Maple Bacon Stuffed Jalapenos

Name: Maple Bacon Stuffed Jalapenos
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 75 min
Ingredients: 20 large jalapeno peppers (seeded, but leave stem on, halved lengthwise ); 16 oz. pkg. cream cheese (softened (two 8-ounce blocks)); 2-3 cloves garlic (finely minced); 4-8 oz. sharp cheddar cheese (shredded (I used about 1 cup)); 40 slices thinly sliced bacon ( one slice for every jalapeno half); 3 1/3 tbsp. maple syrup (about ¼ tsp. for every jalapeno half )

July 4, 2018Teresa Ambra

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Gluten Free Living – 2018

Can I share with you my absolute favorite appetizer recipe? Maple Bacon Stuffed Jalapenos. Hands down. This is not maple flavoring from the bacon. No siree. This is maple syrup drizzled over the jalapenos after they’re grilled or baked. Yes, a thousand times, YES! These tantalizing, spectacular appetizers have only 6 ingredients. They use jalapenos, bacon (thinner sliced bacon is easiest to use), cream cheese, garlic, cheddar cheese and maple syrup. That’s it. This gluten free recipe will have all your friends coming back for more. Especially if you enjoy Tex-Mex recipes with a little kick. Yeah.

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I have loved these jewels from the first time I sampled them about three years ago at a Christmas party. I ate one. Then another. Then two or three more! At first I thought they’d be too hot for me. But I loved them. I asked the guy who made them for the recipe. Finally about six months ago I took down notes in my phone and decided to forge ahead with a combination of his version and a neighbor’s version.

If you’ve never worked with jalapeno peppers before let me caution you. Don’t even try to make this without gloves. I recommend even using a mask. Why? When I was cutting out the seeds from the peppers I must have crushed some and I inhaled the vapors. I ended up in a coughing jag for about 5 minutes before I could continue! Be careful not to touch your eyes or mouth while seeding the peppers either. After I seeded the peppers I rinsed both sides of the peppers and cleaned my cutting board again just to make sure none of the seeds remained. There are a lot of seeds that get stuck around the stem, so make sure you get all of them.

After stuffing the jalapenos and wrapping with bacon you will need to secure them with toothpicks. Then the fun begins! I was too chicken to grill the peppers. I figured I would burn them. That is the preferred way of cooking them but I chose to cook them in the oven instead. I put the jalapenos on a rack that fit over a baking dish. That way the bacon grease can drip off into the dish avoiding splatters or fires in the oven. 🙁 They need to cook about 45 minutes – longer if your oven is slow. I recommend turning the jalapenos over after 30 minutes so the other side can crisp and brown up as well.

After the jalapenos are baked, you drizzle about a quarter teaspoon of real maple syrup over each one. Believe me, it will NOT be too sweet. It also helps offset some of the fire from the jalapeno. The result? Oh my gosh, these appetizers are a Grand Slam! No kidding. I ate several before our company arrived on Memorial Day when I served them. I ate several during our party. I ate even more after everyone left. 🙂 Yes, I loved them. Nor did I care that I ate only Maple Bacon Stuffed Jalapenos and 3 or four desserts that day. That was my ~~balanced~~ unbalanced meal for the day. Believe me, I was one happy camper. [sheepish grin].

Now, I don’t want you to think the only thing I served at this party was Maple Bacon Stuffed Jalapenos. I did serve more traditional fare: BBQ Brisket, the Best Deviled Eggs, Southern Baked Beans with Pineapple, Bacon and French-Fried Onions and Bacon Potato Salad. Yes, we had a ton of food and none of it particularly healthy. But believe me, it was comfort food with a touch of southern to die for. 🙂

Listen, these Maple Bacon Stuffed Jalapenos are the best. If you’re not afraid of a little heat, these are terrific appetizers for any kind of holiday party. Summer, winter, fall or spring, these jewels can’t be beat. I also recommend them for tailgating parties, potlucks and family reunions. I guarantee if you bring this appetizer, you will be the hit of the party.

Maple Bacon Stuffed Jalapenos will have you salivating after the first bite.

These awesome appetizers are perfect for tailgating parties.

Maple Bacon Stuffed Jalapenos are the real deal. If you enjoy Tex-Mex recipes, you need to make this one.

Here’w what I did.

I used these ingredients.

Soften cream cheese. Add finely minced garlic.

Stir to combine.

Make sure you’re wearing gloves for this part!

Slice jalapenos in half lengthwise. Leave the stem on.

Scoop out seeds carefully. Work especially around the stems because seeds like to hide in that area. Rinse both sides of peppers to remove all seeds. Wash your bread board so no residue from crushed seeds remains on the board.

Stuff jalapenos with cream cheese and garlic mixture.

Top with grated cheddar cheese.

Wrap jalapeno slices with thin-sliced bacon. I found the Oscar Meyer center cut bacon to be ideal for this recipe.

Secure bacon to jalapenos with toothpicks.

To bake in oven: place jalapenos on a cooking rack over a large roaster pan or baking dish.

Bake about 30 minutes at 350. Turn bacon over so remaining side gets browned.

Bake 15 to 30 minutes longer until bacon is crispy. Remove from oven. Drizzle about 1/4 teaspoon of real maple syrup over top of each jalapeno. Do this slowly, or the syrup will drip off the bacon and into the pan and the jalapeno won’t get any coverage.

Remove jalapenos to serving plate to serve.

Maple Bacon Stuffed Jalapenos are awesome. We loved these appetizers.

I took a bite out of this one so you can see the interior of the jalapenos.

Here’s the recipe.

MAPLE BACON STUFFED JALAPENOS

(Recipe adapted from Josh Mensinger, Ovilla Road Baptist Church, Ovilla, TX)

Maple Bacon Stuffed Jalapenos

Teresa Ambra

This amazing Tex-Mex appetizer stuffs jalapenos with cream cheese & cheddar cheese. Then they'e wrapped in bacon slices. After baking, each jalapeno is drizzled with maple syrup. This mouthwatering recipe is always a hit at tailgating parties, potlucks and backyard barbecues.

5 from 1 vote

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 30

Cook Time 45

Total Time 1 15

Course Appetizer, Pork Main Dish

Cuisine Tex-Mex

Servings

Calories 121 kcal

Equipment

1 sharp knife to slice jalapenos
1 gas or electric grill (or you can bake these in a large baking dish in the oven)
1 small mixing bowl
1 wooden spoon
measuring cups
measuring spoons
plastic gloves
80 toothpicks (toothpicks are needed to secure each jalapeno pepper half)

Ingredients

20 large jalapeno peppers seeded, but leave stem on, halved lengthwise
16 oz. pkg. cream cheese softened (two 8-ounce blocks)
2-3 cloves garlic finely minced
4-8 oz. sharp cheddar cheese shredded (I used about 1 cup)
40 slices thinly sliced bacon one slice for every jalapeno half
3 1/3 tbsp. maple syrup about ¼ tsp. for every jalapeno half

Instructions

Seed peppers but leave on stem.
Soften cream cheese, add garlic.
Stuff jalapenos.
Sprinkle cheddar cheese on top.
Wrap a piece of bacon tightly around each jalapeno half.
Secure each jalapeno with toothpicks.
Char on very hot grill.
Turn heat down.
Cook a couple of minutes on each side.
Remove from grill and drizzle slowly with maple syrup.
Or to cook in the oven: place each bacon-wrapped jalapeno on a rack in a cookie sheet or baking dish.
Bake at 350 degrees approximately 45-55 minutes or until bacon is crisp.
If desired, turn jalapenos over after 30 minutes to crisp the other side.

Notes

NOTE: When baking these in the oven, the jalapenos must be put on a rack so the peppers don’t lay in the grease. Bake at 350° for 45-55 minutes, or for crispier jalapeno peppers, bake at 400° about 35-45 minutes.

NOTE: Caution when seeding jalapenos: Use gloves! Do not wipe your nose, eyes, or breathe in the fumes from the peppers. You may even want to wear a face mask if you are susceptible to allergies.

NOTE: When scraping the seeds out of the jalapenos, make sure you cut close to the stem. Many seeds hide there. If the seeds are left in the jalapenos, most people will not be able to eat them.

NOTE: I used an Oscar Meyer center cut sliced bacon that was very thin. It was perfect for this recipe.

NOTE: This recipe cooked better by cooking about 30 minutes. Then turn the jalapenos over so the other side cooks an additional 20-30 minutes and the bacon gets crispy.

NOTE: My oven runs slow, your oven may accomplish the crispy texture of the bacon more quickly. Start checking after 20 minutes cooking time for each side.

NOTE: It's important that you don't rush the step of drizzling the maple syrup over top of the baked jalapenos. Allow it to sink into the ingredients rather than pour too fast and all of the maple syrup ends up in the bottom of the pan rather than absorbing into the jalapenos.

^© Can’t Stay Out of the Kitchen

Nutrition

Calories: 121kcalCarbohydrates: 3gProtein: 5gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0.03gCholesterol: 19mgSodium: 244mgPotassium: 98mgFiber: 0.2gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 118IUVitamin C: 8mgCalcium: 63mgIron: 0.1mg

Keyword appetizer, bacon, cream cheese, jalapeno peppers, Tex Mex

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Maple Bacon Stuffed Jalapenos are the BEST!

These are great for any tailgating party.

Maple Bacon Stuffed Jalapenos will rock your world!

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Bacon Stuffed Cherry Tomatoes

Jalapeno Popper Dip

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Maple Bacon Stuffed Jalapenos

Teresa Ambra

This amazing Tex-Mex appetizer stuffs jalapenos with cream cheese & cheddar cheese. Then they’e wrapped in bacon slices. After baking, each jalapeno is drizzled with maple syrup. This mouthwatering recipe is always a hit at tailgating parties, potlucks and backyard barbecues.

5 from 1 vote

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 30

Cook Time 45

Total Time 1 15

Course Appetizer, Pork Main Dish

Cuisine Tex-Mex

Servings

Calories 121 kcal