Jalapeño Poppers: The touchdown taste of your Super Bowl party

Super Bowl Sunday is almost here, and that means it’s time to start thinking about food! If you’re looking for an appetizer that’s easy to make, delicious, and sure to please a crowd, look no further than jalapeño poppers. These little bites of heaven are packed with flavor, and they’re always a hit at parties.

What you’ll need:

• 12 jalapeño peppers
• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 1/4 cup chopped green onion
• 1/4 cup panko breadcrumbs
• 1/4 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
• Vegetable oil, for frying (optional)

Instructions:

1. Prep the jalapeños:

• Start by washing the jalapeños thoroughly.
• Cut the jalapeños in half lengthwise, and remove the seeds and membranes. You can use a spoon or a knife to do this. Be careful not to touch your eyes after handling the jalapeños, as the oils can irritate them.
• If you want your poppers to be extra mild, you can also remove some of the white pith from the inside of the jalapeños.

2. Make the filling:

• In a medium bowl, combine the cream cheese, cheddar cheese, green onion, panko breadcrumbs, chili powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Mix until well combined.

3. Stuff the jalapeños:

• Use a spoon or your finger to stuff the jalapeño halves with the cream cheese mixture. Be sure to fill them all the way to the top.

4. Bread the poppers (optional):

• If you want your poppers to be extra crispy, you can bread them before frying. To do this, simply dip each stuffed jalapeño half in egg wash, then coat it in panko breadcrumbs.

5. Fry the poppers (optional):

• Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Once the oil is hot, carefully add the poppers and fry them for 2-3 minutes per side, or until golden brown and crispy.

6. Bake the poppers:

• If you prefer not to fry the poppers, you can bake them instead. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Arrange the poppers on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

7. Serve:

• Serve the jalapeño poppers immediately with your favorite dipping sauce, such as ranch dressing, blue cheese dressing, or hot sauce.

Tips:

• If you’re not sure how spicy you want your poppers to be, start by leaving some of the seeds in the jalapeños. You can always add more seeds later if you want them to be spicier.
• If you don’t have green onion, you can use chives or red onion instead.
• You can also add other ingredients to the filling, such as cooked bacon, crumbled sausage, or chopped shrimp.
• If you’re short on time, you can skip the breading and frying steps and simply bake the poppers. They will still be delicious!

Enjoy!

I hope you enjoy this recipe for jalapeño poppers! They’re sure to be a hit at your Super Bowl party.