• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • RECIPES
    • Appetizers
    • Soups & Salads
    • Breakfast
    • Main Course
    • Instant Pot
    • Sous Vide
    • Side Dishes
    • Baking & Pastry
    • Dessert
  • COLLECTIONS
  • VIDEOS
  • ABOUT US
Butter N Thyme
menu icon
go to homepage
  • RECIPES
    • Appetizers
    • Soups & Salads
    • Breakfast
    • Main Course
    • Instant Pot
    • Sous Vide
    • Side Dishes
    • Baking & Pastry
    • Dessert
  • COLLECTIONS
  • VIDEOS
  • ABOUT US
search icon
Homepage link
  • RECIPES
    • Appetizers
    • Soups & Salads
    • Breakfast
    • Main Course
    • Instant Pot
    • Sous Vide
    • Side Dishes
    • Baking & Pastry
    • Dessert
  • COLLECTIONS
  • VIDEOS
  • ABOUT US
×

Home » Appetizers » Texas Jalapeno Poppers

Texas Jalapeno Poppers

Published: Jan 14, 2018 · Modified: Sep 27, 2021 by Steven Pennington · This post may contain affiliate links.

Jump to Recipe Jump to Video
Print Recipe Share by Email

Award-winning Texafied game day appetizer. Make a double batch for the win. Jalapeno Poppers, what a welcomed sight at any party. Reminds me of our Texas Guacamole recipe; where there simply isn't ever enough. Classic Texas ingredients combine into a jalapeno popper.

In Texas, where things are bigger, we wanted to go big with the flavor department. And that's what we did with this recipe, added more big flavor with a touch of freshness.

Texas Jalapeno Poppers on square round plate golden brown and delicious looking.
⬇️ Table of Contents
  • Ingredients
  • How-To Video
  • Controlling the Spice
  • Instructions
  • Faqs
  • 📖 Recipe Card

Ingredients

Making the best Texas jalapeno popper always begins at the grocery store. Selecting the best jalapenos for your recipe is the key.

Do you enjoy your peppers hot, or mild? Did you know there's a way to tell how hot a pepper is without even touching one? You can tell by the stems.

Yep, that's right, the stems. The more the stem curves the hotter the pepper. 

1. Jalapeno Peppers: 12 to 15 Fresh Jalapeno Peppers Sliced in Half lengthwise

The spiciness of a jalapeno measures 3,500 to 8,000 on the Scoville scale. Picked and consumed while still green, as well, is occasionally allowed to fully ripen and turn red, orange, or yellow. Jalapenos are wider and generally milder than the similar Serrano pepper.

curved stem peppers are hotter than straight stems

Check out this blog post to get an even more in-depth explanation of shopping for the right peppers and controlling the hotness.

2. Cream Cheese

3. Applewood Bacon

4. Garlic Powder

5. Pimento Cheese - try our "Masters" Tournament Pimento Cheese

Pimento cheese, one ingredient you're sure to find in the south. A true kitchen stable that fits in with our Texas themed Jalapeno poppers. This one ingredient alone will help make any popper's recipe the best at any party. 

masters pimento cheese sandwich

6. Serrano Peppers - Hotter than Jalapeno peppers by around a factor of 2x, but comes with more flavor. TIP: if you remove the stem and seeds the spice level drops back down around jalapeno.

7. Lime Juice

8. Sweet Onion

9. Cilantro Cilantro that has been chopped on a wood cutting board.

A pop of freshness with herbs will make almost any recipe better, if you choose wisely. The use of Cilantro offers the recipe a welcomed pop of freshness.

Did you know Cilantro is a plant grown from coriander seed?

10. Adobo Sauce (Optional)   finished adobo sauce - color of rich raisin in serving bowl

The addition brings balanced spice with a flavor profile that will keep your guests wondering what you did to make your poppers so special. #texafied

Check out our Homemade Adobo Recipe

How-To Video

Controlling the Spice

When cleaning the inside of a jalapeno pepper be sure to remove as much of the rib as possible to lower the spice level, if desired. The white part is the (rib) which is the hottest part of the pepper, not the seeds like most believe. With the seeds still being spicy.

Showing a prepared and cleaned jalapeno. The rib and seeds have been removed.

Instructions

Chop/mince one medium onion. Take your time with this step as you don't want large pieces of onion.

Chef slicing onion very thinly on wood cutting board.

The key reason it gets the name, Texas Jalapeno Poppers. The addition of Serrano peppers. This pepper can be hot to most folks, yet if you shop for the ones with straight stems you're going to be ok with controlling the spice level.

Serrano's have a very fruity flavor that is quite special. If you don't like the addition of more heat, no problem, just don't add them. We still have a few more ingredients that makes these Texafied.

Hold a serrano pepper displaying the straight stem with a red arrow. stem straight not as hot

The Bacon...

Can't make Texas Jalapeno Poppers without bacon.

Chef Tip: You could change out the bacon for prosciutto for a touch of elegance and fanciness.

Check out our Homemade Bacon post

Competed jalapeno poppers on a cookie sheet with a wire rack wrapped with bacon.

The Filling

  • 8 oz Cream Cheese / 1 package
  • Package of favorite Bacon / Applewood suggested
  • 4 tablespoon Pimento Cheese
  • Half of one medium Onion Minced
  • 1 Tablespoon of Serrano Peppers / minced
  • Half of a Lime (You can squeeze more after cooking for a pop of freshness.)
  • 2 teaspoon of Adobo sauce (optional)
  • 1 tablespoon Cilantro
  • Salt & Pepper

Wrapping

Begin wrapping by the stem and try to keep the bacon flat without curling. This helps the bacon cook quicker and offers a nicer presentation along with even cooking.

Wrapping Texas jalapeno popper with bacon.

Fill as full as you can. Around 1 ½ tablespoon.

Filling the jalapeno poppers with 1 and half tablespoons of the filling.

Bake at 350 for 30 to 40 minutes, or until golden brown and delicious.

Infographic stating to bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 40 minutes.

Cooked On Smoker

My favorite way to cook jalapeno poppers. Using an offset smoker will allow for a longer cook time. Place the poppers away from the smoker box, and let them cook away while being kissed with wonder smokiness.

Temperature: 225 degrees

Woods: Post Oak (Texas Classic), Mesquite, Hickory, Peach, or Apple.

Faqs

Can I Make The Poppers Ahead Of Time?

To preserve the finished texture, you can prepare the filling, stuff the jalapenos and wrap with bacon. Just do not cook them until you're ready to serve them.

Can I Freeze The Jalapeno Poppers?

You can, yet uncooked works best. If you freeze cooked poppers the texture just isn't going to be the same. The freezer forces dehydration (loss of moisture).

What Other Filling Ideas Could I Try?

- Ricotta Cheese
- Fresh Garlic
- Cheetos (lightly crush them and add into the filling mix)
- Sauteed Mushrooms
- Chopped Sausage
- Shallots - minced

How Long Does It Take To Cook Jalapeno Poppers?

40 minutes on average. Done once the bacon is well cooked. The poppers will be golden brown and delicious.White plate with Texafied jalapeno poppers.

Recipes To Try

  • Texas Chile Con Queso
  • Bacon Pepperoini Sticks w/ Homemade Ranch 
  • Candied Bacon Technique
  • Garden Fresh Banana Pepper Salsa
  • Texas Smoked Prime Rib

📖 Recipe Card

texas jalapeno poppers

Texas Jalapeno Poppers

Steven Pennington
Award-winning Texafied game day appetizer. Make a double batch for the win.
4.84 from 6 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 12 mins
Cook Time 40 mins
Total Time 52 mins
Course Party / Appetizer
Cuisine Texan / Southern

Suggested Equipment

Cook Sheet
Wire Rack

Ingredients
 

  • 12 peppers Jalapenos
  • 1 package Applewood Smoked Bacon
  • 8 oz Cream Cheese / 1 package
  • 4 Tablespoon Pimento Cheese
  • 1 Tablespoon Serrano Peppers / Add more to up the spice level
  • 2 teaspoons Adobo Sauce / Optional
  • 2 teaspoons Garlic Salt
  • ½ medium Onion Minced
  • 1 juiced Lime You can squeeze more on top after cooking for a pop of freshness.
  • 1 Tablespoon Cilantro
  • ½ teaspoon Sea Salt

Instructions
 

Cleaning and Preparing The Jalapenos

  • Wash and dry the jalapenos
  • Slice jalapenos in half lengthwise. Try to preserve the stem for presentation.
    Clean the inside and make sure to remove all the white parts inside. Which is called the rib. That is the super spicy part of the jalapeno.

The Filling

  • In a large mixing bowl, add cream cheese, pimento cheese, onion, serrano, cilantro, garlic salt, lime, salt and mix well.
    Optional: Add adobo sauce to create a deeper flavor profile. Or make two batches of each option.
  • Bacon Tip: Fold over the Bacon in half lengthwise, then cut down the middle to split the bacon in half.
    Splitting the Bacon helps with the cooking of the bacon. This helps render the bacon fat out quicker.
    Secondly gives you more strips of bacon to wrap the jalapenos
    Sprinkle the tops of the jalapenos with fresh cracked black pepper.
  • Fill each jalapeno with around 2 tablespoons. Try to add as much as you can without overfilling.
  • Use a cookie sheet with a wire rack on top. This will give you the best finished texture. The oven's heat can then get underneath the jalapeno poppers.
    If they are just laid out on the cookie sheet the bottoms will be moister than the rest of the popper.

Baking

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees and cook for 30 to 40 minutes or until the bacon is evenly cooked.

Video

Notes

Texafied Bonus Round
  • Feeling like adding more heat/spice I suggest using some poblano and habanero.
  • The poppers freeze well.
  • The addition of shrimp works excellently.
  • They are safe on the countertops at your party for up to 4 hours
  • Add goats cheese to add a level of tang (not a Texas thing)
  • Mix in chopped brisket for a real surprise your guest will freak out over.
Here's Our Homemade Adobe Sauce Recipe
Party platter with jalapeno poppers layout out on top of Cheetos.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Texas Jalapeno Poppers
Serving Size
 
24 poppers
Amount per Serving
Calories
84
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
6.18
g
10
%
Saturated Fat
 
3.4
g
21
%
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
0.68
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
2.1
g
Cholesterol
 
24
mg
8
%
Sodium
 
186
mg
8
%
Potassium
 
57
mg
2
%
Carbohydrates
 
1
g
0
%
Fiber
 
1.6
g
7
%
Sugar
 
1.4
g
2
%
Protein
 
2.1
g
4
%
Vitamin A
 
67
IU
1
%
Vitamin C
 
0.41
mg
0
%
Calcium
 
20
mg
2
%
Iron
 
1
mg
6
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Keyword Jalapeno Poppers, Texafied, Texas Jalapeno Poppers
Pinterest - Pin For Later Pin it! Mention @ButterNThyme or tag #butternthyme!
« 7 Must Try Chef Inspired Chicken Recipes | Recipe RoundUp
Hollandaise Sauce | French Technique »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Irma

    February 12, 2020 at 4:01 pm

    Love this.

    Reply
  2. Douglas DeUnger

    January 30, 2020 at 7:03 am

    absolutely delicious! didn't ever think of pimento cheese

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published.

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Welcome To Butter N Thyme

Chef Steven Pennington

Glad you found us, I'm Chef Pennington!
Passionate Chef on a mission to help anyone wanting to learn to cook to their top potential.

Trending Posts

  • 45 Types Of Mushrooms | A-to-Z | Defined | Photos
  • What is Sirloin Flap Steak
  • 45 Types of Strawberries 🍓 | A to Z | Defined | Photos
  • How Many Ounces In A Gallon? Conversion Charts
  • The Best Homemade Beef Stock Recipe | French Technique
  • Reverse Sear: How to Cook a Steak Perfectly Every Time
  • Adzuki Beans | Use | Benefits | Nutrition
  • 21 Egg Substitutes | A-To-Z| Uses | Amounts
youtube subscribe to our channel

How-To

  • How to Cook Scallops: Pan Seared
  • Best Bacon Wrapped Scallops Recipe
  • Southern Fried Oysters | Works Because It's Simple
  • Sous Vide Ribs Recipe | 48 Hour Magic
  • Sous Vide Burgers | Control The Doneness
  • Sous Vide Salmon
  • Velouté Sauce | What Is It & How To Make
  • Espagnole Sauce | French Mother Sauce

Footer

youtube subscribe

  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • Accessibility

Newsletter

  • Sign Up! for emails and updates

Home

Social

Recipes

Contact

Videos

↑ back to top

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2022 Butter N Thyme