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Dips are always a great and easy food solution when entertaining. Pair it with chips, homemade tortillas or veggies and you’ve got a crowd pleaser. With the super bowl just around the corner, I made this delicious Smoked Jalapeno Popper Dip which is a great alternative to the actual poppers themselves. You can feed a larger crowd without compromising on flavor.
And don’t miss my Grilled Sausage Popper Boats or Smoked Chicken dip for other ideas.
Table of Contents
What are Jalapeno Poppers?
Traditional Jalapeno Poppers are pitted half sliced jalapenos stuffed with a cheesy filling all wrapped in bacon. Grilled or fried, these little bites are perfect as appetizers especially for tailgating.
I have made different versions on a jalapeno popper over the years. I stuffed them in a chicken breast, made popper topped hashbrows and more. And if you’re sensitive to heat, try it with sweet peppers instead! From stuffing to wrapping, there are a lot of fun ways to experiment with this dish.
Ingredient list for a Jalapeno Popper Dip.
- Jalapeno Pepper: a freshly chopped pepper gives this recipe the kick similar to a traditional popper recipe.
- Bacon: adds fattiness and savory crunch to the dip.
- Cream Cheese: provides the cheesy creaminess needed to make the dip.
- Shredded Cheese: adds additional cheese and creamy mild flavors.
- Diced Green Chilis: adds a roasted flavor profile to the dip.
- Blue Cheese: (optional) this aged cheese adds bold savory flavors to balance the creaminess and heat of the other ingredients. Add 1/4 cup.
Step 1: How to prepare bacon for the Jalapeno Popper Dip.
One of the components to a jalapeno popper is the crispy bacon. Either in a cast iron skillet or a flat top, cook a few strips of bacon and set aside to cool off.
Next, chop them up into small pieces. This will be later incorporated into the dip mixture.
Love bacon, you have to try these Sweet Candied Bacon Strips or Bacon Wrapped Chicken Skewers!
Step 2: How to make a Jalapeno Popper Dip.
In a mixing bowl, add cream cheese, blue cheese (optional 1/4 cup), shredded cheddar, diced jalapenos, diced green chiles, Dad’s All purpose rub and the chopped up bacon. Mix the ingredients together and place them in a cast iron skillet. Top it all off with more shredded cheddar cheese and sliced jalapenos.
Preheat the grill to 350 degrees and set for indirect heat. Place the skillet on the grill and let it cook for 20-30 minutes. Once all the cheese has melted it’s time to remove and serve. Let the dip cool down for a few minutes, top it off with more crispy bacon and serve!
Recipe Tips
- Make the dip on the grill. It adds a nice layer of smokiness.
- Add flavor with different cheese varieties. Don’t be scared of the smelly ones.
- Do NOT season the bacon with any spices. This is a very savory dish from the cheese and seasoning. Any more, and it will be too salty.
Dad’s Seasonings
Must have grillin seasonings!
Frequently Asked Questions:
Yes, the Jalapeno Popper Dip can be replicated in the oven or any other grill. Use the same temperature and time for the recipe.
Have any leftover pulled pork? Use it in a dip. It’s the perfect addition of protein to your dish. Other substitutes to make a dip more meaty are chorizo, ground beef or Italian sausage.
A jalapeno popper dip has all the elements in texture and flavor as a traditional Jalapeno Popper. Each mouthful has the creaminess from the cheese, followed by the savoriness from the bacon and blue cheese and finished with mild heat for the jalapeno peppers.
More Game Day Dip Recipes to Try:
Chicken & Turkey
Smoked Buffalo Chicken Dip
Sauces
Best Homemade Salsa
Side Dish
Smoked Jalapeno Cheese Dip
If you tried this Jalapeno Popper Dip or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the📝 comments. I love hearing from you!
Jalapeno Popper Dip
Ingredients
- 6 strips Thick cut bacon
- 4 Jalapeno peppers, diced
- 8 oz Cream cheese
- 8 oz Shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 4 oz Diced mild green chiles
- 1 tbsp Dad's All Purpose rub
- 2 tbsp Freshly chopped cilantro
Instructions
- Start by cooking the strips of bacon to get the crispy. You can use a cast iron skillet, microwave or a griddle. When done, let them cool and chop them up.
- In a mixing bowl, add cream cheese, shredded cheddar (leave 1/2 cup to the side), diced jalapenos, diced green chiles, Dad's All purpose rub and the chopped up bacon. Mix the ingredients together and place in a cast iron skillet. Top it all off with a handful of shredded cheddar and a few jalapeno slices.
- Preheat the grill to 350 degrees and set for indirect heat. Place the skillet on the grill and let it cook for 20-30 minutes until the cheese has melted.
- Remove the skillet from the grill, allow it to cool down, garnish with fresh cilantro, more crispy bacon, serve and enjoy!
Notes
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- Make the dip on the grill. It adds a nice layer of smokiness.
-
- Add flavor with different cheese varieties. Don’t be scared of the smelly ones.
-
- Do NOT season the bacon with any spices. This is a very savory dish from the cheese and seasoning. Any more, and it will be too salty
Nutrition
Check out the Recipes Page for other tasty ideas!
Maciek,
You mention blue cheese in the description, but it’s not listed in the ingredients. How much blue cheese should be added?
This is an optional ingredient. Start with 1/4 cup.
Savory, spicy, salty and creamy! This is the perfect dip for your next tailgate or game day. I hope you like it as much as we do!
If you love jalepeno poppers, but hate all of the prep work associated with stuffing the peppers, then this is the recipe for you. Easy, delicious, and a great dip to bring to your next party.
Made this for the Super Bowl and it was a hit…gone within an hour. Thought it was particularly good using pork rinds as scoops!
I haven’t tried this yet. It looks like at least 4 stars though. hadn’t seen it untill I went to your website. But I enjoy your recipes and your style and presentation of all your videos.