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Jalapeno Popper Dip is the perfect party appetizer – it’s creamy, spicy and totally addictive. With fresh jalapenos, cream cheese, sharp cheddar and bacon, this jalapeño popper dip recipe will be the hit of any party!
This Jalapeno Popper dip is my go-to party dip for gatherings and game day. Everyone loves it and it always goes fast! If you love cheesy dips like this, you have to try my Garlic Bread Cheese Dip and Easy Baked Queso Blanco Dip!
Jalapeno Popper Dip is so creamy, cheesy and spicy, you’ll definitely want to add it to your game day menu.
Pin this recipe for later!Table of Contents
The Best Jalapeno Popper Dip
This Jalapeno Popper Dip has all of the flavors of jalapeño poppers without the hard work of assembling each individual one. If that wasn’t good enough, it has extra cheese AND bacon for an irresistible dip that everyone will love.
It’s got simple, fresh ingredients and you can whip it up from start to finish in less than 30 minutes. You can prep it ahead of time and bake it later, and you can easily customize the heat and flavors. You can even serve it as a cold dip!
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Jalapeños – I use fresh jalapenos in this jalapeño popper dip recipe because they are so flavorful. You can customize the heat by adding or removing the seeds and membranes from the pepper. Seeds=heat.
- Green Chiles – This ingredient adds even more flavor without adding any heat. If you want your dip really spicy, you can use a can of diced jalapenos instead.
- Cream Cheese – The base of the dip. Use the full-fat brick style, not the spread. For a lighter dip, swap out half of the cream cheese for light sour cream.
- Cheddar Cheese – Freshly grated off the block sharp cheddar cheese. Feel free to add more if you like.
- Bacon – Instead of wrapping bacon around the jalapeño poppers, it’s chopped up and put right into the dip! Leave it out if you don’t like it, or add more if you do.
- Seasoning – Garlic powder and onion powder.
How To Make Jalapeno Popper Dip
This dip is so easy to make, you’ll never want to waste your time making those individual jalapeno poppers again. Instead of slicing and filling each jalapeno half with the cream cheese mixture, you just mix all of the ingredients together in a bowl and bake it for 15 minutes – it’s a delicious creamy dip recipe that’s ready in about 25 minutes!
It is very easy to just throw the ingredients together in an oven safe casserole dish, add some extra cheddar and cooked bacon on top and it’s ready to bake! That’s why it’s one of my most popular appetizer recipes!
Serving Suggestions
The easiest way to serve Jalapeno Popper Dip is to bake it in a casserole dish and serve with crostini, baguette slices, pita chips, crisp crackers, or tortilla chips for dipping. If you’re feeling creative, bake the dip in a bread bowl like I did with my Chili Cheese Dip!
If you’re the type that likes to garnish, sprinkle on some sliced green onions.
What To Do with Leftovers
Leftover dip can be stored in the fridge, tightly covered, for 3-4 days. Reheat in the microwave at medium power to keep the cheese from separating, at 30 second intervals until hot. Or if there’s enough leftover, you can bake it in a small oven safe dish.
Variations and Expert Tips
- Canned vs. Fresh: Use canned jalapenos to cut down on time; I do personally like the roasted jalapeno flavor.
- Heat Level: Play with the ratio of jalapenos to green chilies to find a spice level you like. This recipe gives you the flavors of the peppers without the heat so be sure to add more if you’re looking for the spice! Try leaving some of the jalapeno seeds in too if you like spicy.
- Customize: Add more or less bacon or cheddar if that’s your thing.
- Crispy Topping: Sprinkle some panko bread crumbs or crushed ritz crackers on top before baking for a crunchy topping.
- Try it in a bread bowl! Mix up the dip and pour it into a hollowed out Shepherder’s bread loaf and bake.
- Cheeses: Swap out the cheddar for mozzarella cheese or Parmesan cheese for a completely different flavor.
More Appetizer Dips
These are all great game day food ideas!
- Southwestern Seven Layer Dip
- Crab Dip Recipe
- Jalapeno Ranch Dip Recipe (Chuy’s Copycat)
- Jalapeno, Bacon & Corn Cheese Dip
- Hot Onion Bacon Dip
- Cheddar Bacon Ranch Dip
- Air Fryer Egg Rolls
Jalapeno Popper Dip Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 jalapeños seeded and diced (or 1 4-ounce can of diced jalapenos)
- 1 can green chiles
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese divided
- 6 slices bacon cooked well done and crumbled
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon granulated garlic
- Baguette slices or crackers for dipping
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Spray an 8×8 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
- Stir together jalapeños, green chilies, cream cheese, 1 cup shredded cheddar, bacon (reserve some for topping if desired), onion powder, and granulated garlic in a large bowl until well combined.
- Pour into the prepared baking dish, spread evenly and top with ½ cup cheddar cheese.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes until melted and bubbly.
- If serving in a bread bowl: Melt ingredients together in a small pot over medium heat for 15 minutes until cream cheese melts. Hollow out a large bread bowl and pour dip into it.
- Serve with toasted baguette slices or crackers.
Can this be made ahead and frozen?
Yes. I would freeze before baking it. Cover it tightly (to the surface) with plastic wrap, then seal in a container and freeze for up to 2 months.
Made this for a girl’s night. I used poblano peppers instead of jalapenos for a milder dip. It was so good! I never leave comments on anything, so the fact that I’m leaving a comment on this should tell ya something. Make it!!
Thank you Robin! Glad you liked it. Awesome comment.
Really tasty! Great flavor and SO EASY.
So glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for stopping by Jeanne.
My teens absolutely love this recipe. One question though. You said you love the roasted jalapeños but I don’t see where you say to roast them in the recipe. Is that something you normally do?
Just a typo, the “but” was a misprint.
What size can of diced chiles? And do you drain it first?
A 4 ounce can, and no need to drain.
I made this dip for an appetizer night with friends and it was a hit. I’ll definitely make it again!
That’s awesome Wendy! Thanks for sharing.
Made this for our friends giving last weekend and everyone loved it!! Such a great Recipe thank you!
You are so welcome Haley! Thanks for stopping by.
This recipe was a hit. But I think I misread a step. When you say jalapeños (seeded and diced) does that mean to remove the seeds of the jalepeno?
Yes that’s what it means. But if you want to leave them in, that’s fine too. It will just be extra spicy.
Can you make this in a crock pot?
Sure! You can throw everything in the crock pot and cook on low for 2 hours. Then mix it all together in the pot and top with extra cheese, if desired, and cover for an additional 15 minutes or so to let the cheese melt. An easier way might be to mix all of the ingredients together first, before adding the the crock pot.
Can I prepare it the night before and leave it in the fridge to bake the following day?
Yes you can.
Should I cook the bacon before baking?
Yes, you’ll see in the instructions you are to cook the bacon and crumble it.
If I use a can of diced jalapenos, do I drain off the liquid?
Yes, you should drain them.