Baked Jalapeno Poppers

Favorite bar food transformed to gluten free snack! Three cheese stuffed baked jalapeno poppers bites!

Each roasted, bubbling, cheesy jalapeno will disappear in about two bites.. making you crave for one more..
View Recipe

This recipe for Jalapeno Poppers – cream cheese, cheddar and feta stuffed jalapeno bites will take you on a fun adventure of an all-time favorite bar food, from comfort of your own home! 

Gluten free, not fried but baked Jalapeno Poppers are a must try for any jalapeno and cheese lover! This cheesy Mexican staple can be a show-stopper at any party! I bet! So, I thought, with Oscar Academy Award night approaching this Sunday.. these will make a perfect addition to appetizer platter.  Don't you think?

I think so because not just Jalapeno Poppers are easy to put together, these are mini-little flavor BOMBs! 

You know, flavor-is-the-king!

No one has to know, you worked just 20-25 minutes to put a platter of no-mess and delicious Jalapeno Bites together which is looking as pretty and hot like Oscar guests ;) 

Honestly, these days, I'm obsessed with Jalapeno Poppers. When I saw super fresh Jalapenos in my grocery store last weekend... I felt these has to be on blog! 

Do you remember the Jalapeno Popper Pretzel Bites I shared last month? Those were just the beginning of my delicious rendezvous with jalapenos and cheese. 

Oh, and those Jalapeno cornbread Muffins!! AmaZing!!

Easy 20 Minute Appetizer:

You won't believe, it is so easy to bake a big of jalapeno poppers.. from slicing fresh jalapenos to serving hot and bubbling cheese stuffed peppers takes 20-25 minutes max! 

In fact, you know what? I even like to pre-prep jalapeno peppers and cut my work in half..

I slice and clean the jalapenos and stuff with cheese and put two batches in refrigerator, ready to bake anytime. Then, just when guests start arriving, I arrange a batch on sheet tray and bake fresh screaming bubbling jalapeno poppers in 12 minutes! 

Since jalapenos are stuffed with sturdy-cheese mixture i.e. cream cheese, feta and cheddar.. nothing falls out and rather gets more set while, sitting in refrigerator, waiting to be baked. 

How to prep Jalapeno for Jalapeno Poppers:

A naive jalapeno popper enthusiast will ask: these poppers must be very hot... after all, it is whole jalapeno chilies and cheese? 

I would answer: Not even a little bit!

Trust me, no kidding! If jalapenos are prepared right, jalapeno poppers are a delightful appetizer! So amazingly flavorful with flavor of chili, garlic, and cheese... and is not hot like you would think a chili will be.

Now, you can keep it hot, if you like. I like to make these comfortable for average palate . So, here is how I prepare jalapenos for baked jalapeno poppers:

1. *Slice jalapenos in half.
2. With a small spoon or small knife, remove seeds and inner membrane of jalapeno halves. (discard the seeds).

That't it! This simple yet crucial step will reduce heat of jalapeno chilies by a lot. 

(*wear gloves for this step or be careful not to touch your eyes) 

Bake or Fry?

I must mention that I love fried poppers too.. but given a choice, I will make baked version than fried. Not just because it uses less oil and so... but also because baked jalapeno poppers need very less time to put together. This batch of 24 jalapenos bites was ready in 20 minutes. Also, slicing jalapenos in half gave me chance to remove seeds easily and made stuffing cheese easy too.

Guys, don't forget to tune your TVs to Oscar night coming Sunday, Feb 20, 2017! And make sure to bake some Jalapeno Poppers! You can also make some Thai Peanut Chicken Wraps to compliment the appetizer platter.

oh, for all Jalapeno fans (like myself), I recommend Watermelon Jalapeno Agua Fresca for drink. (since melons are still not in season, you can also make this refreshing drink with strawberries.)

Now, I'm hungry at middle of night, looking at these pictures. Signing off and wish you all a delicious Wednesday!

-Savita x

Pairing Ideas:
Ambrosia Salad Spiked Vodka Strawberry Agua Fresca Baked Italian Turkey Meatballs

Baked Jalapeno Poppers
Total Time: Prep Time: Cook Time:
Cuisine:    American Category: Difficulty: Easy
Yields: 24 Bites Serves: 6
Notes: No. of servings depends on serving size. SEE PRINTABLE RECIPE

Ingredients

  • 12 Jalapeno (sliced in half, seeds and stem removed)
  • 1/2 Cup Cream Cheese
  • 1/2 Cup Cheddar Cheese (extra sharp white cheddar, grated)
  • 1/4 Cup Feta Cheese
  • 1 Garlic (minced)
  • 1/2 tsp Onion Powder
  • Parsley (or chives, for garnish)

Directions

  • 1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
  • 2. Cut each pepper in half, lengthwise. Scoop out the seeds as much as possible. Slice a thin piece off the bottom of each pepper so these sit flat on sheet. Place all peppers on baking sheet.
  • 3. Mix three cheese, garlic and onion in a small bowl until well combined. Stuff each pepper with cheese mixture and keep placing back on sheet. Bake for 10 minutes, then switch on broiler and broil for 2-3 minutes or until cheese is bubbling and jalapenos are soft.
  • 4. Remove sheet tray from oven. Let pepper cool slightly. Transfer to serving platter. Garnish with chopped chives or parsley. Serve hot and enjoy!
SEE FULL PRINTABLE RECIPE

© Chef De Home. Post content including video and photos are copyright protected.

2 Responses

Hi Savita, I baked one and half of jalapeno leftovers from my refrigerator and fell in love! I never, in million year, thought to make this snack at home. pure yum! I'm making a big batch this weekend. Thanks for the recipe.

We Think You'll Love