What Temperature Should I Cook Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers?

These bacon wrapped jalapeno poppers are creamy, spicy and loaded with cheese. The perfect party appetizer!

I have to admit, I have a weakness for jalapeno poppers. I love them so much, but I’ve never made them at home because I don’t like deep-frying food. If you don’t want to fry these bacon wrapped jalapeno poppers, you can bake them instead. They’re even better than the original! Fresh jalapenos stuffed with cheese, wrapped in bacon, and baked until crispy? Not me, that’s for sure! If you want the best party or game day snack, try this along with antipasto skewers and slow cooker chicken wings.

Bacon-wrapped jalapeno poppers are a popular appetizer that combines the spicy kick of jalapenos with the salty crunch of bacon. Getting the right temperature to cook these tasty morsels can make all the difference between undercooked poppers with limp bacon and perfectly crispy, melty popper perfection. In this article, we’ll walk through everything you need to know to cook bacon-wrapped jalapeno poppers to crispy, melty perfection.

How Hot Should the Oven Be to Cook Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers?

Most recipes for bacon-wrapped jalapeno poppers call for baking them in the oven at 400°F. This high temperature helps render the bacon fat and crisp up the bacon wrapping nicely. Baking at 400°F also allows the cream cheese filling to warm through and get nice and gooey without overcooking the jalapeno.

However, if you are using a thicker cut bacon, you may need to pre-cook the bacon slightly before wrapping and baking the poppers Thicker bacon pieces take longer to crisp up at 400°F than thinner sliced bacon. Pre-cooking the bacon for 5-10 minutes before wrapping allows it to render some fat and firm up a bit so it crisps better during the final baking

How Long Should You Bake Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers?

Baking time can vary based on the size of your jalapenos and how thickly you slice the bacon. Most recipes suggest baking bacon-wrapped poppers for 25-35 minutes at 400°F.

Here are some tips for achieving perfect bake times:

Smaller jalapenos will cook faster than larger ones. Start checking smaller poppers at 20-25 minutes.
Thinner sliced bacon will cook faster than thick-cut bacon Thinner bacon may only need 25 minutes,
If pre-cooking thick cut bacon, reduce baking time by 5-10 minutes.
Let bacon firm up and brown slightly before removing from oven. Total cook time may take 30-40 minutes.
Ovens vary, so watch closely near end of cook time and adjust as needed

How Can You Tell When Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers Are Done?

There are a few signs to look for to know your bacon-wrapped jalapeno poppers are fully cooked:

Bacon is browned and crispy looking
Jalapenos look slightly softened/collapsed but still have some firmness
Cream cheese filling is hot and melty when you cut into a popper
Cream cheese filling may bubble slightly out of filling while cooking – this is normal
Total cook time reaches 25-35 minutes (or 20-30 minutes if pre-cooking bacon)

The jalapenos should be fairly soft but not fully mushy when the poppers are done. You want them to retain a little bite but also be cooked through. Let the poppers cool for 5 minutes before serving so filling can firm up slightly.

Tips for Perfectly Cooked Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers

Follow these tips for crispy, melty bacon-wrapped jalapeno popper success:

Use raw bacon, not pre-cooked bacon. Raw bacon will render fat and crisp better.
Pre-bake thick cut bacon 5-10 minutes before wrapping to jumpstart crisping.
When stuffing, don’t overfill jalapenos or filling will leak out.
Place poppers seam side down on baking sheet so filling doesn’t spill out.
Bake at 400°F on center oven rack for even cooking.
If bacon isn’t getting crispy enough during baking time, switch oven to broil for 1-2 minutes watch closely to avoid burning.

Can You Make Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers Ahead of Time?

You can prep the stuffed bacon-wrapped poppers 1-2 days in advance for easy entertaining.

To make ahead:

Prepare poppers by stuffing jalapenos and wrapping with bacon.
Place unbaked poppers in a single layer on a baking sheet or plate.
Cover tightly and refrigerate up to 2 days.
When ready to cook, let poppers sit at room temperature for 15-30 minutes while oven preheats.
Bake at 400°F until hot and crispy, 20-30 minutes.

Letting the chilled poppers warm up helps them cook more evenly in the oven.

Storing Leftover Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers

You can store leftover baked bacon-wrapped jalapeno poppers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in a 400°F oven until warmed through, about 5-10 minutes.

The cream cheese filling tends to harden when chilled in the fridge. Let leftover poppers sit out for 10-15 minutes to soften filling before serving.

Do not freeze cooked poppers, as the filling will likely not thaw well.

In Summary

Bake bacon-wrapped jalapeno poppers at 400°F for best results.
Cook for 25-35 minutes based on size and bacon thickness.
Pre-bake very thick bacon 5-10 minutes before wrapping for extra crispness.
Let cool 5 minutes before serving.
Poppers can be made 1-2 days ahead; store chilled and bake just before serving.
Refrigerate leftovers up to 3 days; reheat at 400°F for 5-10 minutes.

Cooking bacon-wrapped jalapeno poppers is easy and rewarding when you use the right oven temp. Crisp, spicy bacon complemented by creamy, melty filling makes these the perfect crowd-pleasing appetizer for any occasion.

what temp do i cook bacon wrapped jalapeno poppers

How to make jalapeno poppers

It probably won’t surprise you that the first ingredient in this recipe is jalapenos. I like to buy jalapenos that are 3 to 4 inches long. If they’re too short, it will be hard to stuff them. The jalapenos are sliced in half and the seeds and ribs get removed. Most of the pepper’s heat is lost when the seeds and ribs are taken out. If you like it hotter, leave some of the seeds and ribs in. The peppers are stuffed with a combination of cream cheese, cheddar cheese and spices.

The final step in the process is the bacon. Thick-cut bacon won’t work at all in this recipe because it will take a lot longer to cook through. The jalapenos get wrapped in half a slice of bacon and then secured with a toothpick. That’s up to you. Take out the toothpicks before serving, like I did, or leave them in so people can pick them up from the platter. Whatever you prefer!.

I like to serve my bacon-wrapped jalapeno poppers with ranch on the side, but they’re great on their own too. Everyone at the party will want the recipe for this tasty snack! You can even fill and wrap the jalapenos up to 8 hours before you want to bake them; just put them in the fridge until you’re ready to bake them. You might even want to consider making a double batch, these little guys disappear quickly!.