Warning!! Once you take a bite of one of these grilled bacon wrapped
jalapeño poppers, you will become addicted!
Tomorrow is the first day of fall. To celebrate, get outside and fire up the grill because you are going to want to make some of these grilled bacon wrapped jalapeño poppers.
On Christmas Eve, instead of a traditional-style meal, mama likes to make different types of heavy appetizers and finger foods. She decided to do this at Christmas because the Christmas meal was basically a repeat of our Thanksgiving meal a month prior. My family has been enjoying this Christmas tradition for several years now.
Her jalapeño poppers are always part of the this Christmas tradition. She fills her jalapeños cream cheese and cheddar cheese. Then she tops the jalapeño poppers with breadcrumbs and bakes them in the oven until the cheese is bubbling hot and a nice golden brown. They are delicious and my family gobbles them up!
I find it hard to believe that my sweet mama turned me onto jalapeño poppers. This is mainly because I didn’t grow up eating a lot of spicy foods. Regardless, I’m glad she makes them.
It was a few years ago on “Staycation” when the grilled bacon wrapped version of the jalapeño poppers donned our grill for the first time. They were out of this world delicious and it was hard to wait for them to cool enough before popping them in our mouths and not burn our tongues.
Since then, I have learned new ways to introduce flavors to food and I have come up with an improved recipe for these jalapeño poppers. Like the filling for the zesty cheese stuffed mini peppers the filling for these grilled bacon wrapped jalapeño poppers is made with both extra-sharp cheddar and cream cheese, lime zest, cumin, onion, and garlic powder and lime juice. The jalapeños are sliced in half lengthwise, stuffed with this zesty cheese mixture then wrapped in bacon. With the addition of new ingredients, they are practically bursting with the flavor!
How To Make Grilled Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers
Preheat a charcoal or gas grill to high.
Prepare the peppers: Wash and drain the peppers well. Cut the stem off each jalapeño; cut in half lengthwise. Using a small spoon, scrape out seeds and membranes.
NOTE: Lay the halves aside, but paired together. This makes it easier to pair them back up after stuffing.
In a small bowl, mix cream cheese and cheddar cheese, garlic and onion powders, cumin, cayenne pepper, lime zest and lime juice, until well blended.
Stuff the jalapeño halves, by spooning the cream cheese mixture into both halves of each jalapeño slice. Stick jalapeño back together again, wrapping each whole pepper with a slice of bacon to hold it together.
Use a wet toothpick to secure the bacon, if needed.
Arrange bacon-wrapped poppers on a grilling tray or directly on the grate, over medium heat. Grill turning occasionally, until the bacon is crispy and the pepper is cooked through about 15 to 20 minutes.
Don’t worry, some of the cheese may come out while cooking. It’s fine… We use a metal grilling tray for these. It makes grilling these even easier and corrals some of that oozing cheese from dropping through the grate.
Caution: The filling is hot! Cool at least 5 to 10 minutes before serving.
I hope you will enjoy the improved version of the grilled bacon wrapped jalapeño poppers this beautiful fall season. They are perfect for watching football games on t.v. and perfect for gatherings of friends and family.
Have a great weekend!
p.s. Jose is producing, but his peppers are not large enough for Jalapeno Poppers. His babies were pardoned from this meal!
Grilled Bacon Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers
Ingredients
- 6 large jalapeño peppers whole
- ½ cup cream cheese softened
- ½ cup extra-sharp cheddar cheese shredded
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon lime zest
- juice of ½ a lime
- 6 slices of bacon
Instructions
- Preheat a charcoal or gas grill to high.
- Prepare the peppers: Wash and drain the peppers well. Cut the stem off each jalapeño; cut in half lengthwise. Using a small spoon, scrape out seeds and membranes.Lay the halves aside, but paired together. This makes it easier to pair them back up after stuffing.
- In a small bowl, mix cream cheese and cheddar cheese, garlic and onion powders, cumin, cayenne pepper, lime zest and lime juice, until well blended.
- Stuff the jalapeño halves, by spooning the cream cheese mixture into both halves of each jalapeño slice. Stick jalapeño back together again, wrapping each whole pepper with a slice of bacon to hold it together. Use a wet toothpick to secure the bacon, if needed.
- Arrange bacon-wrapped poppers on a grilling tray or directly on the grate, over medium heat. Grill turning occasionally, until the bacon is crispy and the pepper is cooked through about 15 to 20 minutes.
Diane says
Wondering if you have ever tried this on the broiler setting in your oven. We purchased some that were pre-stuffed and wrapped from our Kroger meat counter. Husband did not like them, but I did. He grilled them outside but did not like the fact that so much bacon grease dripped into the grill, so we are thinking that the next time I want them that we may try the broiler method. Just curious as to whether you have done this, and if so how they turned out for you.
The Mountain Kitchen says
Hi Diane! Absolutely! We do this a lot. Just bake until tender and bacon is crispy. Great question!
givememeatloaf says
Girl, it’s going to be 93 degrees in Chicago today – I think I could just cook these on the sidewalk! Lol! These look fantastic! Also – I ADORE your Christmas tradition and just may steal the idea, as apps are my favorite!
The Mountain Kitchen says
Thanks Annie! Appetizers are my favorite too. I hope you didn’t cook anything on the sidewalk this weekend. Today was stupid hot! Where’s fall?
Julie is Hostess At Heart says
This recipe is over the top! Love all of that filling!