Baked Jalepeno Poppers {A Recipe}

I LOVE Jalepeno Poppers.

Like seriously, love. Some might even say obsessed. There have been more times than I care to admit that I have asked my husband to stop and grab me some on his way home from work (and even more times when I only thought about it). Let's be honest--- those deep fried delicious poppers may have tasted great, but they weren't healthy in the slightest--- nor were they very budget friendly!

So, I decided to try to create my own at home to save money---and to avoid the frying too! Today, I'm sharing that recipe with all of you!



Baked Jalepeno Poppers

• Jalepenos
• Cream Cheese
• Cheddar Cheese (shredded)
• Crackers

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. 
2. Start by halving your jalepenos. Scoop out the seeds and set aside.
3. Now make the filling- combine the cream cheese and cheese. I didn't measure, but I used one full package of cream cheese and about 3/4 cup of cheddar cheese, give or take. This filled 6 small peppers, with quite a bit left over. I suggest using an electric mixer to blend well. 
4. Use a spoon to fill the peppers with the cheese mix. 
5. Place on a greased baking sheet. (You can use foil for easy clean up.)
6. Crush some crackers and sprinkle over the top. I used Ritz style crackers, but a generic (ALDI) brand. This gives your poppers a little bit of a crunch--- without the deep frying. You could definitely skip this step if needed for dietary restriction (gluten free, etc). 
7. Bake for 20 minutes or until the peppers are tender and cheese melted (the crackers should start to brown just slightly).  
8. Serve with ranch dressing. 

I'm going to be honest--- when I was trying to figure out this recipe I was a little apprehensive: were they going to taste as good as the fried ones? The verdict? They are even better! Seriously, these are absolutely delicious! They still might not be GOOD for you mind you, but certainly a little bit better than the fried versions anyway, AND cheaper! I purchased everything I needed from ALDI so overall it made more and cost less than a small order at a restaurant! 

If you're looking for the perfect appetizer for your next gathering...or just to fill that craving, these are a MUST!