Jalapeño popper dip is a twist on the classic jalapeño poppers, combining all the flavors that go into them into a warm creamy dip! Made with cream cheese, sour cream, and mayo for a creamy base and jalapeños, crispy bacon, cheese, and seasoning mixed in. Serve it right from the skillet with your favorite dippers!
Want to save this recipe?
Enter your email below and we’ll send this idea straight to your inbox (plus you’ll receive fun weekly ideas from us too!)
Baked Jalapeño Popper Dip
There are a few appetizers that I tend to order most from menus – mozzarella sticks, potato skins, and jalapeño poppers. Unfortunately, all of those things are kind of pain to make for parties because they’re just not that good if you don’t eat them warm!
This jalapeño popper dip is the perfect solution because it gives you all the flavors of jalapeño poppers but in an easy to make, easy to eat, and delicious even at room temperature option!
This jalapeño popper dip is an easy appetizer to make for your next party whether it be a Super Bowl (who doesn’t love the Super Bowl snacks) or a game night! It’s also a great way to mix things up from the standards like buffalo chicken dip or spinach artichoke dip.
The dip comes together with a few minutes of prep time and then no more than 20 minutes in the oven. It’s great for all kinds of social gatherings like game night, Super Bowl parties, baby showers, movie nights, and dinner parties. It can even be made a couple of days ahead to save time when needed.
As far as heat goes, this one is pretty mild but there are ways to ramp up the spice if you’d like. You can also swap the cheeses add a few extra mix-ins and then serve it with your favorite dippers. You’re going to love this one!
Why you’ll love this Recipe
- Tons of flavor – you’ll find this addictive jalapeño popper dip tastes just like a popper in dip form! Salty bacon, sharp cheddar cheese, sour cream, and jalapeños!
- Easy to make – jalapeño dip is combined in one bowl, baked, and served in a skillet or casserole dish. Minimal cleanup too!
- Can be made ahead – mix it, assemble it, and refrigerate it until you’re ready to bake it. Easy peasy.
Ingredients
Ingredient Notes
- Cream cheese – Bring a block of cream cheese to room temperature so it mixes in easily without leaving clumps behind. Don’t use the tub of spreadable cream cheese as it contains more water and won’t give the same results.
- Jalapeños – canned jalapeños will work in a pinch but fresh ones are definitely better. Remove the seeds then dice into small pieces. And grab some extras to make this jalapeno popper mac and cheese!
- Bacon – Cooked and chopped. You’ll need about 12 slices. Reserve some of the bacon for the top as well.
- Cheese – I use both freshly shredded cheddar cheese and Monterey Jack cheese to melt in nicely. In a pinch you can use pre-shredded cheese, however, I recommend grating your own if you can.
How to make Jalapeno Popper Dip
You may already have most of what you need to make this dip at home which makes it a good one to whip up any time you want. Believe me, you will start to crave it!
1 – Mix the Cream Cheese Base
In a large mixing bowl, use a hand mixer to beat the cream cheese until smooth. If you didn’t bring the cream cheese to room temperature before beating it, it’ll take a bit longer. You want it to be completely smooth so you don’t end up with weird chunks.
Once the cream cheese is smooth, add the sour cream, mayonnaise, garlic powder, salt, and pepper and stir (no need to use the hand mixer).
I’ve included some basic measurements for the salt and pepper but if you can season to taste – I know some people like a little more or a little less salt than we do.
2 – Add the Mix-Ins to the jalapeño Dip
Use a spatula or wooden spoon to fold in the diced jalapeño and chopped bacon, making sure to reserve a bit of each to garnish the top.
Once those are mixed in, fold in one cup of each of the cheeses by gently sweeping the spoon from the bottom of the bowl to the top, then turn it lightly (like if you were folding a blanket or sheet over), and doing it again. This helps to gently mix it in without destroying the dip.
3 – Bake the jalapeño Popper Dip
Transfer the mixture to a small iron skillet or baking dish. Use the same spatula to smooth it out into an even layer.
Top it with the remaining cheese, then place it in the oven to bake at 375 degrees for 15-20 minutes until the mixture is bubbly and the cheese is melted and golden brown.
Garnish with jalapeños and crumbled bacon on top then serve with your favorite dipping items like chips, Ritz crackers, bread slices, or even veggies!
Expert Tips & Storage Information
For a crunchy topping – sprinkle Parmesan cheese, Ritz crackers, or a mixture of Panko bread crumbs and melted butter on top of the dip before baking.
Want more heat? There is very little heat in this recipe for jalapeno popper dip so if you’d like a bit more, you can keep some of the seeds in or add a dash of hot sauce to the mixture. You can also add some jalapeno slices to the top of the dip.
Use full fat cream cheese – anything lower will affect the consistency of the dip.
Store leftovers – in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Recipe FAQs
Should I remove the seeds from the jalapeños?
It totally depends on how spicy you want this dip. The majority of the heat from jalapeños comes from the seeds, so if you want it to be a bit spicier you can leave in some of the seeds. Otherwise, I recommend removing the seeds before you dice the jalapeños.
Should I serve the dip warm or cold?
While I personally like this jalapeño popper dip the most when it’s nice and warm and creamy, it’s still tasty when it’s at room temperature. It’s also okay cold but if it was me, I’d warm it back up!
What’s the best way to warm up the dip?
Put the leftover dip in a oven safe dish and place it in a cold oven. Preheat the oven 375 degrees and allow the dip to warm up with the oven! This will warm it up without overcooking it. If it’s not quite warm when the oven reaches temperate, stir it quickly, then let it warm up for another 3-5 minutes or until it reaches your desired temperature.
More Easy Appetizers
You can never have too many appetizers in your arsenal! These are some of our favorite party appetizers!
- Velveeta sausage cheese dip – an irresistible gooey dip made of Velveeta, cream cheese, and juicy sausage hits the spot every time.
- Caprese salad skewers – an alternative to a sit-down salad, these skewers combine tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, basil, and balsamic in a deliciously fresh appetizer for a party.
- Bisquick sausage balls – take just five ingredients and a few minutes to make.
- Pepperoni rolls – wrap your favorite pizza toppings in crescent rolls, brush with butter and spices, and enjoy pizza in a bite-sized form!
- Taco dip – classic layered taco dip gets an upgrade when you add in our favorite taco meat as the base!
Want more Goodies?
Want more delicious recipes just like this one? Enter your first name and email address in the form below to join the Play Party Plan community! You’ll receive weekly recipes and party ideas directly to your inbox!
Jalapeno Popper Dip
Ingredients
- 8 ounces cream cheese full-fat
- ¾ cup sour cream full-fat
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp pepper
- 2 slices jalapeno fresh or canned
- 12 slices bacon cooked and crumbled
- 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese divided
- 1 ½ cups shredded monterey jack cheese divided
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, use a hand mixer to beat the cream cheese until smooth.8 ounces cream cheese
- Once the cream cheese is smooth, add the sour cream, mayonnaise, garlic powder, salt, and pepper and mix until smooth.3/4 cup sour cream, 1/4 cup mayonnaise, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp pepper
- Use a spatula or wooden spoon to fold in the diced jalapeño and chopped bacon, making sure to reserve a bit of each to garnish the top.2 slices jalapeno, 12 slices bacon
- Once those are mixed in, fold in one cup of each of the cheeses.1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, 1 1/2 cups shredded monterey jack cheese
- Transfer the mixture to a 10 inch iron skillet or square baking dish. Use the same spatula to smooth it out into an even layer.
- Top it with the remaining cheese, then place it in the oven to bake at 375 degrees for 15-20 minutes until the mixture is bubbly and the cheese is melted and golden brown.
- Garnish with jalapeños and crumbled bacon on top then serve with your favorite dipping items like chips, Ritz crackers, bread slices, or even veggies!
Leave a Reply