Who doesn’t love a bite-sized appetizer that bites you back a bit? You can make our stuffed jalapeno poppers recipe in the oven in just 20 minutes! Don’t want to use an oven? You can also air fry or grill them! These jalapeño poppers have the spiciness you crave from jalapeños, loaded with tangy, rich cream cheese and cheddar blend to mellow the heat.
Our easy stuffed jalapeno recipe will surely be a hit at your next gathering. I firmly believe that party food should be easy and – equally important – fun to prepare. It just seems like a shame to stress over what should be a relaxing time with friends. And you know they will be more than happy with whatever you serve! So whenever we are hosting a casual get-together, I always have this cheddar and cream cheese jalapeno peppers recipe ready to go.
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Stuffed Jalapenos Video Tutorial
Why We Love This Recipe
- They’re ready in 30 minutes! This is a classic game day appetizer that is a snap to make in under 30 minutes with only 4 ingredients.
- Make them in the oven or air fryer. The versality of baking in the oven or using an air fryer matters when hosting an event. It is easy to run out of oven space when cooking for a lot of people.
- The spice factor- These stuffed poppers have the membranes and seeds removed, so they are mildly spicy- choose a hotter pepper variety if you want more spice.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
We’ve kept things simple and delicious to make this vegetarian appetizer.
- Jalapeno peppers: Get well-rounded peppers that are at least 3-4 inches long
- Cheddar cheese: Shredding your cheese makes a difference in melting. Pre-shredded cheese has anti-caking agents that impair that cheese pull everyone loves!
- Cream cheese: We recommend using full-fat cream cheese for the creamiest poppers!
- Green onion: To add a little color! You can substitute with chopped parsley.
Serve them with a dip! They pair well with bang bang shrimp sauce, salsa with jalapeno peppers, or mango with chili.
Recipe Variations
- As-is this is a vegetarian recipe, however, you can certainly add cooked crumbled bacon to the top of the cheese mixture before baking or air frying.
- For even more spiciness, swap the cheddar cheese with shredded pepper Jack cheese. Spicy stuffed jalapenos are perfect for a Super Bowl party or a tailgating celebration.
- Need.a milder version? You can use regular mild green peppers instead of jalapeños.
How to Make Jalapeno Poppers in Oven
- Cut 1/3 of each pepper off lengthwise and scoop out the seeds with a spoon. I save the top 1/3 of the peppers for salsa.
- After cutting the peppers length-wise, run a small spoon along the inside to remove the membranes and seeds until the inside of the pepper is smooth.
- Place peppers on a baking sheet. If the peppers do not sit flat on the baking sheet, slice a thin piece off the bottom of the pepper so it will not roll around.
- Mash the cream cheese, shredded cheese, and onion together and stuff the peppers with the mixture.
- Roast at 425ºF for 15 to 18 minutes. The appetizers are ready when the peppers are tender and the cheese is golden and bubbly on top.
How to make Stuffed Jalapenos in the Air Fryer
To free up oven space, bake these jalapeno poppers in the air fryer. If needed, preheat the air fryer to 400ºF.
- Place the stuffed peppers in the air fryer keeping at least 1 inch of space around the poppers.
- Air fry (or bake)at 400ºF for 12 – 15 minutes, until the peppers are tender and the cheese is golden and bubbly on top.
How to Make Jalapeno Poppers on the Grill
- Prepare and fill the jalapeños according to the baking instructions.
- Preheat your grill to medium heat (around 375°F.
- You can place the jalapeños directly on the grill grates or in on a grill pan.
- Close the lid and grill for 10-15 minutes. The length of time here will vary depending on your grill temperature and the size of your jalapeños so keep a close eye around the ten minute mark. The peppers will be tender and the cheese will be bubbly when these stuffed jalapenos are done.
Serving Suggestions
These are best served hot and crispy! They pair perfectly with cool, creamy dips like sour cream, guacamole, or ranch dressing. For a spicier kick, try serving them with salsa de jalapeño or pico de Gallo. Make an appetizer table with buffalo chicken wontons, charcuterie board, and pigs in a blanket.
Serving these jalapeños poppers at an event? Pair with a main course like grilled turkey burgers or smoked brisket.
Recipe FAQs
These stuffed poppers have the membranes and seeds removed, so they are mildly spicy. The membranes and seeds contain the highest concentration of capsaicin. Capsaicin is the ingredient found in different types of hot peppers, such as cayenne peppers, that makes the peppers spicy hot.
My favorite dipping sauces for these jalapeno poppers are blue cheese dressing, ranch dressing, jalapeno salsa, or sweet chili sauce.
After cutting the peppers length-wise, run a small spoon along the inside to remove the membranes and seeds until the inside of the pepper is smooth. I wear gloves when cleaning hot peppers to keep my hands free from the capsaicin, which can burn your skin.
Jalapeno poppers can be stored in the fridge for up to two days in an airtight container. We recommend reheating them in the oven at 350ºF, but you can also reheat them in a microwave or air fryer at 325ºF.
To reheat frozen peppers, remove them from the freezer. Let defrost on a paper towel for about 30 minutes. The paper towel will wick away the moisture and keep the center crispier when baked.
Place them on a cookie sheet and into a preheated oven at 400ºF. Bake for 17 – 20 minutes or until golden brown and heated all t
For best results, do not bake or air fry the jalapeno popper appetizers before freezing.
After stuffing, flash-freeze them individually on a baking sheet until they are hard and firm. This takes about 2 hours.
Then store them in an airtight container or freezer bag. They can last up to 6 months when stored properly in the freezer.
Consider These Delicious Appetizer Recipes…
If you tried this stuffed jalapeño recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!
Stuffed Jalapeno Poppers
Equipment
- non-stick cooking spray
- air fryer - optional
Ingredients
- 12 large jalapeno peppers
- 6 ounces cream cheese (at room temperature)
- 6 ounces extra-sharp cheddar cheese or shredded smoked Pepper Jack cheese
- 2 tablespoons chopped green onion
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
- Cut 1/3 of each pepper off lengthwise. After cutting the jalapenos length-wise, run a small spoon along the inside to remove the membranes and seeds until the inside of the pepper is smooth.
- Place jalapeno peppers on a baking sheet. If the peppers do not sit flat on the baking sheet, slice a thin piece off the bottom of the pepper so it will not roll around. Mash the cream cheese, shredded cheese, and onion together and stuff the peppers with the mixture.
Oven Roasted Poppers
- Prepare your baking sheet by spraying it with cooking oil or line it with parchment paper. Place the jalapenos on a baking sheet leaving at least 1" of space around the jalapenos.
- Bake or Roast at 425º F for 15 to 18 minutes, or until the peppers are tender and the cheese is brown at the edges and bubbly.
Air Fryer Jalapeno Poppers
- Preheat the air fryer to 400ºF, if needed. Place the stuffed jalapenos in the air fryer basket or rack, keeping at least 1 inch of space around the poppers.
- Air fry (or bake) for 12 – 15 minutes, until the peppers are tender and the cheese is golden and bubbly on top.
Grilled Jalapeno Peppers
- Prepare and fill the jalapeños according to the oven method instructions.
- Preheat the grill to medium heat (375°F to 400°F).
- Place the filled jalapeños directly on the grill grates or in a grill pan.
- Close the lid and grill for 10 to 15 minutes, until the peppers are tender and the cheese is melted and bubbly. Check at the 10-minute mark, as cook time will vary depending on grill temperature and the size of your peppers.
Video
Notes
- As-is this is a vegetarian jalapeno poppers recipe. However, you can certainly add cooked crumbled bacon to the top of the cheese mixture before baking or air frying.
- For even more spiciness, swap the cheddar cheese with shredded pepper Jack cheese. Spicy stuffed jalapenos are the ideal game-day appetizer, whether for a Super Bowl party or a tailgating celebration.
- Use low fat cream cheese for a slightly lighter snack.
- Jalapeno poppers can be stored in the fridge for up to two days in an airtight container.
- We recommend reheating them in the oven at 350ºF, but you can also reheat them in a microwave or air fryer at 325ºF.
- To reheat frozen peppers, remove them from the freezer. Let defrost on a paper towel for about 30 minutes. The paper towel will wick away the moisture and keep the center crispier when baked.
- Place them on a cookie sheet and into a preheated oven at 400ºF. Bake for 17 – 20 minutes or until golden brown and heated.
Nutrition
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MacKenzie says
These stuffed jalapeño peppers were amazing. I love that I can make them in the air fryer. It makes it so easy and they turn out perfect.
Nathan says
Jalapeno poppers are one of my favorite appetizer foods, so I can’t wait to try this recipe. I’ve never made them for myself! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Paula says
My husband and daughter love jalapeno poppers so I was excited to make these at home for them. Huge hit, they loved them!
Stephanie says
My family always orders jalapeno poppers when they are on the menu – now I know how to make perfect ones myself! The video is quite helpful in putting this recipe together.
Jacqueline says
Oh perfect for a Saturday night movie snack. Yum!