Jalapeño Popper Dip is the creamy, cheesy, perfectly spicy, and full-of-bacon appetizer recipe for any occasion! Grab a chip and enjoy it for your next party or game day treat! Try it once and you'll be making it all the time!
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Dips are of vast importance around here. If you can scoop it with a chip, we like it. Try my Queso Fundido, Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Dip, or my Spinach Artichoke Dip. All delicious. All wonderful to shovel onto a chip.
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Jalapeño Popper dip is a family favorite around here and for good reason. It's is insanely delicious - creamy, cheesy, bacon-y, with the amazing flavor of the jalapeños and sautéed onions. It's like having the best parts of a popper without the hassle of making them, dolloped onto your favorite chip. I cannot be left alone with this one. It's that good!
This amazing dip comes together quickly and easily. Just cook a little bacon with the jalapeños and onion. Add that to a simple mixture of cream cheese, sour cream, and shredded cheese with a few spices. Mix it, bake it, devour it.
Make it for game day appetizers, for your next backyard party with friends, or for yourself when you need something that checks all the boxes in the tasty department. I don't think we go more than a couple weeks without making a batch of this. Make it once and you'll see exactly what I'm talking about!
ingredients
Most of the ingredients in this easy, Jalapeño Popper Dip recipe are super straightforward! Here’s everything you’ll need to make it:
the dip
- Bacon
- Green Onions
- Jalapeños
- Cream Cheese
- Sour Cream
- Granulated Garlic
- Granulated Onion
- Smoked Paprika
- Cheddar Cheese
- Parmesan Cheese
the crunchy topping
- Panko Breadcrumbs
- Butter
- Parmesan Cheese
equipment
instructions
To begin this Jalapeño Popper Dip, in a large skillet on a medium-high heat, render the bacon. Add the jalapeños and the whites of the green onions to the skillet along with the bacon fat and cook until they soften. I reserve a little bit of this mixture to garnish the top of the dip at the end, but you don't have to.
In a mixing bowl, add the softened cream cheese, sour cream, granulated garlic, granulated onion, smoked paprika, the cheddar and parmesan cheese. Fold in the sautéed peppers, onion, and the bacon. Mix until thoroughly combined. You can use a spatula or a hand mixer if that is easier for you.
Pour the dip mixture into a lightly greased 8x10 baking dish.
In a skillet on medium heat, melt the butter and add the panko breadcrumbs. Stir a few minutes or until the breadcrumbs become golden brown. Remove from the heat, toss with the grated parmesan cheese. Sprinkle the breadcrumb mixture over the top of the dip and bake in a preheated 350° oven until bubbly!
Top with the green tops of the onions and the reserved bacon, pepper, onion mixture. This is to make it pretty. You can skip this part if you like.
If you have the fortitude, let the dip cool off just a bit. Grab your chosen dip dipper and enjoy!
recipe frequently asked questions
What do I serve with this dip besides chips?
The world is your oyster when it comes to the dipping arts. A potato chip and a tortilla chip are classic accompaniments. But, don't discount the following:
-Veggie Sticks and Crudité
-Crostini
-Pretzels
-Naan
-Flour or Corn Tortillas
-French Fries
-Used as a Sandwich Spread
- A Spoon Straight to the Mouth
Could I make this dip gluten-free?
Yes! All you need to do to make this Jalapeño Popper dip gluten-free is swap out the panko for the GF variety or leave it off all together.
Can I make this dip ahead of time?
Yes! Make everything except for the panko topping. Cover and store it in the fridge up to 3 days before you're ready to eat. Let it hang out on the counter top for 30 minutes before baking, add the toasted panko, and bake until bubbly!
tips and tricks
- Cut the bacon, green onion, and jalapeños into the same size for even cooking and easier dipping.
- Pull the cream cheese out of the fridge for at least 30 minutes before cooking. This makes the dip easier to mix.
- Sometimes jalapeños are nuclear hot and sometimes they are as mild as a bell pepper. Taste them before you decide how many you want to use and if you want to include the seeds.
- Use gloves to prep the jalapeños to prevent any unnecessary sizzling of body parts. No one needs a spicy situation due to jalapeño juice. And, certainly, don't touch your eyes for a longggggggg time.
- Do not use pre-shredded cheese in the recipe - or ever for that matter. The pre-shredded stuff is coated with an anti-caking agent that keeps it from sticking together. It also keep the cheese from melting correctly. The is a creamy, cheesy dip and you want it to be the best. Shred your own.
variations
- Fold in rotisserie chicken for a delicious and heartier popper dip.
- This dip recipe is also fantastic with grilled shrimp folded into it!
- If you prefer, use pickled jalapeños. They have great flavor and wonderful tang!
- Use whatever shredded cheese you love and have on hand. I've used cheddar, Monterey jack, pepper jack, and even Colby jack. Use whatever is in the fridge and they all work great. Just make sure you shred it yourself!
- Poblano peppers are absolutely delicious and way less spicy. If you're not a fan of heat, these make a phenomenal substitution.
- Spoon this dip over a freshly cooked burger patty. It will change your life.
storage and reheating instructions
- Leftovers will stay good in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- You can freeze this dip for up to 3 months. When ready to use, let thaw in the fridge and warm in the microwave or in the oven.
- When storing, it's best to take off the breadcrumbs if possible. They tend to get a bit mushy in the fridge. For best result, top with fresh ones after reheating.
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If you guys make this Jalapeño Popper Dip , be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! I absolutely love to hear from you all and always do my best to respond to each and every one of your comments!
Recipe
Jalapeño Popper Dip Recipe
Ingredients
The Dip
- 6-8 slices bacon, diced
- 6-8 fresh jalapeños, diced see note below
- 1 bunch green onions, diced green and white parts separated
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup sour cream
- 2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
- ¾ cups parmesan cheese, grated
- 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
- 1 teaspoon granulated onion
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- kosher salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste
The Crunchy Topping
- ½ cup panko breadcrumbs I used a roasted garlic flavor
- 2 tablespoon butter
- ¼ cup parmesan cheese, grated
Serving
- reserved green onion tops, diced
- reserved sautéed jalapeños and onions
Instructions
- In a skilllet on a medium-high heat, start to render the bacon.
- Add the jalapeños and the whites of the green onions to the skillet along with the bacon and cook until they soften. I reserve a little bit of this mixture to garnish the top of the dip at the end, but you don't have to.
- In a mixing bowl, add the softened cream cheese, sour cream, granulated garlic, granulated onion, smoked paprika, the cheddar and parmesan cheese. Fold in the sautéed peppers, onion, and the bacon. You can use a spatula or a hand mixer if that is easier.
- Pour the dip mixture into a lightly greased 8x10 baking dish.
- In a skillet on medium high heat, melt the butter and add the panko breadcrumbs. Stir a few minutes or until the breadcrumbs become golden brown. Remove from the heat, toss with the grated parmesan cheese.
- Sprinkle the breadcrumb mixture over the top of the dip and bake in a preheated 350° oven until bubbly.
- Garnish with the reserved tops of the green onion, bacon, sautèed peppers, and onions, and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Thank you!
I am so incredibly happy that you are here! I hope you try my Jalapeño Popper Dip recipe and fall in love with it. If you make this recipe, please share and tag me on Instagram, Facebook, or YouTube! And, please leave a comment or star rating below. I absolutely love seeing each and every one of your kitchen masterpieces. It makes my heart so happy! And, as always, if you ever have any questions about any of my recipes, please don't hesitate to contact me!
Happy Cooking!
-Rufus
Rufus for Real is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. I may earn a commission, with no additional cost to you, if you purchase through those links.
Rufus for Real is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
other fantastic appetizer recipes
Javier Garcia says
Came across this looking for popper ideas. Made it for a party and it was a huge hit!
Rufus says
I am so very glad you liked it! Thank you so much for letting me know. Have a wonderful day!
Addison K says
Great for tailgate or a gameday at home! you can dip anything in it and it tastes good!
Rufus says
Thank you!