Erin’s Recipe Rundown
Texture: Creamy, cheesy, and crispy!
Taste: Rich cream cheese flavor with a bit of heat.
Ease: Such a quick and easy recipe!
Top Tips: For less spice, be sure to remove all jalapeno ribs and seeds. If you like a little heat, keep them in!
Would I make these again? Yes! These are a must-have appetizer for sporting events, New Year’s Eve, and other parties!
xoxo erin
This post was originally published in February 2023. It was updated with new photos and instructions in January 2025.
Game day isn’t complete without jalapeno poppers! They hit all the right flavor and texture notes, making them an irresistible, crowd-pleasing appetizer.
This is the perfect snack for the Super Bowl, other sports parties, New Year’s Eve, birthday parties, and more. It’s an easy recipe that’s sure to become a family favorite!
Featured Comment
From Natalie R: These were such a huge hit!! I am so happy I made these, the gf breadcrumbs are amazing.
Table of Contents
- Erin’s Recipe Rundown
- Ingredients You’ll Need
- How to Make Gluten-Free Jalapeno Poppers
- Storage/Make Ahead/Freezing Instructions
- Can this recipe be made dairy-free?
- Are jalapeño poppers gluten-free?
- How do you get panko to stick to jalapeño poppers?
- Should you boil jalapeños before making poppers?
- Gluten-Free Jalapeño Popper Tips
- More Gluten-Free Appetizers
- Gluten-Free Jalapeno Poppers Recipe
Ingredients You’ll Need
Here are a few notes on some of the key ingredients to make this/these (recipe title). See the recipe card below for exact measurements.
- Jalapenos: I like to use large jalapeno peppers for this delicious recipe. Fresh jalapenos are best! Remove the ribs and jalapeno seeds if you want a mild appetizer. Keep them in if you want spicy poppers!
- Garlic powder: A teaspoon of garlic powder adds great flavor to the cream cheese filling. You can also use fresh garlic, if you’d like.
- Cream cheese: Soften cream cheese to room temperature to make it easier to mix the filling.
- Cheddar cheese: For best results, use freshly shredded cheddar cheese. I like to use sharp cheddar cheese for these poppers. It has a nice strong flavor and adds a little bite to the filling. But you can also use mild or medium cheddar, if you prefer.
- Gluten-free breadcrumbs: I use gluten-free panko breadcrumbs, which are lighter and crispier than regular breadcrumbs. But any gluten-free breadcrumbs will work!
This 7 layer taco dip is another great naturally gluten-free make-ahead appetizer!
How to Make Gluten-Free Jalapeno Poppers
Here’s an overview of how to make this recipe. You can jump to the recipe for the full instructions!
- Slice and seed jalapenos: Slice each jalapeno pepper in half, then remove the ribs/seeds.
- Mix cheese mixture: Combine cream cheese, cheddar cheese, chives, and garlic powder.
- Mix butter and breadcrumbs: Mix together gluten-free breadcrumbs and melted butter in a small bowl.
- Fill jalapenos with cheese: Fill each pepper half with some cheese mixture, then place on the baking sheet.
- Top with breadcrumbs: Sprinkle jalapenos evenly with the panko mixture.
- Bake: Bake for 18-20 minutes, until the peppers are tender and the topping is golden.
Storage/Make Ahead/Freezing Instructions
To Store: These jalapeno poppers are best right after they are baked, but you can also store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days.
To Make Ahead: This is the perfect appetizer to make ahead, then pop in the oven when you’re ready to eat. Just follow all the steps up until baking, then wrap them in plastic wrap and store in the fridge.
To Freeze: Place the assembled poppers on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, making sure they don’t touch. (This prevents them from sticking together!) Freeze the poppers on the baking sheet for 1-2 hours, then transfer to an airtight freezer bag or container. Bake directly from frozen — you may need to add a few minutes!
Can this recipe be made dairy-free?
Definitely! For dairy-free jalapeno poppers, substitute cheese with vegan cream cheese (I like Kite Hill brand) and vegan cheddar shreds.
Are jalapeño poppers gluten-free?
Traditional jalapeno poppers aren’t gluten-free—they’re usually made with wheat-based breadcrumbs, which contain gluten. You can easily make gluten-free poppers by using gluten-free breadcrumbs.
How do you get panko to stick to jalapeño poppers?
Mix the Panko with melted butter to help it adhere to the jalapeno peppers—and to give them a crispier texture.
Should you boil jalapeños before making poppers?
There’s no need to boil jalapenos before making poppers, since you’ll be baking them in the oven. This will make them nice and tender!
Gluten-Free Jalapeño Popper Tips
- For bacon jalapeno poppers: When in doubt, add bacon! For a savory, smoky flavor, you can wrap a thin slice of bacon around the poppers after stuffing, or add cooked bacon bits to the cream cheese filling.
- For vegan jalapeno poppers: You can easily make this recipe vegan by using vegan cream cheese (I like Kite Hill brand) and vegan cheddar shreds.
More Gluten-Free Appetizers
Gluten-Free Jalapeno Poppers
Ingredients
- 14 jalapeno peppers
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened to room temperature
- 6 ounces sharp cheddar cheese shredded
- 2 tablespoons fresh chives
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 cup gluten-free panko breadcrumbs
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Slice each jalapeno pepper in half. Remove the ribs/seeds.
- In a small bowl, mix together the cream cheese, cheddar cheese, chives and garlic powder until smooth.
- In a separate bowl, mix together the gluten-free panko and melted butter.
- Fill each pepper half with some of the cheese mixture, and place on the baking sheet.
- Sprinkle the tops of the peppers evenly with the panko mixture.
- Bake for 18-20 minutes until the peppers are tender and the topping is golden/bubbly.
- Cool for 5 minutes before serving. Enjoy!
Notes
- For Bacon Jalapeno Poppers: When in doubt, add bacon! For a savory, smoky flavor, you can wrap a thin slice of bacon around the poppers after stuffing, or add cooked bacon bits to the cream cheese filling.
- For Vegan Jalapeno Poppers: You can easily make this recipe vegan by using vegan cream cheese (I like Kite Hill brand) and vegan cheddar shreds.
- To Store: These jalapeno poppers are best right after they are baked, but you can also store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days.
- To Make Ahead: This is the perfect appetizer to make ahead, then pop in the oven when you’re ready to eat. Just follow all the steps up until baking, then wrap them in plastic wrap and store in the fridge.
- To Freeze: Place the assembled poppers on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, making sure they don’t touch. (This prevents them from sticking together!) Freeze the poppers on the baking sheet for 1-2 hours, then transfer to an airtight freezer bag or container. Bake directly from frozen — you may need to add a few minutes!
We also tried the bacon version and wow they are so delicious and worth it! Definitely a new favorite that will be added to our rotation.
These were such a huge hit!! I am so happy I made these, the gf breadcrumbs are amazing.