Stuffed Jalapeños Recipe (With Video and Step-by-Step)

Servings:

6

The best party appetizers are cheesy, satisfying, and easy to make—and these stuffed jalapeños are no exception. Even better that they come together quickly and bake in just 10 minutes. The first step in making them is to halve and de-seed the jalapeño peppers—wear gloves to protect your hands from the burn of jalapeño oil. Next, stuff the peppers with a simple cheddar-cream cheese mixture (the creamy texture will help balance the heat from the jalapeños) then bake them to bubbly perfection.

Our recipe for stuffed jalapeños can be easily doubled (or tripled) to feed a crowd, so it's ideal for game day and potlucks. You could even fill the peppers in advance, then refrigerate them until it's
time to bake them when your guests have arrived.

For a spicier dish, leave some of the seeds in the jalapeños. You can also mix in red pepper flakes or hot sauce into the cheese filling.

Directions

Prep baking sheet and arrange jalapeño halves:

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and space halved jalapeños on sheet.
Prepare cheese filling:

Preheat oven to 450°F. In a small bowl, mix together cream cheese and cheddar. Season with salt and pepper.
Stuff jalapeños:

Use a small spoon to fill each jalapeño half with about 1 tablespoon cheese mixture.

To make these appetizers in advance, cover the stuffed uncooked peppers and refrigerate them until it's time to bake.
Bake:

Bake until cheese is browned and bubbling, about 10 minutes, rotating sheet halfway through.

Stuffed Jalapeño Variations

Herbs and Spices

For extra flavor, add dried herbs or spices to the cheese mixture. Tasty options include garlic powder, onion powder, dried parsley, taco seasoning, or even everything bagel spice.

Bacon

Fold chopped cooked bacon into the cheese mixture before baking. Alternatively, you can sprinkle it on top of the stuffed peppers just before baking them.

Cheese Blends

Use a combination of cheddar and pepper jack cheese for a delicious twist. Mexican cheese blends, which are often made of three or four different cheeses, also work well.