Bacon Wrapped Jalapeños are the perfect party and game day appetizer! Jalapeño peppers are halved and filled with a cheesy garlic and chive cream cheese mixture, wrapped with bacon and baked until the bacon crisps and the filling is melty. Yields 24 peppers and will serve 8 (3 peppers per person).
Anything wrapped in bacon is incredible.
But bacon wrapped jalapeños are top notch. Back in 2010 when I first posted this recipe, it consisted of 3 ingredients: jalapeños, cream cheese and bacon. Which is still amazing (especially when in a pinch), but someone mentioned in the comments to try adding shredded cheese to the cream cheese. That little nugget of inspo was enough for me to remake and reshoot this old recipe.
And for what it’s worth, I didn’t stop at adding cheese. I also incorporate chives, garlic powder, smoked paprika and onion powder – because why not?
I think you’re going to love these!
To Make These Bacon Wrapped Jalapeños You Will Need:
- cream cheese – Set this out to soften 30 to 45 minutes before making.
- cheddar jack cheese – May substitute with sharp cheddar or pepper jack cheese.
- chives – I’m using dried but fresh also works.
- garlic powder – Adds flavor that’s sweeter yet milder than fresh garlic.
- smoked paprika – Adds color and subtle smoky flavor.
- onion powder – Lends additional bold oniony flavor.
- jalapeños – Pick jalapeños medium in size. You don’t want tiny or too huge of peppers.
- applewood smoked bacon – I do my best to try to count slices in the package before buying, you need 12 slices.
- toothpicks – Use these to secure the bacon and also helpful for guests to grab onto when serving.
Make the filling:
In a mixing bowl, measure and add 8 ounces softened cream cheese, 1 cup shredded cheddar jack cheese, 1 tablespoon dried chives (1-1/2 teaspoons if using fresh), 3/4 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/2. teaspoon smoked paprika and 1/4 teaspoon onion powder.
Mix well to combine and set aside.
Prep The Jalapeños:
You need about 12 jalapeños. Wear gloves while prepping the jalapeños. Cut each pepper in half lengthwise and, over a bowl, use your (gloved) fingers or a small spoon to remove the seeds and ribs. If you want them to have some extra heat, you could leave a little of the rib and seed attached.
Why Wear Gloves When Handling Jalapeños?
I can’t stress enough how important it is to wear gloves while prepping jalapeños, especially this many. The peppers have capsaicin (which is also what makes them spicy) and that oil will irritate anything it comes in contact with – skin, eyes etc.
Assemble the bacon wrapped jalapeños:
Fill each jalapeño with the cream cheese mixture. There really isn’t an easy or neat way to do this. But I used an offset spatula to fill them with cream cheese.
Cut 12 slices of bacon in half and wrap a half slice of bacon around each of the filled jalapeños. Secure with the seam side down or with a toothpick and repeat.
What Bacon Is Best For Bacon Wrapped Jalapeños?
I like to use applewood smoked bacon, however any would be just fine. I like to set my bacon out to soften up a bit which makes them easier to stretch and wrap around the filled jalapeños..
Bake in a 375° oven for 25 to 30 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through baking. If needed, you can flip on the broiler to crisp them up more (I don’t ever need to do this) just watch them carefully so they don’t burn.
Serve immediately alongside your favorite dip.
What Dip Goes With Bacon Wrapped Jalapeños?
- ranch
- southwest ranch (recipe coming soon)
- blue cheese dressing/dip
The pepper still has a little bite to it, the bacon is smoky, salty and crisp while the cream cheese is ooey and gooey and flavored by the combination of chives, spices and rendered bacon fat.
Enjoy! And if you give this Bacon Wrapped Jalapeños recipe a try, let me know! Snap a photo and tag me on twitter or instagram!
Bacon Wrapped Jalapeños
Ingredients
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened (set out 30-40 minutes prior to making)
- 1 cup cheddar jack cheese, shredded
- 1 tablespoon dried chives, or 1½ to 2 teaspoons fresh
- 3/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 12 medium jalapeño peppers
- 12 slices apple wood bacon, sliced in half
Equipment
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°.Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil and place an oven safe wire rack into the pan. Lightly spray the wrack with nonstick spray.
- In a mixing bowl, add the cream cheese, cheddar jack cheese, dried chives, garlic powder, smoked paprika and onion powder. Stir well to combine and set off to the side..
- Wear gloves while prepping the jalapeños.Cut each pepper in half lengthwise and, over a bowl, use your (gloved) fingers or a small spoon to remove the seeds and ribs. If you want them to have some extra heat, you could leave a little of the rib and seed attached.
- Divide and fill each jalapeño with the cream cheese mixture.
- Wrap a half slice of bacon around each of the filled jalapeños. Secure with a toothpick and place seam side down on to prepared pan.
- Bake on the middle rack of your preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through baking. If needed, you can flip on the broiler to crisp them up more (I don’t ever need to do this) just watch them carefully so they don’t burn.
- Serve immediately alongside your favorite dip!
Notes
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THANK YOU in advance for your support!
I'll have a dozen with my coffee this morning, thank you!
i'm not usually big on spicy things, but this looks amaaazing. i think almost anything wrapped in bacon and stuffed with cream cheese would have to be! yum! thanks for the recipe.:)
-amanda@seegirlcook
Those are 3 good words which are supported nicely by two of my other favorite words Cream Cheese! Great photos too. GREG
it looks amazing!!! 😀
Oh wow. Smoky heat. Yum.
Yes please!
Send 45 my way!
I'm on it Emily!! 🙂
Amanda… they aren't overly spicy… honestly my nine year old loved them!! You should give em a try!
This sounds so sinfully good
We love these, but add some shredded cheddar/monty jack cheese to the cream cheese and can even be topped with crushed pineapple.
OMG. Those three words (bacon-wrapped jalapeños) are like heaven to me. I love this!
Susan I bet that would be extra good!! WOWZA!!
Those look amazing! You take beautiful pictures! I have a recipe for crab and corn stuffed jalapenos..those could definitely use the bacon treatment. Yum!
I'm making these next Monday night for Football. My husband will swoon. I love my usual popper recipe but… well, you had me at bacon!
A wonderful recipe!!
Oh, I just love the look of these. I am saving to my faves, nice job. Congrats on top 9!
Super Yum!
Oh my goodness!! These little guys are absolutely amazing!! Definitely a keeper!
Holy mother of god. This just made my day 110% better.
great pics and I would not say no to anything bacon wrapped 🙂
I make this recipe all the time for get togethers and football games. You should baste the bacon with BBQ sauce….it is to die for!!!
Great idea Haley! I'll definitely try that!
There is a recipe similar to this on Allrecipes. She mixed cooked Italian sausage with the cream cheese then wrapped it with bacon.
I have made these before, when PW posted them on her site… So amazing! Tonight, I am going to mix it up a bit, and add a little shredded mozzarella and some pesto to the cream cheese. YUM!
OMG THAT looks amazing!
These look really good…I learned the hard way about your glove tip. I made some of these without gloves, and ended up burning the tender skin under my nails…it hurt all day!
Also, if you don't have gloves, you can use ziplock bags, they're annoying but get the job done.
I have also made these with a TB of Honey, and 1/2 tsp chili powder added to the cream
Fantastic! My husband requested this for the second time in a short period of time 🙂 The gloves are a brilliant tip. I use just a pair from our first aid kit! Thank you for this recipe.
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I mix in my brisket rub into the cream cheese but any seasoning mix works great. Cook ’em on the grill at your next cook out.
JUST made these for my 8th wedding anniversary – a “marriage” of our two favourite things (his, jalapeno poppers; mine, bacon). thanks for this – we shall be making it again for sure!!!
I love these! I also like to add a ranch packet to the cream cheese. Its great.