Name: Jalapeno Popper Dip Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 1 8- ounce package cream cheese (softened); ½ cup mayonnaise; ½ cup sour cream or crema; 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese; ½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese; 4 jalapeno peppers (chopped); 2 cloves garlic (minced); Salt and pepper to taste; 1 teaspoon paprika; 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper; 1 teaspoon onion powder; 1 teaspoon Mexican oregano; ½ teaspoon cumin; 4 tablespoons melted butter; 1 cup panko; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; ½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese; 1 jalapeno sliced into rings

This is my favorite jalapeno popper dip recipe with lots of melty cheese, spicy seasonings, crunchy topping and extra jalapeno peppers. Everyone loves this crowd-pleasing dip. Make an extra batch!

I have made a lot of jalapeno popper dips in my life. I mean, a LOT. It’s a simple go-to recipe that you can whip together quickly and easily for any type of party.

And it’s popular. How could it not be?

You have cream cheese, cheddar cheese, parmesan and jalapeno peppers, one of the best chili peppers on the face of the planet. I will forever shout out the awesomeness of jalapeno peppers and declare my love for them. I LOVE JALAPENOS!

The thing about jalapeno popper dip, though, is everyone makes them. You can’t really blame them.

Truly, it IS that good, but most people seem to make the same recipe. The key is to vary it up a bit and find that exact recipe that you love and prefer.

This is THAT recipe for me.

I’ve got my own ratios down and also a couple of key tips to help you get your next jalapeno popper dip to that creamy-crunchy level you’re looking for. If you love jalapeno poppers, you’ll love this dip.

Let’s talk about how to make jalapeno popper dip, shall we?

Jalapeno Popper Dip Ingredients

FOR THE JALAPENO POPPER DIP BASE
Cheese. Use Cream cheese, cheddar cheese and Parmesan cheese.
Mayonnaise. Use your favorite brand.
Sour Cream. Or use Mexican crema, which I love.
Fresh Jalapeno Peppers.
Garlic.
Salt and Pepper. To taste.

OPTIONAL SEASONINGS (THOUGH HIGHLY RECOMMENDED)
Paprika.
Cayenne.
Onion Powder
Mexican Oregano.
Cumin.

FOR THE TOPPING
Melted Butter.
Panko.
Garlic Powder.
Parmesan Cheese.
Fresh Jalapeño Slices.

How to Make Jalapeno Popper Dip – the Recipe Method

Mix the Popper Dip Base. In a large bowl, combine cream cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, cheddar cheese, Parmesan, chopped jalapenos and garlic.

Optional Ingredients. Add optional seasonings to the cream cheese mixture if desired, though highly recommended. Stir it all together to combine.

Into the Dish. Spread the seasoned cream cheese-mayonnaise mixture into a large baking dish or casserole dish.

The Topping. For the topping, combine melted butter with panko, Parmesan cheese and garlic powder.

Stir it up and spread over the popper dip mixture. Top with jalapeno slices.

Bake the Popper Dip. Preheat oven and bake for 15 minutes at 350 degrees F, until the panko topping is golden brown.

Serve. Remove and serve with tortilla chips. If you’d like, top it off with extra spicy red pepper flakes, fresh green herbs, chopped green onions or more.

Boom! Done! Jalapeno popper dip is ready to serve, my friends! I know you’ll love this stuff. So tasty, extra creamy, with that wonderful crunchy topping with the crispy panko. And a nice level of spiciness. Such a great recipe. Perfect for any party, super bowl gathering, you name it.

Recipe Tips & Notes

Mayo + Sour Cream for Extra Creaminess. One key item – use both mayonnaise and crema our sour cream. I prefer crema, as it has less of that tang, but they are both very good options. But! Don’t forget the mayo as well. I’ve made this with ONLY mayo and ONLY sour cream/crema, and it is still good, but the combination of both mayo and sour cream/crema is the best.
Crumbly Topping. The top crumbly layer is very important. Do not overdo the butter. You want just enough to moisten the panko bread crumbs so they will maintain that outstanding CRUNCH factor. Sure, you can use regular bread crumbs and it will still be quite YUM, but the extra crunch introduced by the buttery, garlicky panko-Parmesan topping is SO MUCH better. Oh yeah!
Use a Shallow Dish. Bake the dip in a shallow baking dish. You can of course use a larger, deeper dish and use all of the ingredients for a single dip, but I prefer to use a couple of shallow dishes and keep the popper dip layer thinner, to less than an inch. This way, every bite you take will have that much more of that crunch you are looking for. Gotta have that top level of crunch with every creamy bite!
Seasonings and Spice Factor. And, lastly, you need extra seasonings, my spicy food loving friends. I use a zesty blend of cumin, paprika, cayenne powder, onion powder and Mexican oregano. It will seriously put your dip over the top. You’ll have just the right amount of heat but with a huge blast of flavor. And, of course, as the name indicates, we’re using jalapeno peppers for this recipe. You can absolutely include other peppers if you’d like, so if you want some extra heat, toss in a habanero pepper or even a ghost pepper.

Patty’s Perspective

I was super excited when I saw this come out of the oven. It looked so different from other jalapeño popper dips I’ve seen online or at parties. Mike really elevated this one. It isn’t just mayo and a few things stirred together. Once I dug in, I realized it not only looked amazing, it tasted amazing. It activated all my senses. The crunch was so awesome. I kept asking what ingredients were in it to give it so much oomph. You’ve got to try this out. A little goes a long way, as it’s quite decadent. It’s definitely going to be a crowd-pleaser at your next party or game night.

Check Out Some of My Other Popular Spicy Dip Recipes

Bacon Jalapeno Popper Dip (Great for the crock pot or slow cooker!)
Jalapeno Cream Cheese Dip
Mexican Corn Dip
Southwest Style Cheese Dip
Easy Cheesy Chipotle Bean Dip
One-Pan Hatch Chili Cheese Dip
Queso Fundido
Zesty Layered Taco Dip

If you enjoy this recipe, I hope you’ll leave a comment with some STARS. Also, please share it on social media. Don’t forget to tag us at #ChiliPepperMadness. I’ll be sure to share! Thanks! — Mike H.

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5 from 5 votes