Jalapeño Popper Dip with bacon is a salty, spicy, supremely creamy party appetizer, topped with toasty panko breadcrumbs. This cheesy dip is baked to gooey perfection for easy scooping with crackers, tortilla chips, and more.
For more cheesy appetizers, check out my Pimento Cheese, Baked Brie Bread Bowl, Cheesy Garlic Bread, and Baked Brie with Honey Chili Oil.
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Jalapeño pepper popper dip. Say that three times really fast! It may be a tongue twister but it’s definitely a treat for the taste buds. This cheesy, spicy dip gets yummier with each bite so it’s super addictive.
The crispy breadcrumb topping adds a welcome crunch. So feel free to dive in with a spoon and enjoy as is because this is the best jalapeño popper dip!
Why This Jalapeño Popper Dip Recipe Works
- Easy to Make – Whip this up with just 15 minutes of easy prep work. The other 30 minutes are spent hands-free, waiting for the dip to bake until it’s golden brown and bubbly.
- So Delicious – This has the bold flavor of classic jalapeño poppers without the grueling task of stuffing each one. You get the tang of cream cheese, the sharpness of cheddar, and a kick of heat from the peppers.
- Perfect Party Appetizer – Make this for holiday gatherings, Super Bowl parties, tailgating, or whenever the occasion calls for something shareable.
Tools You’ll Need
- 9″ Inch Skillet
- Mixing bowls
- Hand mixer
Ingredients You Will Need for Jalapeño Popper Dip
This baked jalapeño popper dip is a symphony of flavors. Here’s what you need.
Jalapeño Popper Dip
- Cream cheese – Use softened, full-fat cream cheese to enrich the dip.
- Sour cream – Use full-fat sour cream to enhance the texture and tame the heat from the peppers.
- Quality mayonnaise – I use Hellmans’s mayo to up the creamy factor.
- Bacon – Bacon bits ensure you get a pop of smoky, savory, salty flavor with each scoop of dip.
- Jarred jalapeño – I prefer jarred over fresh jalapeños because they have a more consistent flavor, heat level, and texture.
- Diced green chilis – Green chiles up the flavor without intensifying the heat. They have a mild heat with an earthy, slightly sweet flavor that adds more depth to the dish.
- Fresh garlic cloves – Grate the garlic for easy mixing.
- Seasoning – Season with granulated garlic, onion powder, and Diamond Crystal kosher salt.
- Cheese – Use freshly grated sharp cheddar cheese, Monterrey jack cheese, and parmigiano reggiano.
Panko Topping
- Unsalted butter – This browns the breadcrumbs.
- Panko breadcrumbs – Use for a crispy topping.
- Flat-leaf parsley – Finely chop for fresh flavor.
- Seasoning – Keep it simple with garlic powder and kosher salt.
- Parmigiano reggiano – Freshly grated.
How To Make Jalapeño Popper Dip
Everything tasty starts with bacon.
Preheat oven to 375°F.
Jalapeño Popper Filling
- Cook chopped bacon until completely cooked through. Drain on a paper towel and set aside.
2. In a medium-size mixing bowl, add cream cheese, sour cream, and mayonnaise. Beat with a hand mixer until ingredients are homogenous and creamy. Add remaining filling ingredients to the bowl then mix well with a spatula.
3. Transfer the filling to a 9″ cast-iron skillet, smoothing it out into an even layer. Next, make the topping.
Panko Topping
- Melt butter in a hot skillet over medium-high heat, then add panko, salt, and garlic powder. Cook until lightly golden, about 5 minutes keeping a consistent stir. Stir in parsley and cook for another minute. Turn off heat then stir in parmesan until well-incorporated then transfer to the skillet and evenly spread across the top.
2. Bake for 15-22 minutes, until golden brown an the bubbling, but the filling is not coming through the panko crust. If the panko crust browns too fast, simply tent foil over the top. Rest for 5 minutes before diving in.
Make Ahead
Prepare this easy jalapeño popper dip up to 3 days in advance. Combine the filling ingredients, just as instructed. Then add them to an oven-safe dish, tightly cover, and refrigerate it. Prepare the panko topping and once it’s cooled, store it in a separate, airtight container.
When you’re ready to make your dip, add the topping to the dish and bake. You may need to add a few extra minutes to the cooking time since the ingredients are chilled but besides that, it’s really simple.
What to Serve with Jalapeño Popper Dip
- Butter Crackers
- Salted Potato Chips
- Carrot Sticks
- Corn Chips
- Veggies
- Baguette Slices
- Pita Chips
Tips and Tricks
- Cook the chopped bacon until it’s completely cooked through and crispy. This adds a pleasant crunch to the dip.
- Adjust the amount of jalapeños according to your spice preference.
- Use a cast-iron skillet. It’s the perfect vessel for even heat distribution.
- Store leftover dip in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Reheat it in the microwave in 30-second intervals until hot.
- Allow the dip to rest for about 5 minutes after baking. This gives it time to set while also allowing the flavors to meld before serving.
Variations
- Smoked – For smoky flavor, add fresh jalapeños to a smoker at 400°F for about 40 minutes. Then assemble the dip as detailed in the instructions and smoke it at 300°F for about 30 minutes.
- Protein – Swap the bacon for diced chicken, chorizo, or pancetta.
- Fresh Jalapeños – Remove the seeds for less heat.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you freeze jalapeno popper dip?
I do not recommend freezing this dip because of its dairy content. The texture will be compromised so it’s best to enjoy the dip while it’s fresh or refrigerate it and consume it within 4 days.
Can you make jalapeno popper dip ahead of time?
You can make jalapeno popper dip with panko ahead of time, just store the filling separately from the topping. Assemble and bake when ready.
What is jalapeno popper dip made of?
This dip is made with jarred jalapeños, cream cheese, sour cream, mayo, three cheeses, green chilies, panko breadcrumbs, and various seasonings.
Looking for More Cheese Dip Recipes?
- Queso Blanco with Guacamole
- Korean Corn Cheese
- Queso Dip with Chipotle
- Smoked Gouda Dip
- Easy Rotel Dip
Loving this Jalapeño Popper Dip Recipe?
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Jalapeño Popper Dip
Equipment
- 9" Inch Skillet
Ingredients
Jalapeño Popper Dip
- 8 ounces cream cheese, full-fat, room temperature
- ¾ cup sour cream, full-fat
- 2½ tablespoons quality mayonnaise, I use Hellmans's
- 4 slices applewood smoked bacon, chopped, roughly ⅓ cup cooked
- ¼ cup jarred jalapeño, drained chopped
- 2 tablespoons diced green chilis, from a can
- 2 fresh garlic cloves grated
- 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
- ¼ teaspoon onions powder
- 1½ cups sharp cheddar cheese, grated, not pre-shredded
- ½ cup monterrey jack cheese grated, not pre-shredded
- ⅓ cup parmigiano reggiano, wedge freshly grated in a food processor, do not use pre-shredded
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt, Diamond Crystal
Panko Topping
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 tablespoon flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt, Diamond Crystal
- 3 tablespoons parmigiano reggiano, freshly grated
To Dip
- Butter Crackers
- Salted Potato Chips
- Carrot Sticks
- Corn Chips,
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
Jalapeño Popper Filling
- Cook chopped bacon until completely cooked through. Drain on a paper towel and set aside.
- In a medium-size mixing bowl, add cream cheese, sour cream, and mayonnaise. Beat with a hand mixer until ingredients are homogenous and creamy. Add remaining filling ingredients to the bowl then mix well with a spatula.
- Transfer the filling to a 9" cast-iron skillet, smoothing it out into an even layer. Next, make the topping.
Panko Topping
- Melt butter in a hot skillet over medium-high heat, then add panko, salt, and garlic powder. Cook until lightly golden, about 5 minutes keeping a consistent stir. Stir in parsley and cook for another minute. Turn off heat then stir in parmesan until well-incorporated then transfer to the skillet and evenly spread across the top.
- Bake for 15-22 minutes, until golden brown and bubbling, but the filling is not coming through the panko crust. If the panko crust browns too fast, simply tent foil over the top. Rest for 5 minutes before diving in.
