Jalapeño Cream Cheese Dip

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Cheesy, creamy, and spicy baked jalapeño cream cheese dip is the perfect appetizer or side for any Mexican dish. Serve with chips, vegetables, or as a topping.

jalapeno cream cheese dip in a bowl on a plate with chips

While it’s usually about the desserts around here, we truly cannot live on sugar alone, so… Allow me to bring a little spice and flair to your life this week, because I’m always one for channelling summer time and it’s never a bad time for dip.

This jalapeno dip recipe is one of my all time favorites, as a self-proclaimed chip and dip lover and a “cannot be trusted with a bag of salty carbs” kinda gal. I’m also a gigantic Mexican food lover, and anything with spice and flair is welcome at my table… Just make sure I also have a huge margarita. Mmmkay?

jalapeno cream cheese dip in a bowl on a plate with chips

Do you like jalapeno poppers? I loveeeee them. That spicy, crunchy jalapeno pepper stuffed with creamy, melted cheese, all wrapped up in crisp bacon is the perfect marriage of flavors. This dip is essentially jalapeno popper dip, but with a heavy focus on all that creamy cream cheese.

aerial photo of jalapeno cream cheese dip in a bowl on a plate with chips

I have an incredible amount of self-control (I’ve had to teach myself this since starting my blog), but I will be totally honest and say that whenever I make this jalapeno cream cheese dip, I finish nearly all of it myself and I have zero shame about that.

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This jalapeno and cream cheese dip is one of my favorites to throw together as something a little “different,” and it could not be simpler to make.

jalapeno cream cheese dip in a casserole dish

HOW TO MAKE JALAPENO CREAM CHEESE DIP

All you’ll need for this dip is some bacon, cream cheese, yogurt or sour cream, a little mayo, some shredded Mexican cheese, and of course, jalapeños.

Let’s talk about those peppers though… I have used both canned pickled jalapenos and fresh, but please, proceed with caution if you’re using the fresh ones.

jalapeno cream cheese dip in a glass bowl with beaters

Chances are if you’re using them, you’ve prepped them before, but I had one terrible experience with chopping jalapeno peppers in the past that ended with my fingers in yogurt and vodka (not kidding), so I stay away from preparing them as much as I can.

I make exceptions with this dip, which involves gloved hands and cheap vodka that I use to clean up everything after I’m done. I leave no drop of fresh jalapeno pepper behind if I can help it.

So, keep in mind, if you’re going to leave your peppers raw, you leave the seeds in at your own risk. I typically remove 99.9% of them, but will leave some in depending on my spread of consumers.

aerial photo of jalapeno cream cheese dip in a casserole dish

Another thing to remember is that this cream cheese jalapeno dip gets baked in the oven, so those seeds will lose a little of their spice, but not all of it.

Basically: jalapeno at your own risk.

Aaaaand end jalapeno public service announcement.

jalapeno cream cheese dip in a bowl on a plate with chips

Once all of your ingredients are combined, you’ll put your dip into a small casserole or divide it up into 4-6 ramekins, top with a little extra bacon and shredded cheese, and bake it for 25-30 minutes. I also like to add a few slices of jalapenos to the top, though this is just for aesthetics.

hand placing a slice of jalapeno pepper on top of jalapeno cream cheese dip before baking it

Since there are no raw ingredients in this dip, we’re only baking it to warm it up, so really, any vessel you use to bake your cream cheese and jalapeno dip is fine. We’re simply aiming for bubbly cheese!

And, bonus, we’ve eaten this jalapeno cream cheese dip cold, and it’s just as good. You’ll just want to make sure you give it that initial bake to melt all the cheese, get the bacon flavor all up in the crannies, and soften up the jalapeno pieces.

jalapeno cream cheese dip in a casserole dish

I have made this jalapeno cream cheese dip recipe in several different ways, halving it for a smaller crowd and doubling it for a larger one, and it truly never disappoints.

Serve your dip with chips, vegetables, along side some salsa, pico, or guacamole in a Mexican spread, and of course… A margarita. Margaritas are always welcome in my life, but especially when salty chips and cheesy dips are involved.

hand dipping a chip in to jalapeno cream cheese dip

Grab some jalapenos and any of the ingredients you don’t already have in your fridge on your way home from work today, call in an order to your favorite Mexican restaurant, and have yourself a spicy little spread in no time.

aerial photo of jalapeno cream cheese dip in a bowl on a plate with chips

Spicy, cheesy, salty, and bacon-y. With flavors like that, how can you go wrong?

Jalapeño Cream Cheese Dip

Cheesy, creamy, and spicy baked jalapeño cream cheese dip is the perfect appetizer or side for any Mexican dish. Serve with chips, vegetables, or as a topping.
Prep Time10 minutes
Bake Time30 minutes
Total Time35 minutes
Recipe Author Lynn April
Servings: 8 servings

Ingredients

  • 6 slices bacon divided
  • 8 ounces (225g) cream cheese softened to room temperature
  • 6 Tablespoons (92g) plain yogurt or sour cream
  • 2 Tablespoons (28g) mayonnaise
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • ½ cup (56g) shredded cheese
  • 4 ounces jalapeño peppers1 chopped

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350ºF (177ºC).
  • Cook the bacon as per the directions on the package. I prefer to use pre-cooked bacon so it only takes a few seconds in the microwave. Set the cooked bacon aside to cool while you prepare the rest of the dip.
  • In a small bowl with a handheld mixer or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese, yogurt, and mayonnaise together on medium-high speed until smooth. Add the salt, pepper, and shredded cheese and beat on high until combined.
  • Crumble or chop 4 slices of the cooked bacon. Add the bacon and chopped jalapeños to the cream cheese mixture and stir together with a spatula until combined.
  • Spoon the mixture into a casserole dish2 or baking pan. Alternatively, you can spoon it evenly into 4-6 small ramekins (6 ounce size). Crumble or chop the remaining pieces of bacon and sprinkle on top. Top with additional shredded cheese and sliced jalapeños, if desired. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until cheese on top is melted and the sides are bubbling. Dip is best enjoyed immediately, but leftovers keep well covered tightly in the refrigerator up to 3 days. Reheat portions in the microwave or serve cold.

Notes

  1. Jalapeño peppers: 4 ounces of jalapeño peppers is about 3-4 medium size peppers. I have used pickled jalapeño peppers for this as well as fresh. I like this dip both ways, but the pickled ones lend to quicker prep time. Keep the seeds in the fresh ones at your own risk.
  2. Casserole dish: the size of the dish you use does not need to be specific. I have used an 8″ cake pan, 6 ounce ramekins, and a 1 quart casserole. When I halve the recipe, I use a smaller 6″ cake pan. The smaller your dish, the deeper the dip will be. 
Did you make this recipe?Mention @freshaprilflours on Instagram or tag #freshaprilflours!

Nutrition Disclosure

All nutritional values are approximate and provided to the reader as a courtesy. Changing ingredients and/or quantities will alter the estimated nutritional calculations.

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15 Comments

  1. Mmm love me some spicy, salty, cheesy treats! I think Australia needs to start embracing Cinco do Mayo – we need an excuse to enjoy delicious Mexican food even more! This dip is going to be a hit at our next dinner party, or for an ‘eat in front of the TV with our hands’ dinner 🙂 Being a grown up is great sometimes.
    Also, I don’t think I’ve ever had a margarita before! Time to throw a Mexican themed party and find out what all the fun is about!

    1. Amy. You are KILLING me with all of these things you haven’t had!! When you come to West Chester, we may have to go to the local Mexican restaurant and get you a margarita!!

  2. 5 stars
    What a great dip for two-three (or double for more). It’s just the right amount of heat, salt, and savory all rolled into one. Yum!

  3. I love fresh and pickled jalapeños so this sounds delicious! I have to ask about the vodka, what does it do? Remove the scent? Or sting? I have never heard anything about it before, I am intrigued!

    1. It cuts the capsaicin, which dissolves in alcohol! Cuts the sting IMMEDIATELY. I also use cheap vodka to wipe down counters when I’m done prepping jalapeños!

  4. 5 stars
    Awesome recipe! Great way to use my jalapeño peppers from my garden. I double recipe and it’s always a crowd favorite!!

  5. 5 stars
    I tried it! It came out fantastic. My kids aren’t fans of bacon, so I omitted it. After baking, I sprinkled fresh tomatoes and chives on top. Served with crinkle cut kettle chips. Will be making this often. Thank you for the great recipe!!!