help reduce the spiciness of the poppers.

Stuffing the Jalapeño peppers

1. Take a spoonful of softened cream cheese and carefully stuff each jalapeño half. Make sure the cream cheese fills the cavity of the pepper evenly.
2. Repeat this process for all the jalapeño halves until they are all stuffed with cream cheese.

Wrapping the peppers with bacon

1. Take a slice of bacon and cut it in half lengthwise.
2. Wrap each cream cheese-filled jalapeño half with a strip of bacon, ensuring that the bacon securely wraps around the pepper.
3. Insert a toothpick through the center of the bacon-wrapped jalapeño to hold everything in place. Be careful not to pierce through the cream cheese stuffing.
4. Repeat this process for all the bacon-wrapped jalapeño poppers.

Cooking Method

Now that your jalapeño poppers are prepped and ready to go, it’s time to choose your preferred cooking method. Whether you prefer grilling, baking, air frying, or deep frying, we’ve got you covered with detailed instructions for each method.

Grilling

Prepare the grill

1. Start by preheating your grill to medium-high heat.
2. Clean the grill grates and lightly oil them to prevent the poppers from sticking.
3. Once the grill is heated and prepared, you’re ready to grill the poppers.

Grill the poppers

1. Place the bacon-wrapped jalapeño poppers on the preheated grill.
2. Grill the poppers for approximately 8-10 minutes, or until the bacon is crispy and the peppers are tender.
3. Make sure to turn the poppers occasionally to ensure even cooking.
4. Once cooked, remove the poppers from the grill and let them cool slightly before serving.

Baking

Preheat the oven

1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
2. Place a wire rack on the prepared baking sheet to elevate the poppers.

Bake the poppers

1. Arrange the bacon-wrapped jalapeño poppers on the wire rack.
2. Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake the poppers for approximately 20-25 minutes.
3. Keep an eye on them and remove them once the bacon is crispy and the peppers are tender.
4. Allow the poppers to cool slightly before serving.

Air frying

Preheat the air fryer

1. Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for a few minutes to ensure it reaches the desired cooking temperature.

Air fry the poppers

1. Place the bacon-wrapped jalapeño poppers in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
2. Cook the poppers in the preheated air fryer for around 12-15 minutes, or until the bacon is crispy and the peppers are softened.
3. Shake the basket occasionally to ensure even cooking.
4. Once done, carefully remove the poppers from the air fryer and allow them to cool slightly before serving.

Deep frying

Heat the oil

1. Fill a heavy-bottomed pot or deep fryer with vegetable oil, ensuring there’s enough oil to fully submerge the poppers.
2. Heat the oil to 375°F (190°C) over medium-high heat.

Fry the poppers

1. Carefully add a few bacon-wrapped jalapeño poppers to the hot oil, ensuring not to overcrowd the pot.
2. Fry the poppers for approximately 2-3 minutes, or until the bacon is crispy and the peppers are tender.
3. Using a slotted spoon or tongs, transfer the poppers to a paper towel-lined plate to drain any excess oil.
4. Repeat the frying process for the remaining poppers.
5. Allow the poppers to cool slightly before serving.

Serving Suggestions

Bacon-wrapped jalapeño poppers are incredibly tasty on their own, but you can take it up a notch by serving them with some delicious dipping sauces and complementing side dishes. Here are a few ideas to enhance your poppers:

Dipping sauces

• Spicy ranch dressing
• Chipotle aioli
• Creamy garlic and herb dip
• Tangy barbecue sauce

Side dishes

• Crispy french fries
• Creamy coleslaw
• Grilled corn on the cob
• Fresh vegetable salad

Variations

If you’re looking to switch things up and try different flavors, here are some exciting variations of bacon-wrapped jalapeño poppers:

Cheese-filled poppers

• Replace the cream cheese filling with shredded cheddar, Monterey Jack, or any other cheese of your choice. The cheese will melt beautifully inside the poppers, creating a gooey and delicious filling.

Sweet and spicy poppers

• Add a touch of sweetness to your poppers by mixing some honey or maple syrup into the cream cheese filling. This will create a delightful balance of sweet and spicy flavors.

Vegetarian alternative

• For a vegetarian twist on this classic appetizer, substitute the bacon with slices of marinated tofu or plant-based bacon. The jalapeño and cream cheese combination will still provide that irresistible flavor.

Tips and Tricks

Mastering the art of making bacon-wrapped jalapeño poppers doesn’t have to be complicated. Here are some useful tips and tricks to ensure your poppers turn out perfectly every time:

Wearing gloves

• When handling jalapeño peppers, it’s essential to wear gloves to protect your skin from the spicy oils. This will prevent any discomfort or irritation, allowing you to enjoy the cooking process safely.

Choosing the right peppers

• Select peppers that are fresh, firm, and free from blemishes. The size of the jalapeños can vary, so choose ones that are approximately finger-length for optimal stuffing and wrapping.

Crispy bacon

• For irresistibly crispy bacon, consider partially cooking the bacon before wrapping it around the peppers. This will ensure both the bacon and the peppers are perfectly cooked at the same time.

Removing the seeds and membranes

• The seeds and membranes inside jalapeño peppers contain a significant amount of heat. If you prefer milder poppers, make sure to remove these parts thoroughly. However, if you enjoy the heat, you can leave some or all of the seeds for an extra kick.

With these comprehensive instructions, you’re now equipped to create mouthwatering bacon-wrapped jalapeño poppers using a variety of cooking methods and delicious variations. So gather your ingredients, pick your preferred cooking method, and get ready to enjoy these crowd-pleasing appetizers that will surely spice up any occasion.