Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers Recipe

Jalapeños: Fresh, spicy peppers that are halved and seeded to create a vessel for the filling.

Vegan cream cheese: A dairy-free alternative to traditional cream cheese, providing a creamy and tangy filling.

Garlic powder: Adds a subtle, savory garlic flavor to the cream cheese mixture.

Onion powder: Enhances the flavor of the filling with a mild onion taste.

Vegan bacon: A plant-based alternative to traditional bacon, used to wrap around the stuffed jalapeños for a crispy, smoky finish.

When working with jalapeños, consider wearing gloves to protect your hands from the capsaicin, which can cause a burning sensation. To ensure the vegan bacon crisps up nicely, you can pre-cook it slightly in a pan before wrapping the stuffed jalapeños. This will give it a head start and help achieve that perfect texture.

• jalapeños - Substitute with mini sweet peppers: If you prefer a milder flavor, mini sweet peppers are a great alternative to jalapeños.

• vegan cream cheese - Substitute with mashed avocado: Mashed avocado provides a creamy texture and rich flavor, making it a suitable replacement for vegan cream cheese.

• garlic powder - Substitute with fresh minced garlic: Fresh minced garlic offers a more intense and aromatic flavor compared to garlic powder.

• onion powder - Substitute with finely chopped green onions: Green onions add a fresh and slightly milder onion flavor, enhancing the overall taste.

• vegan bacon - Substitute with smoked tempeh strips: Smoked tempeh strips provide a similar smoky flavor and crispy texture, making them an excellent alternative to vegan bacon.

• To keep your bacon-wrapped jalapeño poppers fresh, store them in an airtight container. Place a sheet of parchment paper between layers to prevent sticking.
• Refrigerate the poppers within two hours of baking to maintain their flavor and texture. They can be stored in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
• For longer storage, freeze the poppers. Arrange them in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until solid. This prevents them from sticking together.
• Once frozen, transfer the poppers to a freezer-safe bag or container. Label with the date to keep track of freshness.
• When ready to enjoy, reheat the poppers directly from the freezer. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until heated through and crispy.
• For a quicker option, use a microwave. Place the poppers on a microwave-safe plate and cover with a damp paper towel. Heat in 30-second intervals until warm.
• To maintain the crispiness of the vegan bacon, avoid reheating in the microwave for too long. The oven method is preferred for the best texture.
• If you have leftover vegan cream cheese mixture, store it in an airtight container in the fridge. It can be used as a spread or dip within a week.
• Always ensure the poppers are cooled to room temperature before storing to prevent condensation, which can make them soggy.
• Enjoy your bacon-wrapped jalapeño poppers as a quick snack or appetizer, knowing they are stored and reheated to perfection!

• Oven Method:

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. Place the leftover bacon-wrapped jalapeño poppers on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
  3. Cover them loosely with aluminum foil to prevent over-browning.
  4. Heat for about 10-15 minutes, or until the vegan bacon is crispy and the jalapeños are heated through.
  5. Remove the foil for the last 5 minutes if you want extra crispiness.

• Air Fryer Method:

  1. Preheat your air fryer to 350°F (175°C).
  2. Arrange the jalapeño poppers in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
  3. Heat for 5-7 minutes, checking halfway through to ensure they don’t overcook.
  4. Remove once the vegan bacon is crispy and the jalapeños are warmed through.

• Microwave Method:

  1. Place the leftover poppers on a microwave-safe plate.
  2. Cover with a microwave-safe lid or another plate to prevent splattering.
  3. Heat on medium power for 1-2 minutes, checking after each minute to avoid overheating.
  4. Note: This method may not keep the vegan bacon as crispy as other methods.

• Stovetop Method:

  1. Heat a non-stick skillet over medium heat.
  2. Add a small amount of olive oil or vegan butter to the skillet.
  3. Place the jalapeño poppers in the skillet, cut side up.
  4. Cover with a lid and heat for 5-7 minutes, or until the jalapeños are warmed through and the vegan bacon is crispy.
  5. Flip them halfway through if needed for even heating.

• Oven: Used to bake the jalapeño poppers at the required temperature of 400°F (200°C).

• Baking sheet: Provides a flat surface to place the wrapped jalapeños for baking.

• Parchment paper: Lines the baking sheet to prevent the jalapeños from sticking and makes for easy cleanup.

• Mixing bowl: Used to combine the vegan cream cheese, garlic powder, and onion powder.

• Spoon: Helps to fill each jalapeño half with the cream cheese mixture.

• Toothpicks: Secures the vegan bacon around the stuffed jalapeños to keep them intact while baking.

• Knife: Used to halve and seed the jalapeños.

• Cutting board: Provides a safe surface for cutting and preparing the jalapeños.

• Measuring spoons: Ensures accurate measurement of the garlic powder and onion powder.

• Cooling rack: Allows the jalapeño poppers to cool slightly before serving.

Prepare the filling in advance: Mix the vegan cream cheese with garlic powder and onion powder the night before to save time on the day of cooking.

Use pre-cooked vegan bacon: Opt for pre-cooked vegan bacon to reduce baking time and ensure it crisps up perfectly.

Pre-seed the jalapeños: Halve and seed the jalapeños ahead of time to streamline the assembly process.

Batch assembly: Lay out all your ingredients and assemble the jalapeño poppers in a batch to speed up the preparation.