Smoked Jalapeno Popper Dip
An easy one-pan appetizers that has a cream cheese base then it's loaded full of fresh diced jalapenos, crisp bacon, lots of cheese then it's smoked to perfection. This is the perfect party dip for summer gatherings or cozy game days in the fall. Best of all you can set it and forget it!
Servings: 14 appetizer servings
Ingredients
- 8-10 jalapeños, diced stem and seeds removed
- 1.5 blocks cream cheese, softened 12 ounces total
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 10 strips bacon, cooked and diced, divided in half
- 1 cup Sharp cheddar, shredded and divided in half
- 1 cup Pepper Jack, shredded and divided in half or monterey jack/mozzarella for less heat
- 1 teaspoon garlic Powder
- 1 teaspoon onion Powder
- 1/2 teaspoon each; salt and pepper
- crackers, baquette, tortilla chips for serving
Instructions
- Prepare your smoker or grill to 250 degrees. In a 9x13 disposable aluminum tray, add in all the ingredients leaving them whole, no need to combine them at this point. You'll had half the portions of cheese, 1/2 cup of each. Alternately, you can also bake this in the oven - see notes**.
- Place the tray uncovered over indirect heat on the smoker. After one hour, the dip should be soft enough to combine, mix well with a large spoon then spread it evenly in the pan.
- Top the smoothed mixture with remaining 1/2 cup of each cheese and remaining half of the crispy bacon. Continue to smoke for another 30 minutes or until cheese on top has completely melted. The total smoke time for this recipe is about 90-120 minutes. Serve with buttery crackers, pita crackers, tortilla chips, or baguette.
Notes
** For oven preparation:
Step 1: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Add the cream cheese, sour cream, mayo, and seasonings into a large bowl and mix well until mixture is smooth. I love using a hand/stand mixer for this but you can also mix by hand. A few small chunks of cream cheese is ok, but try to break up any large pieces.
Step 2: Fold in the jalapeños, half of the cheese, and half the bacon. Mix well until evenly incorporated. Place into a 9x13 baking dish and bake for 15 minutes. Top with remaining bacon then top with remaining cheese and bake another 5-7 minutes or until the cheese is melted. Enjoy!