I LOVE BACON. That salty + crispy meaty perfection … *swoon* it’s so good. You mention the word and most people seem to go crazy … it’s a crowd pleaser for sure.
When football season is in full swing, I love to make up batches of bacon wrapped cheese stuffed dates to snack on during game time. They are absolutely delicious + melt in your mouth … but I also like to spice it up a bit for my hubby too. He loves spicy food!
Last weekend I surprised him with these Bacon Wrapped Cilantro Cream Cheese Stuffed Jalapeños to snack on during the Ravens and Cowboys games. He was so happy when I told him what I was making.
These bad boys are so easy to make + they’re perfect game-day food. If you’re like me and can’t handle too much heat, don’t worry, these fall more on the mild to medium end for spicy. However, they still pack some heat! In fact, my winter-dry hands were burning for hours after making these. That being said, make sure not to rub your eyes after you make these. Ouch!
The flavors in these stuffed jalapeños are crazy good. Chopped cilantro adds a fresh element + orange zest adds a sweet, refreshing taste. The cream cheese helps cool your mouth from the spicy heat … if you’re worried about the heat from the jalapeños, serve it with another dairy food to cool your mouth. I served these with my Real Food Orange Creamsicle Smoothie {another thing that made my husband a happy camper}.
So if you like bacon + spicy foods … you are going to love these. Trust me, they are absolutely delicious.
Bacon Wrapped Cilantro Cream Cheese Stuffed Jalapeños
YOU WILL NEED: Toothpicks, Large Baking Sheet/Pan, Unbleached Parchment Paper or Baking Rack, Cutting Board, Small Paring Knife, Small Bowl, Microplane, Tongs
Bacon Wrapped Cilantro Cream Cheese Stuffed Jalapeños
Yield 24 stuffed jalapeños
Fresh + vibrant with a hint of sweet orange and spice from the jalapeño. These bacon wrapped stuffed jalapeños make a lovely snack or appetizer for guests.
Ingredients
- 12 medium size organic jalapeños, halved lengthwise and deseeded
- 8 ounces organic cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- 1/4 cup organic cilantro leaves, chopped {approx. 1 large handful}
- Zest of organic orange {optional}
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
- 12 pastured or organic bacon slices, cut in half
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line baking sheet with unbleached parchment paper {you can also use a baking rack placed on top of the baking sheet instead}. Set aside.
- Prep jalapeños - wash, cut in half lengthwise, carefully remove the seeds and inner center membrane {I use a small grapefruit spoon to remove the seeds and membrane}.
- Wash cilantro and orange. Using a cutting board, chop the cilantro, set aside. Using a microplane, zest the orange.
- In a small bowl, mix cream cheese, chopped cilantro, orange zest and sea salt. Stir to combine.
- Stuff jalapeños with cream cheese mixture equally among 24 jalapeño halves.
- Tightly wrap each cream cheese stuffed jalapeño with one half slice of bacon. Secure bacon with toothpicks {the jalapeños I used were huge, so I had to use 2 toothpicks per jalapeño}.
- Place bacon wrapped jalapeños on parchment paper lined baking sheet.
- Bake for 20 minutes or until bacon looks crispy and golden brown. Watch the bacon closely, all ovens cook differently, you don’t want the bacon to burn. You should be able to tell at the 20 minute mark about how much longer you will need to cook the bacon. If you’re not sure, just keep an eye on them. You may need a few more minutes after the 20 minute mark to crisp the bacon enough. PLEASE USE CAUTION, the bacon grease is very hot, use an oven mitt to protect your hand/arm. You can also turn the broiler on for the last minute or two with the oven door cracked to help get the bacon extra crispy.
- Serve warm or at room temperature. Make sure to wait a couple of minutes before taking a bite, they are super hot when they come out of the oven.
Notes
OPTIONAL: Garnish with extra orange zest and chopped cilantro.
MAKE AHEAD: Jalapeños may be prepped, stuffed and wrapped 1 day in advance. Refrigerate until ready to bake.
INGREDIENTS I USED: I used this sea salt, it’s my favorite. For local pastured meat resources near you, check out my About page {scroll to the bottom of that page}. You can also look for quality bacon brands like Applegate and Organic Prairie.
Are you on Pinterest? I pin lots of yummy real food recipes + more there. I have a board just for Side Dishes too. Come follow along.
17 MORE GAME-DAY SNACKS YOU MIGHT LIKE
Bacon Wrapped Cheese Stuffed Dates
Bacon Wrapped Spinach + Cheese Stuffed Mini Meatloaves
Homemade French Onion Dip by Naturally Loriel
Homemade Potato Chips by Raising Generation Nourished
Charcuterie by The Organic Kitchen
Savory Ooozy Mushroom Dip by She Eats
Homemade Hummus by Attainable Sustainable
Black Bean Flautas with Avocado Dipping Sauce by Beard & Bonnet
Bacon Wrapped Dates Stuffed with Manchego Cheese & Ham by Naturally Loriel
Warm Macadamia Nut Crusted Goat Cheese with Mango Chutney by The Organic Kitchen
Cheesy Bacon & Kale Potato Skins by Pinch of Yum
Lacto-Fermented Sprouted Hummus by Raia’s Recipes
Baked Tortilla Chips by Raia’s Recipes
Homemade Gluten Free Pizza Crackers by Attainable Sustainable
Bacon and Chicken Liver Pâté by Mommypotamus
Beef Jerky Strips Using Ground Beef by Allergy Free Alaka
Paleo Egg Rolls from Delicious Obsessions & Predominantly Paleo
MORE RECIPES YOU MIGHT LIKE
Gluten Free Broccoli Fritters with Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce
Healthy Chocolate Peanut Butter Truffles {with extra protein}
These look so good Emiliy! I love the cream cheese! Ha! My husband would love these – I will have to make them soon! Thank you for the link up on the chips too!
You’re so welcome Renee, your chips look so good! I want some with the french onion dip 🙂 These are delicious, your husband would love them.
I’m thinking Super Bowl!
Yes, they are perfect for the Super Bowl 🙂
I am ACHIN for some BACON! Seriously Emily. This hurts me. It hurts me. In good ways. And while i don’t give a big tootin’ whoop about game day, I do love cheesy, spicy, veggie, bacony things in my mouth. Drooling.
PS. Thank you for including my mushroom dip! It’s seriously an honor to be hosted on your blog. xoxo – happy game day. Or bacon popper day. I like that day better. haha
Lol Kristy you’re awesome. I don’t care about the Super Bowl either, but my husband loves football, so I embrace it. Your dip is amazing!
This recipe is making me hungry. I would substitute parsley for cilantro though. I don’t like cilantro…I keep trying, and keep not liking it…
I grew to love it, I hated it as a kid, but love it as an adult. 🙂
Egads! I think I just died and went to heaven just READING about this!! Thanks for sharing! I’ve always been a huge fan of bacon wrapped everything 🙂
Aww thanks, I’m a big bacon fan too 🙂
OMG. There is NOTHING, I mean, N.O.T.H.I.N.G. I don’t like in this recipe!!
Jalapenos + Cilantro (more the better) + Bacon (More the healthier) and cream cheese! My husband would finish this before first down! Thx for this!
You’re so sweet, thanks Karen!
These look so good. I have a love/hate relationship with jalapeños, and with bacon the torture seems to be even more worth it.
LOL oh no!
My husband is telling me these need to happen on Superbowl Sunday. 🙂
These look amazing. I love spicy and I love bacon and cream cheese, of course. 🙂 So the combination sounds so, so good. I grew up with my daddy putting jalapenos on everything. 🙂 Brings back happy feelings.
Emily my hubby LOVES spicy food as well!! I’m adding this to the menu for Superbowl!!!
🙂 how fun! I hope he enjoys the jalapeños!
Is there a such thing as gluten-free Phyllo Dough?
I’m sure you could do a google search for gluten-free phyllo dough. Gluten Free On A Shoestring has great recipes for stuff like that: GF Phyllo.
So…… when are you coming over? (just make sure you bring these, too.) 🙂
I wish! That would be so fun. If you’re ever in CA, come visit and I’ll make some for you.
This recipe looks amazing! Found you on Savory Saturdays!
Aww thanks! I appreciate you stopping by.
Stuffed jalapenos wrapped in bacon are definitely a favorite of mine. I love the idea of adding cilantro! Thanks for sharing at Savoring Saturdays. I’m featuring you on Flippin’ Delicious this week. Can’t wait to see what you share!
Thank you so much Brianna! The cilantro adds a nice touch 🙂
I love bacon and these look really yummy! I just pinned it!
Thank you so much 🙂