American · Appetizers & snacks

Baked jalapeño poppers

Name: Baked jalapeño poppers
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 24 halves
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 12 medium jalapeños; 8 ounces cream cheese, softened; 4 ounces sharp cheddar, freshly grated; 3 scallions, finely sliced; 1 small garlic clove, finely grated; 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt; 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika; 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs; 2 tablespoons finely grated Parmesan; 1 tablespoon olive oil; Lime wedges, for serving

Roasted jalapeño halves filled with scallion-garlic cream cheese and sharp cheddar under a crisp panko lid.

About 50 minTotal

About 45 minActive

$$Cost

EasyDifficulty

Makes 24 halves

Equipment

Disposable food-prep gloves
A similarly sized 13 × 18-inch rimmed pan works; smaller pans make a thicker pizza.
Best starting point
Nordic Ware Naturals Half Sheet · 43100
View at Amazon
Another workable path: A similarly sized 13 × 18-inch rimmed pan works; smaller pans make a thicker pizza.
Paid links. As an Amazon Associate, Kwilt earns from qualifying purchases.
How we chose
Research-backed · reviewed Aug 2026
We compared exact half-sheet geometry, uncoated material, reinforced construction, heat limit, care, stable model identity, and the exact Amazon destination. Manufacturer specifications establish model 43100 and its UPC, while America's Test Kitchen reports comparative cooking and handling results. Kwilt has not baked with this pan.
Nordic Ware Naturals Half Sheet · 43100: Its 13-by-18-inch footprint gives this soft dough the intended thickness, and the uncoated aluminum supports browning on the oiled bottom. Trade-off: Hand washing is recommended, and acidic tomato left on uncoated aluminum can discolor or pit the surface over time.
Another workable path: Use another rimmed half sheet only if its outside dimensions are close to 13 by 18 inches. A smaller pan makes a thicker pizza and needs its own bake adjustment.
Sources
Nordic Ware product details
America's Test Kitchen result
Nordic Ware model and UPC registry
Amazon exact product listing

Ingredients

1× recipe · Makes 24 halves

12 medium jalapeños
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
4 ounces sharp cheddar, freshly grated
3 scallions, finely sliced
1 small garlic clove, finely grated
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
2 tablespoons finely grated Parmesan
1 tablespoon olive oil
Lime wedges, for serving

Instructions

Heat oven to 425°F and line a with parchment. Wearing disposable gloves, halve jalapeños lengthwise through the stems and scrape out seeds and pale ribs. Avoid touching eyes and wash the knife, board, and hands afterward.
Mix cream cheese, cheddar, scallions, garlic, salt, and paprika. Fill each pepper level with the cut edge rather than creating a tall mound that will spill before the pepper softens.
Mix panko, Parmesan, and olive oil until evenly moistened. Press about 1 teaspoon onto each filled pepper and arrange cut-side up with space between them.
Bake 17 to 20 minutes until peppers are tender with some structure, filling bubbles, and crumbs are golden. Broil for 30 seconds only if the crumbs need color, watching continuously.
Rest 5 minutes and serve with lime. Warn diners that heat varies naturally from pepper to pepper even after the ribs and seeds are removed.

United StatesNorth America · modern American branch

From the table

About this recipe

The modern jalapeño popper is an American appetizer built around a Mexican chile, but its exact invention is not firmly documented. By the late twentieth century, cheese-filled jalapeños had become familiar in restaurant, bar-food, and frozen-snack forms, usually breaded and fried or wrapped in bacon.

Baked versions keep the defining contrast—fresh chile, creamy filling, and a crisp exterior—while simplifying the breading and frying work. This branch uses halved peppers and a panko lid, retaining honest jalapeño heat and adding explicit handling guidance rather than treating capsaicin exposure as fine print.

Sources

Dinner does not stop at the recipe