Easy Baked Jalapeno Poppers
These easy-baked jalapeno poppers are a great addition to the party / game-day finger food appetizer list. They’re so easy to make and have tons of flavor, and will be a hit with you and all your friends.
When jalapenos meet that Italian sausage and parmesan cheese, something magical just happens. Each bite is more delicious than the last.
What Makes This Recipe Awesome
These things rock. They bring the flavor with each bite and will not disappoint. As an added bonus, they’re keto as well. So if you’re on that particular train, this is a game-day treat that keeps you from cheating.
If you’re a fan of poppers and want to try something a bit different, give our Candied Bacon Jalapeno Poppers recipe a try. I absolutely love these things!
Introducing a sweet and salty element and serving them in a baked wonton wrapper puts a whole new spin on jalapeno poppers.
Tips
- Control the heat by removing the seeds and pith of the jalapeno. Leave some for a spicier version.
- Make sure to hit the jalapenos with salt before filling them. We have found that even with the addition of cheese and sausage, the jalapeno needs a touch of salt to really bring out that jalapeno pepper flavor.
- All ovens are different, so when baking these poppers, keep an eye on them. When the cheese is golden brown on top, go ahead and pull them.
- You can prepare the dish a day in advance. Just prepare, cover and refrigerate. When you’re ready to prepare the poppers, remove them from the fridge and allow them to room temperature. Bake as instructed.
Variations
- You can easily substitute the Italian sausage with a regular sausage or even ground beef. I would not recommend a breakfast sausage, though.
- You can substitute the parmesan cheese with cheddar cheese (or your favorite, for that matter).
- Instead of cheese for a topping, add some panko crumbs with added butter for a crispy, crunchy topping.
How To Make Baked Jalapeno Poppers
Our recipe calls for ground Italian sausage, but you can use any ground pork you enjoy. For a spicier version, you can use hot Italian sausage and leave the ribs in the jalapenos.
If you haven’t tried making your own Italian sausage, you have to give this a look. Our Italian sausage has been a tradition for years, generations even!
The Key Ingredients
The ingredient list is small, which makes this a breeze to prepare. You’ll also notice that these recipe ingredients fall well within the Keto dietary scope without sacrificing any kind of flavor. A total win!
- Ground Italian sausage – We prefer the Italian as it’s seasoned properly and pairs well with the parmesan cheese.
- Parmesan Cheese – We find that this cheese, with the Italian sausage, gives this popper a nice savory punch.
The Steps
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F and prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a skillet over medium-high heat, cook the Italian sausage until no longer pink, drain on paper towels, and set aside.
In a mixing bowl, combine the cream cheese, 1/2 cup of cheddar cheese, and a 1/2 cup of parmesan cheese. Add the sausage and combine. Set aside.
Cut each jalapeno pepper in half, removing the seeds and membranes. You can leave some of the ribs if you want a spicier version. We also take a pinch of salt and very lightly salt the jalapenos.
Spoon approximately 1 tablespoon into the jalapeno halves. Please note that your filling will be based on the size of the jalapenos you use. We used medium-sized and were really able to load these things up.
Place the jalapeno poppers onto the prepared baking sheet and top with the remaining 1/2 cup of parmesan cheese.
Bake at 425 degrees F. uncovered for 15 minutes until browned.
Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes before serving.
Serve with your favorite dipping sauce or the ever faithful Ranch dressing.
A perfect appetizer that will please the entire crowd.
FAQ
Bake at 425 degrees F. uncovered for 15 minutes until browned.
Ours are. The recipe only includes jalapeno, sausage, and cheese.
For a mild popper, remove the seeds and pith of the jalapeno and use a mild sausage. For more heat, leave some seeds and pith and use hot Italian sausage.
Blue cheese and ranch dressings are always good options. Both combine well with the flavors of the jalapeno popper.
Other Appetizers You May Enjoy
- Jalapeno Popper Cheese Ball
- Sausage Pretzel Bites
- Artichoke Dip
- How To Make Buffalo Chicken Dip That Rocks
- Easy Buffalo Chicken Pinwheels
- Creamy Jalapeno Cilantro Dip
Ingredients
- 1 lb Ground Italian sausage
- 8 oz Cream cheese
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup Cheddar cheese
- 12 Fresh Jalapeno peppers medium size
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees F
- Prepare parchment lined baking sheet
- Cook the italian sausage until no longer pink then drain on paper towels. Set aside.
- Combine the cream cheese, cheddar cheese, 1/2 cup of parmesan cheese.
- Add the sausage and combine. Set aside.
- Cut each jalapeno pepper in half, removing the seeds and membranes.
- Very lightly salt the cut jalapenos, just a pinch should be enough for all.
- Spoon approximately 1 tablespoon in jalapeno halves.
- Place the jalapeno poppers onto a prepared baking sheet.
- Top with remaining 1/2 cup parmesan cheese.
- Bake at 425 degrees F. uncovered for 15 minutes until browned.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes before serving.
- Serve with your favorite dipping sauce