Spicy Jalapeno Poppers Cheese (Print Version)

Golden jalapeños filled with creamy cheese and subtle spice, perfect crispy snack or appetizer.

# What You Need:

→ Jalapeños

01 - 8 large fresh jalapeño peppers

→ Filling

02 - 8 oz cream cheese, softened
03 - ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
04 - 1 spring onion, finely chopped
05 - ½ teaspoon garlic powder
06 - ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
07 - ¼ teaspoon salt
08 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Coating

09 - 2 large eggs
10 - ¼ cup milk
11 - ⅔ cup all-purpose flour
12 - 1 cup breadcrumbs (panko preferred)
13 - ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
14 - Vegetable oil, for frying

# Directions:

01 - Slice each jalapeño pepper lengthwise and carefully remove seeds and membranes using a small spoon while wearing gloves.
02 - Combine softened cream cheese, shredded cheddar, chopped spring onion, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper in a bowl; mix until smooth.
03 - Fill each jalapeño half generously with the cheese mixture, smoothing the surface evenly.
04 - Arrange flour in one shallow bowl, whisk eggs and milk together in a second, and combine breadcrumbs with cayenne pepper in a third.
05 - Dip stuffed jalapeños sequentially in flour, egg mixture, and breadcrumb mixture, pressing firmly to adhere.
06 - Heat 2 inches of vegetable oil in a deep pan to 350°F (175°C).
07 - Fry breaded jalapeños in batches for 2 to 3 minutes until golden and crisp, then drain on paper towels.
08 - Serve poppers warm, optionally accompanied by ranch dressing or preferred dipping sauce.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • They disappear in minutes at any gathering, which feels like a small victory in your kitchen.
  • The contrast between crispy coating and creamy filling is genuinely addictive.
  • You can make them ahead and fry them fresh when guests arrive, keeping your stress low.
02 -
  • If you skip removing the seeds and membranes, your poppers will taste aggressively hot no matter how much cheese you use—I learned this the hard way at a very formal dinner.
  • Don't skip the breading station setup; having everything in order keeps you from accidentally dredging a wet popper in flour and ruining the coating.
03 -
  • Let your cream cheese soften completely before mixing—this takes maybe 20 minutes at room temperature and saves you from lumpy filling.
  • If the coating slides off during frying, your breading station probably wasn't dry enough or the oil wasn't hot enough; both are easy fixes next time.

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