Grilled Jalapeño Poppers

Looking for a delicious appetizer to throw on the grill? These Bacon Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers are easy to prepare, simple to grill, and absolutely delicious. Be prepared, eating just one is impossible!

Are you looking to spice things up on the grill? Look no further than these bacon wrapped jalapeño poppers.  These jalapeño poppers are perfect as an appetizer, a side to a delicious grilled hamburger, or as a meal in and of themselves.

From the fresh, green crisp of the jalapeño, to the savory filling of the cream cheese and cheddar, and the crispy bacon, these homemade jalapeño poppers won’t disappoint. The best thing about this jalapeño popper recipe is how easy they are to make.

Ingredients For This Recipe

The ingredients you will be using are:

• Jalapeño Peppers – Spice level will vary.
• Cream Cheese – I prefer Philadelphia cream cheese but other brands will work fine.
• Cheddar Cheese – Freshly grated mild or sharp cheddar tastes best.
• Bacon – Thick or thin cut bacon.
• Paprika, Garlic, Salt, & Pepper – adds the perfect amount of spice.

How To Prepare The Jalapeño Poppers

Begin by rinsing the jalapeños.  After rinsing, remove the stem by cutting the top off. Then take your knife and split the jalapeños in half revealing the inside called the pith. The pith is the white flesh found inside the pepper that also contains the seeds.  The pith along with the seeds tend to contain quite a bit of heat so it’s best to remove them. Once the jalapeño has been split and the flesh inside has been removed, I like to give them an additional rinse, making sure to get all the seeds removed from the inside.

Sit your jalapeños aside and grab a bowl to make the cream cheese and cheddar filling.  Start by adding the cream cheese to a microwave safe bowl and heating for 30 seconds to soften it.  Then add the salt, black pepper, paprika, garlic powder, and cheddar cheese.

You can use pre-grated cheese or grate your own.  I prefer to grate my own cheese because it tastes better, melts easier, and doesn’t have the chalky coating put on bagged cheese to keep it from sticking to itself.  Once all of the ingredients are added to the bowl, stir until well combined.

Sit the bowl aside with the jalapeños and begin preparing the bacon.  Take 7 strips of your favorite bacon and cut them in half.  I like thick cut bacon but any quality of bacon, thin or thick, works great. Because, well…it’s bacon!  

Next, take a knife and begin filling the jalapeño halves with the cheese mixture.  Make sure the filling is even with the top of the jalapeño half, this ensures the ratio of filling to jalapeño and bacon is spot on.

Once all your jalapeño halves are filled with the cheese mixture, begin wrapping the halves with your bacon.  You should be able to wrap the bacon around the jalapeño 1-2 times depending on the length of the bacon and the size of your jalapeño.  Finally, take a toothpick and pierce the bacon and the jalapeño to make sure all the ingredients will stay put while on the grill.

How To Grill Your Jalapeño Poppers

Heat your grill to around 375° F.  I like to cook my jalapeño poppers on indirect heat, meaning no direct flame is under the popper. This will help make sure nothing is burnt and keep the jalapeño not only tasting incredible, but looking amazing as well.  Adding wood, like hickory, to your charcoal will provide a nice smoky flavor that pairs well with the bacon.

We have found that 25 minutes is all it takes to cook these jalapeño poppers to perfection.  The bacon should be crisp and have a mahogany color which will let you know these are ready to enjoy. 

Tips

• Can you cut jalapeños ahead of time?  Yes, you can slice these ahead of time and store in the fridge for up to 5 days.
• Want a healthier option?  Try wrapping in turkey bacon.  Also, try using Philadelphia’s 1/3 less fat cream cheese.
• Want more flavor?  Top each popper with our all purpose BBQ Rub.