These turkey bacon-wrapped jalapeno poppers are creamy, cheesy, and smoky with just a hint of spice! Crispy turkey bacon is wrapped around fresh jalapenos stuffed with a combination of cream cheese and cheddar cheese. It is an easy baked party appetizer that can be ready in under 30 minutes!

turkey bacon wrapped jalapenos on the baking sheet

What is the secret to the best and tastiest jalapeno poppers? Wrapping them in turkey bacon! Turkey bacon is a lighter option than pork bacon and it adds the same amount of smoky savory flavor.

These tasty turkey bacon-wrapped jalapeno poppers are cooked in the oven instead of deep fried so they are easier and much quicker to prepare in your own kitchen! Like turkey bacon? Also try my favorite Turkey bacon wrapped chicken!

A crowd-pleasing appetizer, these baked bacon-wrapped jalapeno poppers are an excellent weeknight snack, side dish, or holiday appetizer. Cooking in 15 minutes, they are easy to put together with just a few ingredients and are even more delicious to enjoy!

ingredients needed for this recipe — recipe ingredients

Recipe ingredients

Jalapenos. You'll need 10 large peppers. Look for ones with uniform size, and shape, about 3 - 4 inches long.

Shredded cheese. Cheddar, Pepper Jack, Colby, or mozzarella would all be delicious choices for these jalapeno poppers.

Cream cheese. To make the filling perfectly creamy.

Turkey bacon. You'll need 10 strips cut in half. Adds a wonderfully smoky flavor to the poppers.

Onion powder and garlic powder. Adds subtle garlic and onion flavors to this recipe.

Salt and black pepper. To season the cheese filling.

cream cheese and shredded cheddar cheese in a bowl — add cream cheese and shredded cheese in a bowl

mixed cream cheese and cheddar cheese in a bowl — mix it together

How to make turkey bacon wrapped jalapeño poppers

Start with preheating the oven. When jalapeño poppers will be ready to bake the oven should be nice and hot.

Cut each jalapeño in half lengthwise and remove the seeds using a spoon. If you like it extra spicy leave seeds attached.

In a small bowl mix soft cream cheese (pull it out of the fridge about 30 minutes before cooking), onion powder, garlic powder, salt, pepper and shredded cheese. It’s best to use a block of cheese and shred it yourself.

stuffed raw jalapeno peppers with cheese — fill each jalapeno with the mixture

Fill each half of jalapeño with the cream cheese mixture. Get your turkey bacon and wrap each jalapeño with a piece of bacon. You may need to use a half of the bacon strip if jalapeño is too small.

Secure bacon with a toothpick if needed. Place wrapped jalapeño poppers in the baking sheet, covered with parchment paper or foil. It will help with clean up later.
Bake for 15 minutes at 380 degrees.

Air fryer instructions

You can also cook this dish in the air fryer. Follow the recipe exactly, but instead of using the oven air fry them! Cook at 380 degrees Fahrenheit for 7 minutes.

raw jalapeno peppers wrapped in turkey bacon — place raw wrapped jalapenos in the baking tray

How to pick and prep jalapeno peppers

Look for large uniform peppers. Straight plump jalapenos are the best for stuffing. If they are too small or are bent it can be hard to fill them with the cheese mixture.

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Leave the stem on. Cut the jalapenos right down the middle. By leaving the stem on it will keep the filling from oozing out from the top while it bakes in the oven.

turkey bacon wrapped jalapeno poppers in air fryer — air fryer version of the recipe

Wear gloves. Jalapenos are quite spicy and most of the heat is located in the seeds and ribs. It's a good idea to wear gloves to protect your hands while slicing the peppers.

After you are finished, throw away the gloves then wash your hands thoroughly. Avoid touching your face to ensure you aren't getting any of the spicy oil into your eyes or nose.

Scrap out the seeds and ribs. If you don't want your bacon-wrapped jalapeno poppers too spicy, take out the seeds and ribs. This will remove most of the heat from the peppers.

a bite of turkey bacon wrapped jalapeno peppers

Substitutions

Use mini sweet peppers. Don't like spicy foods at all? No problem! Follow all the same steps but instead use mini sweet bell peppers. They are colorful, and sweet without a hint of spice!

Use pork or veggie bacon. Feel free to substitute the turkey bacon for pork or veggie bacon. Keep in mind that pork bacon will shrink much more than either turkey or veggie bacon, so the filling might ooze out a bit.

Use dairy-free cheese. Use vegan shredded cheese and vegan cream cheese if you are dairy-free.

jalapeno popper in turkey bacon on a parchment paper

Variations

Top with crumbled bacon. Instead of wrapping the jalapeno poppers in bacon, top the cheese filling with crumbled bacon bites instead.

Make it spicy or not. In this recipe the seeds and ribs are removed, so the poppers have just a hint of spice. However, feel free to leave the seeds and ribs inside or add a sprinkle of red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper for a really spicy party appetizer!

Frequently asked questions

How do you wrap jalapeno poppers?

Wrap the strip of bacon around the middle of the jalapeno with the ends of the bacon on the bottom of the pepper. Press the bacon into the filling slightly so it sticks a bit better or use a toothpick to hold everything in place.

Are jalapenos spicy?

Yes, jalapenos can be very spicy. The spice level can range depending on the variety. The green peppers are more on the mild side and the red ones are very spicy. A great way to control the heat of jalapeno peppers is by scrapping out the seeds and ribs.

turkey bacon wrapped jalapeno popper in hand

Storage

Store turkey bacon wrapped jalapeno poppers in the air tight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Reheat in the microwave or in the air fryer.

You can freeze jalapenos too. Use a freezer safe plastic bag or plastic or glass container and store them in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Turkey Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers

Yield: 5

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

Ingredients

10 jalapenos
½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
½ cup cream cheese
10 slices turkey bacon
½ teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon salt and pepper

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Slice each jalapeno in half and scoop all the seeds out.
In a bowl mix cheddar, cream cheese and seasonings. Fill each jalapeno half with the mixture.
Roll each piece in half of one turkey bacon strip. Seurwe with a toothpick if needed.
Bake on non greased sheet for 15 minutes.

Notes

Store turkey bacon wrapped jalapeno poppers leftovers in the air tight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Reheat in the microwave or in the air fryer.

You can freeze jalapenos too. Use a freezer safe plastic bag or plastic or glass container and store them in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 5 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 197Total Fat: 16gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 59mgSodium: 593mgCarbohydrates: 5gFiber: 1gSugar: 3gProtein: 9g