Description
Savory bacon jalapeño popper cheese balls deliver a spicy and creamy appetizer perfect for gatherings. Crispy exterior and melted cheese center invite guests to enjoy these irresistible bites with friends.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz (225 g) cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup (100 g) cheddar cheese, shredded
- ¼ cup (60 g) sour cream
- 4 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 2 tbsps jalapenos, fresh, finely diced (seeds removed for less heat)
- 2 tbsps green onions, finely chopped
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp smoked paprika (optional)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- ½ cup (50 g) panko breadcrumbs, toasted
- 2 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 2 tbsps parsley, fresh, finely chopped
Instructions
- Blend Base: Whip cream cheese, cheddar, and sour cream into a smooth, lump-free mixture using a hand mixer or stand mixer until creamy and consistent.
- Flavor Fusion: Gently fold crumbled bacon, finely diced jalapenos, chopped green onions, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper into the cream mixture, ensuring even distribution of ingredients.
- Chill and Set: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes, allowing flavors to meld and mixture to firm up, creating a more manageable texture for shaping.
- Create Coating: Prepare a rustic coating by mixing toasted panko breadcrumbs, additional crumbled bacon, and freshly chopped parsley in a shallow dish, creating a crunchy exterior.
- Shape and Coat: Remove chilled mixture and form small, uniform spheres by rolling between palms, then immediately coat each cheese ball completely in the crispy bacon-panko mixture, pressing gently to ensure a thorough covering.
- Chill and Serve: Place coated cheese balls on a serving platter and return to the refrigerator to maintain shape and temperature. Serve chilled with an assortment of crackers, pretzels, or fresh vegetable sticks for a delightful appetizer.
Notes
- Chill Thoroughly: Refrigerate the mixture for at least 30 minutes to help cheese balls maintain shape and intensify flavors, preventing crumbling during rolling and coating.
- Control Jalapeno Heat: Seed and remove inner membranes of jalapenos to reduce spiciness, allowing guests with different heat tolerances to enjoy the appetizer comfortably.
- Perfect Coating Technique: Use light, consistent pressure when rolling cheese balls in breadcrumb mixture to ensure even, crispy coverage without compressing the delicate mixture.
- Customize Dietary Needs: Swap regular bacon for turkey bacon, use low-fat cream cheese, or create a gluten-free version by substituting panko with crushed gluten-free crackers for alternative dietary preferences.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 23
- Calories: 110
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 270 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 6 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg