What to put in jalapeño popper filling?

The classic jalapeño popper filling starts with cream cheese as the creamy base. To boost the flavor, many people mix in shredded cheddar cheese, cooked crumbled bacon, green onions, and spices like garlic powder or smoked paprika. For a lighter version, blended cottage cheese works well too. When used in a jalapeño popper casserole, this filling gets layered with chicken or veggies for extra heartiness.

Should I boil jalapeños before stuffing?

Boiling jalapeños before stuffing them isn’t always necessary, but it depends on your texture preference. If you want softer peppers with less bite, boiling them for 2–3 minutes can help mellow out the heat and make them more tender. In a jalapeño popper casserole, where everything is baked together, this step is often skipped since the peppers soften naturally during cooking.

Why do you soak jalapeños in water?

Soaking jalapeños in water, especially after slicing, can reduce their intensity. The water helps pull out some of the capsaicin—the compound that makes them spicy. If you’re prepping peppers for a jalapeño popper casserole and want to keep the spice level more manageable, a quick soak in cold water can do the trick without affecting flavor.

Why do people boil jalapeños?

Boiling jalapeños is a quick way to soften their texture and tone down their heat. This is useful when you’re making traditional stuffed peppers or want a smoother bite. For jalapeño popper casserole, however, boiling isn't typically required because the baking process does a great job of tenderizing the peppers while blending the flavors.

How do you cut jalapeño peppers for stuffing?

To prepare jalapeños for stuffing, start by slicing them lengthwise and removing the seeds and membranes. This not only creates room for the filling but also reduces the heat level. In casseroles, jalapeños are usually chopped or sliced into rings, depending on how bold you want the pepper presence to be throughout the dish.

Do peppers need to be cooked before stuffing?

Not necessarily. Many recipes call for stuffing raw peppers, which then soften during baking. If you're short on time or want them extra tender, a brief pre-cook—like boiling or roasting—can speed things up. In jalapeño popper casserole, the peppers are typically used raw and chopped, and the oven handles the rest.

Jalapeño Popper Casserole: 7 Reasons It’s the Best Cheesy Bake Ever

Description

This Jalapeno Popper Casserole is a creamy, cheesy, and spicy comfort dish that brings all the bold flavors of your favorite appetizer into a hearty bake. Perfect for game day, potlucks, or weeknight dinners!

Ingredients

Scale

2 – 8 oz packages of cream cheese softened at room temperature.
1 cup sour cream
2 cups Mexican Cheddar Jack Shredded Cheese divided
1 pound bacon cooked and crumbled
6 Jalapeno Peppers deseeded and diced
1 – 2 lb. bag of tater tots
6 green onions thinly sliced

Instructions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
Line a casserole dish with tater tots. Bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes.
While the tater tots are baking, cook bacon, blot fat away, and crumble into small pieces. Dice the peppers and slice the onions.
In a medium bowl, combine cream cheese, sour cream, 1 1/2 cups of Cheddar jack cheese, bacon (save a little bit for the topping), diced Jalapeno peppers, and most of the sliced onions (save a few for the top). Stir to thoroughly combine ingredients.
Spread the jalapeno mixture over the top of the tater tots.
Top with remaining ½ cup of cheese. Sprinkle the extra bacon pieces and onion slices over the top.
Bake at 425 degrees for 20 minutes.

Notes

Use rotisserie chicken for a quick shortcut.
Adjust the spice level by adding or reducing jalapeños, or swap for mild green chiles.
Top with crushed Ritz crackers or bacon for a crunchy, savory finish.
Leftovers reheat well and make an even tastier lunch the next day.

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Category: Main Course
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 portion (approx. 1/6 of dish)
Calories: 410 kcal
Sugar: 3g
Sodium: 720mg
Fat: 32g
Saturated Fat: 15g
Unsaturated Fat: 14g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 6g
Fiber: 1g
Protein: 25g
Cholesterol: 95mg

Keywords: Tater tots, cream cheese, sour cream, jalapeno peppers, green