Imagine a creamy, cheesy dip with a spicy kick perfect for dipping crackers, chips, or crostini. Your taste buds are in for a treat with this Jalapeno Popper Dip! Packed with four types of cheese, crispy Panko breadcrumbs, and jalapeños, it’s like having your favorite jalapeño poppers in a delicious dip form. Whether you’re hosting a bridal shower, baby shower, game night, or tailgating, this dip is a crowd-pleaser that’s sure to impress. So, why wait? Whip up this irresistible dip in minutes and watch your guests go wild over it!
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The Best Jalapeno Popper Dip
Jalapeño Poppers are a delicious appetizer but can be labor-intensive to prepare. Hollowing out the peppers, stuffing them with cheese, breading, and deep-frying can be time-consuming. One alternative is making Jalapeno Popper Dip, which has all the flavors of the classic dish without the hassle of assembling individual poppers.
This dip first appeared on the blog in late 2017, and I can’t even count the number of times I’ve made it since then!
The creamy jalapeno dip is topped with crispy bread crumbs and baked until gooey and light brown. It is perfect, with extra cheese and an irresistible texture everyone will love.
The recipe for Jalapeno Popper Dip is straightforward and takes less than 30 minutes to prepare.
It uses simple, easily customizable ingredients, allowing you to adjust the heat and flavors to your liking. You can even make the dip ahead of time.
This recipe is perfect for any occasion. Try it and impress your guests with this delicious, hassle-free alternative to traditional Jalapeno Poppers.
Ingredients required
Below is the ingredients list and possible substitutions. The exact ingredient amounts are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Cheese - you’ll need three types of cheese: medium sharp cheddar cheese, mozzarella cheese, and Parmesan cheese. These three cheeses work together to create a rich and flavorful base for the dip, and they add an incredible depth of flavor that you can’t get from using a single type of cheese.
- Cream Cheese - this is the foundation for your jalapeno popper dip. It’s important to use full-fat brick-style cream cheese for this recipe instead of the spreadable variety. This will help ensure that your dip is rich and creamy with a smooth and velvety texture.
- Mayonnaise: To add a bit of tanginess to the dip, you’ll want to include mayonnaise. If you prefer, you can substitute Greek yogurt or sour cream for the mayonnaise. This will change the flavor and texture of the dip slightly, so you may want to experiment with different ratios until you find the one that works best for you.
- Butter - this will help crisp up our crunchy topping.
- Panko bread crumbs: You’ll toss them with butter to create the dip’s crispy topping.
- Pickled jalapeños: You can substitute deseeded fresh jalapeños, but I like the canned variety. While you can certainly use fresh jalapenos, the canned variety is more consistent regarding heat level. The pickled jalapeno adds a nice tanginess that complements the creamy cheese and tangy mayo.
- Red bell pepper: For a bit of color and freshness, consider adding some diced red bell pepper to the dip. This not only tastes delicious, but it also adds a pop of bright color that makes the dip look even more appetizing.
- Garnish: To finish the dish off, you can garnish it with a bit of chopped cilantro, chives, or parsley. This adds a nice burst of fresh flavor and helps balance out the dip’s richness.
Step-by-step process
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Begin by combining cream cheese and mayonnaise in a large mixing bowl. Use a hand mixer to beat until smooth and well combined. Next, add chopped jalapenos, mozzarella cheese, and Mexican cheese. Mix all the ingredients until well combined.
- Now, grease a baking dish with oil. Transfer the cheese mixture to the greased baking dish and smooth it out with a spatula. Combine melted butter, bread crumbs, and parmesan cheese in another bowl. Mix all the ingredients together until they are well combined.
- Sprinkle this mixture over the cheese mixture in the baking dish. Add some red bell pepper over the top. Place the dish in the oven and bake for 25 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit or until the dip turns lightly golden brown and begins to bubble.
Finally, garnish the Jalapeno Popper Dip with chopped cilantro and slices of fresh jalapenos. The dip is now ready to be served hot with crackers!
Make ahead
If you plan to make jalapeno popper dip in advance, there’s a simple method to ensure it’s still delicious and fresh when ready to serve it. Begin by following the recipe directions and combining all ingredients as instructed. Once everything is mixed, spread the dip into a baking dish, cover it, and place it in the refrigerator. You’ll also need to prepare the topping. Combine the topping ingredients as directed in a separate container or sandwich bag and put it in the fridge, too. This step can be done up to two days ahead of time.
When ready to bake the dip, remove it from the fridge and sprinkle the topping mixture evenly. Then, bake the dip in the recipe as directed until it’s hot and bubbly. This method will ensure the dip is fresh and delicious, even if you must make it beforehand.
Serving Suggestions
To serve, you can pair it with various options such as crostini, baguette slices, pita chips, crisp crackers, Ritz crackers, Wheat Thins, tortilla chips, or any other veggies you prefer for dipping. Another creative way to serve the dip is in a bread bowl. Mix the dip and pour it into a hollowed bread loaf, then bake it to perfection for a unique and tasty presentation.
What To Do with Leftovers?
When you have leftover dip, it’s important to store it properly. The best way to do this is to place it in an airtight container and store it in the fridge. The dip should be tightly covered to prevent any air from getting in. When stored properly, leftover dip can last up to 3-4 days in the fridge.
There are several options for reheating the dip. If you only have a small amount left, you can reheat it in the microwave. Place the dip in a microwave-safe dish and heat it on high for 30-second intervals, stirring until heated.
If you have a larger amount of dip left, you may prefer to reheat it in the oven. To do this, preheat your oven to 350°F. Place the dip in an oven-safe dish and cover it with foil. Bake it for 10 minutes or until it’s heated through.
Following these simple instructions, you can enjoy your leftover dip without worrying about it going bad or losing its flavor.
Tips and notes
- You want to ensure that the dip has a perfectly crispy and crumbly top layer that will make your guests crave for more. To achieve this, using just the right amount of butter to moisten the bread crumbs without making them too soggy is crucial.
- To make sure that every bite of the dip is crunchy and delectable, it is recommended to bake it in a shallow baking dish. By keeping the dip layer thin to less than an inch, you will maximize the amount of crunchiness in each bite. This will make your guests keep coming back for more and more.
- Once you have baked the dip perfectly, serve it warm to ensure maximum flavor.
- The dip has the perfect balance of spice, but if you love extra heat, you can always add more jalapeños to give it that extra zing.
- If you don’t have breadcrumbs, don’t worry! You can easily substitute them with crushed Ritz crackers and still achieve the same level of deliciousness.
More Jalapeno recipes
- Cranberry Jalapeno Dip
- Jalapeno salsa
- Jalapeno Sauce
- Cranberry jalapeno mojito
- Pineapple jalapeno margherita
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Jalapeno Popper Dip
Ingredients
- 8 oz Cream Cheese at room temperature
- ½ cup Mayonnaise
- ¼ cup Pickled Jalapeno Drained and chopped
- ½ cup Cheddar cheese Shredded
- ½ cup Mozzarella cheese Shredded
- 1 tablespoon Panko or Bread crumbs
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese Shredded
- 1 tablespoon Butter Melted
- 1 tablespoon Red bell pepper Chopped
- Chopped Cilantro and slices of Jalapeno for Garnishing
Method
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Begin by combining cream cheese and mayonnaise in a large mixing bowl. Use a hand mixer to beat until smooth and well combined. Next, add chopped jalapenos, mozzarella cheese, and Mexican cheese. Mix all the ingredients until well combined.
- Now, grease a baking dish with oil. Transfer the cheese mixture to the greased baking dish and smooth it out with a spatula. Combine melted butter, bread crumbs, and parmesan cheese in another bowl. Mix all the ingredients together until they are well combined.
- Sprinkle this mixture over the cheese mixture in the baking dish. Add some red bell pepper over the top. Place the dish in the oven and bake for 25 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit or until the dip turns lightly golden brown and begins to bubble.
- Finally, garnish the Jalapeno Popper Dip with chopped cilantro and slices of fresh jalapenos. The dip is now ready to be served hot with crackers!
Nutrition
Notes
- you want to ensure the dip has a perfectly crispy and crumbly top layer that will make your guests crave more. It is crucial to use just the right amount of butter to moisten the bread crumbs without making them too soggy.
- To make sure that every bite of the dip is crunchy and delectable, it is recommended to bake it in a shallow baking dish. By keeping the dip layer thin to less than an inch, you will maximize the amount of crunchiness in each bite. This will make your guests keep coming back for more and more.
- After baking the dip perfectly, serve it warm to ensure maximum flavor.
- The dip has the perfect balance of spice, but if you love extra heat, you can always add more jalapeños to give it that extra zing.
- If you don't have breadcrumbs, don't worry! You can easily substitute them with crushed Ritz crackers and still achieve the same level of deliciousness.
- This post is updated with new pictures, initially published in 2017.
Private Notes
Tried this recipe?
Let us know We would love to hear your thoughts! Please leave your comments, ratings, and any ideas or changes you think could help us make our recipes even better. Thank you for your feedback!Warm regards,
Dhwani.
Great alternative to jalapeno poppers!Looks lovely 🙂
Your pizza party with the cheesy jalapeno poppers sounds like fun! I can enjoy my crispies with anything that is cheesy and these sound spicy and cheesy..yummm 🙂
These poppers look so cheesy and spicy; my kinda dip 🙂 With pizza, sounds like a great party going on there!!!
Jalapeno poppers dip looks so delicious..I am going to try this soon..superb
Super tempting share :), will try soon
This looks like a great party appetizer!! Love the creamy and spicy flavors in on dish!
Does this taste good after it gets cold or does it have to be warm?
Hi Kalindi!
It tastes best when hot/warm. 🙂
Hi Dhwani, if I am doubling the recipe what size baking dish will be good to use?
Hi Dhwani, if I am doubling the recipe, which size baking dish should I use?
Hi puja,
Use an 8×8 inch baking dish.
Can I use fresh jalapeno peppers instead of the ones in a jar?
Yes, you can!
How long will this last, once baked and refrigerated ?
Up to 4 days.