Blue Cheese and Bacon Stuffed Jalapeno Poppers

This post has been sponsored by Stella® Cheese. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

These baked, stuffed jalapeño poppers—made with rich, tangy blue cheese and crumbly bacon—are everyday gourmet. They’re perfect for an anytime appetizer.

It’s time for jalapeño poppers, my friends. When ISN’T it time for poppers? If there ever was a perfect appetizer-snack ever conceived, it has to be poppers. These particular poppers are a bit different from what you might expect because we’re making them extra special with lots of crumbly bacon and my secret ingredient: blue cheese.

Lucky for me, I’m working with Stella® Blue Cheese.

Stella® Blue Cheese is delectably rich and tangy and when you combine it with bacon and jalapeño peppers, you’re in for a mouthwatering treat. Its semi-soft texture is just right for making jalapeño poppers.

Only the best will do.

Let Stella® inspire you to make every day gourmet.

Stella® Cheese also makes a wonderful gorgonzola cheese that is earthy, tangy and mellow. Try it with these poppers, too!

We just threw a fiesta-themed party this weekend and served these up at the start of the gathering. I planned for two batches of 20, figuring I would bring them down at intervals.

But when the first tray disappeared in 5 minutes, I found myself rushing back to the kitchen to get the next batch into the oven. Whoa!

They were a huge hit, with many people asking, “What did you put in these? They’re so good!” The secret? Stella® Blue Cheese.

They’re ideal for any party situation where you need a quick and easy appetizer that people are guaranteed to love. Think of these for a game day table, like the Super Bowl, or a flavorful starter to your main course. I would serve these on date night just before, or alongside, the filet mignon or a thick-cut ribeye.

Let’s talk about how we make them, shall we?

Blue Cheese and Bacon Stuffed Jalapeño Ingredients

• Large Jalapeño Peppers. 10, or as many as you can fill.
• Bacon. 6 ounces.
• Cream Cheese. 8 ounces, softened.
• Stella® Blue Cheese. 10 ounces.
• Garlic Powder. 1 teaspoon.

For Serving:

• Fresh chopped cilantro, spicy chili flakes.

How to Make Blue Cheese and Bacon Stuffed Jalapeño Poppers Recipe - the Recipe Method

First, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Next, slice jalapeño peppers in half lengthwise and core out the innards.

Cook the bacon in a pan over medium heat until the fat renders and the bacon becomes nice and crispy, about 8-10 minutes. Drain the bacon on paper towels and let the slices cool. Crumble them into a mixing bowl.

Add the cream cheese, Stella® Blue Cheese and garlic powder to the mixing bowl. Mix until well combined.

Fill each jalapeño slice with the bacon-blue cheese mixture and set them onto a baking sheet. Usually just a small spoon full of the bacon cheese mixture will do, though it will depend on the size of the jalapeño peppers. Some jalapeño peppers are huge, while some can be quite small. So, please plan accordingly.

Bake at 350 degrees F. for 20 minutes or until the cheese is nice and melty.

Finally, sprinkle with fresh herbs and spicy chili flakes. This is optional, really, but I love the pop of the fresh herbs with my poppers. I also love a bit of an extra spicy kick from the chili flakes. Any store-bought chili flakes will work just fine. Or, do like I do and dehydrate your own chili peppers. Then, crush them into flakes for sprinkling over just about everything.

Let them cool for 5-10 minutes then serve them up, my friends!

Boom! Done! Super easy to make, right? Definitely a different sort of popper and definitely huge on flavor.

Check out the video in the recipe card to see just how easy they are whip together.

That’s it, my friends! Go throw yourself a party just so you can make these. Or, make them ahead and bring them as a surprise to your next gathering. You’ll definitely be the hit of the evening. Just tell them Mike from Chili Pepper Madness sent you! And Stella® Blue Cheese.

Storage & Leftovers

Storing your Blue Cheese and Bacon Stuffed Jalapeno Poppers in an airtight container in the fridge may allow you to store the leftovers for up to 3-4 days. To maximize the storage life, make sure to refrigerate them promptly.

Let Stella® inspire you to make every day gourmet.

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.