Baked Jalapeño Poppers!

One of my favorite appetizers has got to be Jalapeño Poppers! 

Hot, crunchy, oozy goodness!!! 

I have come up with a way to enjoy them at home without using a deep fryer & if they are not deep fried, you can have more guilt free.....right?? RIGHT!!

What you will need: Jalapeño peppers, bacon, cream cheese, shredded cheese, green onions, salt, pepper & panko breadcrumbs. 

Preheat your oven to 400 & get a pot of water simmering on your stovetop. 

First start by cutting off the stem, slice in half and remove the seeds & membrane. 

**For the safety of your skin, feel free to wear gloves while doing this. Always wash your hands after handling hot peppers & for the love of god, don't touch your eyes!! 

Once the peppers are all cut and cleaned, place them into a pot of simmering water for 3-5 minutes. This helps draw out most of the heat in the peppers. 

Drain on a plate with paper towels and set aside.

While the peppers cool, start rendering several pieces of bacon. I used peppered bacon but any bacon you have is fine. 

Once your bacon is rendered, drained and set aside, start on the cheese filling.

Add cream cheese, shredded cheese, green onion, crispy bacon, salt, pepper and mix till combined.

Stuff each pepper with your desired amount of filling. 

**Any leftover filling is great as a dip with your favorite crackers!**

Dip the peppers upside down into Panko breadcrumbs, pressing lightly to coat all of the cheese mixture. Place on a baking sheet.

Bake in a 400 degree oven for 25-30 minutes. Serve pipping hot as an appetizer or as a side dish for any meal. They were a tasty addition along side my Citrus Chicken Taco's.

Have leftover Poppers at the end of the meal?? Finely chop up these little bad boys for an amazing filling for a Jalapeño Popper Grilled Cheese the next day!! 

Enjoy & Always Cook with Love!