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This creamy jalapeno popper dip is loaded with smoky bacon, spicy jalapenos, zesty cheddar, and more. It’s topped with a buttery, cheesy panko mixture and baked to bubbly making for the perfect creamy, crunchy, irresistibly flavorful appetizer.
This delicious and indulgent appetizer captures the essence of classic jalapeno poppers in dip form. It starts with a creamy and smooth base made of rich cream cheese and tangy mayo. The dip is then generously packed with shredded cheeses (cheddar and cheddar jack), garlic, smoky bacon, and jalapenos. It’s finished with a buttery parmesan-panko topping and baked to bubbly, golden-brown perfection. Every bite has the perfect balance of spicy, tangy, smoky, creamy, and crunchy. It’s delicious.
Looking for an excuse to gather your friends around appetizers? Make this quick, easy-to-throw-together dip the reason. You won’t be sorry.
Why You’ll Love This Jalapeno Popper Dip
- The perfect marriage of flavors. Get ready for a burst of bold flavors! Smoky bacon, spicy jalapeno, and the tangy, robust flavor of cheddar jack cheese are all carried by a rich, creamy combo of mayo and cream cheese. It’s perfectly balanced and completely crave-worthy.
- Texture. I can’t get enough of the rich, creamy texture of this dip. The combination of the mayonnaise and the cream cheese just glides over your tongue like a dream. Pair it with ooey-gooey melted cheese and the perfect crunch from the breadcrumb topping and you’ve got yourself a dip that will keep your guests glued to the appetizer table.
- Quick and easy. This recipe is a breeze to make. With just a handful of ingredients and a few simple steps, you’ll be popping this crowd-pleasing dip in the oven in no time.
What You’ll Need
Here’s a list of ingredients needed to make jalapeno cream cheese dip. Don’t forget to scroll to the recipe card below for precise measurements.
- Bacon
- Cream cheese – The cream cheese should be softened to room temperature. Otherwise, it will not mix smoothly and evenly with the other ingredients.
- Mayonnaise
- Shredded cheddar cheese – Mozzarella will work equally well.
- Shredded cheddar jack cheese
- Garlic
- Jalapeños – Be sure to remove the seeds and inner membranes from the jalapenos. This will help you control the spice levels in the dip.
- Salt and pepper
- Grated parmesan cheese
- Panko breadcrumbs
- Unsalted butter
How to Make Jalapeno Popper Dip
Here’s a quick overview of how to make this cheesy, delicious dip. For more detailed instructions, scroll to the recipe card below.
Cook the bacon. Cook the bacon in a skillet over medium-high heat until crispy. Remove it from the pan and set aside.
Make the dip. Cream together the cream cheese and mayo. Mix in the cheddar and cheddar jack, garlic, jalapeños, salt, pepper, and ⅔ of the crumbled bacon.
Make the topping. Mix together the parmesan cheese, breadcrumbs, and melted butter.
Bake. Transfer the dip to a baking dish, top with the breadcrumb mixture, and bake for 25 minutes at 375 degrees F.
Serve. Top with the remaining bacon and serve with your favorite dipping chips.
Tips for Success
Before embarking on your culinary journey, have a look at the following tips and tricks. They will help set you off on the right foot.
- Room temperature cream cheese. Be sure to start with room-temperature cream cheese. If the cream cheese is cold, it won’t blend properly with the other ingredients. This will end you with a dip that has big lumps of cream cheese in it instead of an even blend of cream cheese, mayo, cheese, jalapeno, bacon, etc.
- Adjust your spice levels. If you have a low to moderate spice tolerance, seed the jalapenos and remove the inner membrane. If you are looking for a spicier dish, go ahead and leave some of the seeds in.
- Let it sit. After pulling the dip out of the oven, let it sit for a few minutes before diving in. This will give the flavors a chance to meld together and will help prevent you and your guests from burning your mouths.
- Prep-bake. If you have time, bake the dip for a few minutes before adding the toppings. This will give the cheese a chance to get even more melty and delicious.
What to Serve with Jalapeno Cream Cheese Dip
Grab your favorite dipping vessel and a tasty beverage and dive on in. Here are some ideas to get you inspired.
- Chips. Sturdy, crispy chips are the perfect vehicle for scooping up generous amounts of this indulgent dip. Grab a bag of your favorite tortilla chips or try my Air Fryer Pita Chips.
- Celery and carrot sticks. These veggies provide a refreshing, cool contrast to the rich, spicy dip.
- Bread. Toasted or not, the combination of the crusty bread and creamy dip is a match made in heaven. I have been loving this dip with my Kiss Me If You Dare Extra Garlicky and Cheesy Bread.
- With other appetizers. Jalapeno popper dip loves company. Serve it at your next gathering along with my Pizza Bites, Lemon Pepper Wings, or Crispy Air Fryer Ravioli.
- Something to sip on. This is the perfect cocktail party appetizer. Serve it alongside my Sunset Cocktail or a Gin and Tonic
How to Store Leftovers
- Refrigerator. Allow the dip to cool completely before putting it away. If you would like to keep the crispy topping intact, wrap the baking dish in plastic wrap. Otherwise, transfer the dip to an airtight container. Store it in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Freezer. Once the dip has cooled completely, wrap the baking dish in a double layer of plastic wrap or transfer the dip to an airtight container. Store it in the freezer for up to 3 months. Allow it to thaw in the fridge before reheating.
- To reheat. Transfer the dip to a baking dish (if it’s not already in one), cover with aluminum foil, and bake in the oven at 350 degrees F for 10-15 minutes or until heated through.
More Party Dip Recipes
This jalapeno cream cheese dip is one of my favorites but, if you’re a dip fanatic like me, you can never have enough options. Here are some other glorious recipes for you to try.
- Corn Dip
- Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Dip
- Authentic Easy Baba Ganoush
- Jalapeño Corn Dip
- Cheesy Chorizo Chili Dip
- Homemade Tzatziki Dip
Jalapeno Popper Dip
Equipment
Ingredients
- 10 slices (220 g) bacon, diced
- 16 ounces (454 g) cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- 1 cup (224 g) mayonnaise
- 1 cup (112 g) shredded cheddar or mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup (113 g) shredded cheddar jack cheese
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 fresh jalapeños, seeds and membranes removed, finely chopped
- Salt and pepper to taste
- ½ cup (50 g) grated parmesan cheese
- ½ cup (30 g) panko breadcrumbs
- 4 tablespoons (56 g) unsalted butter, melted
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 °F (191 °C)
- Heat a skillet over medium-high heat and add the diced bacon. Cook until crispy, then remove from the pan with a slotted spoon and set aside.
- Cream together cream cheese and mayo until smooth. Stir in cheddar and cheddar jack, garlic, jalapeños, salt, pepper and ⅔ of the crumbled bacon. Reserve the other ⅓ for topping.
- In a separate bowl, mix together the parmesan cheese, breadcrumbs and melted butter.
- Transfer the dip to a baking dish of choice. We used a 9×13” baking dish. Top with breadcrumb mixture.
- Bake for 25 minutes, until golden brown.
