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Crispy Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeno Popper Bites: Easy Appetizer

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These crispy bacon-wrapped jalapeño popper bites are the perfect balance of spicy, creamy, salty, and crunchy. They come together quickly with simple ingredients and are always the first to disappear at any gathering.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 12 medium fresh jalapeños
  • 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 1/2 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
  • 1/4 cup green onions, finely chopped
  • 12 slices thin-cut bacon
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Place a wire rack inside a baking sheet and set it aside.
  2. Wearing gloves, cut each jalapeño in half lengthwise from stem to tip. Use a small spoon or melon baller to scrape out all the seeds and white membranes. You should end up with 24 jalapeño halves.
  3. In a mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, shredded cheddar, chopped green onions, garlic powder, and black pepper. Mix until well combined and smooth.
  4. Fill each jalapeño half with the cream cheese mixture. Don’t overfill—leave a tiny bit of space at the top. Smooth the tops so they’re level with the edge of the pepper.
  5. Take one slice of bacon and wrap it around each filled jalapeño half. Start at one end and spiral the bacon around, overlapping slightly. Tuck the end of the bacon slice underneath the popper so it stays in place.
  6. Place each wrapped popper on the wire rack, seam-side down. Make sure they’re not touching each other—leave about an inch of space between them.
  7. Bake for 10 minutes. Then, using tongs, carefully flip each popper over. Bake for another 10-15 minutes, or until the bacon is deep golden brown and crispy. If you want extra-crispy bacon, switch the oven to broil for the last 1-2 minutes.
  8. Remove the baking sheet from the oven and let the poppers rest on the rack for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

Pre-cook the bacon slightly in the microwave for 30-45 seconds before wrapping to ensure crispiness. Use room temperature cream cheese for smooth filling. Don’t skip the wire rack—it ensures even crisping. Flip the poppers halfway through baking. You can assemble these up to 24 hours in advance and refrigerate; add 5 minutes to baking time if starting from cold.

Nutrition

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