Grilled Jalapeno Poppers

More Ways to Search: Recipe Index

Home » Appetizers » Grilled Jalapeno Poppers

These Grilled Jalapeno Poppers are filled with gooey, melty cheese, wrapped in smoky bacon, and to top it all off, they’re then grilled to perfection. Enjoy these grilled jalapenos at your next barbecue alongside burgers or steaks!

grilled jalapeno poppers with a creamy cheese mixture and bacon on a white plate

Grilled Jalapeno Poppers

So, all you need to know about these grilled jalapeno poppers is that one, they are extremely easy to make, and two, they taste so dang good! Okay, I guess you also need to know how to make them, but we’ll get to that. The most important thing is that they’re simply tasty!

Full of zesty, savory, cheesy flavor, these poppers are going to be flying off the grill and straight into people’s mouths. I’m telling you, they’re so addictive you’re going to be batting your guest’s hands away! 

They’re perfect for anything from a weeknight side dish to a game day appetizer or just a delicious snack. People of all ages enjoy this simple dish, and they pair well with so much!

Next time you already have the grill fired up to make Grilled Chicken, steaks, Pork Chops, or Parmesan Garlic Grilled Corn, throw these poppers on for a quick and easy side dish that’s bursting with flavor.

Why You’ll Love Jalapeno Poppers on Grill

  • Easy (and unique!) recipe
  • Versatile
  • Crowd-pleaser
  • Yummy smoky flavor
  • Anything wrapped in bacon is totally delicious!
overhead: several grilled jalapenos filled with cheese and wrapped in bacon on a white plate

Key Ingredients to Make Grilled Jalapenos

There are few things I love more than creating recipes that use only a couple of ingredients and are so easy to make! Jalapeno poppers on the grill only call for a handful of simple elements that all work together to create a party in your mouth. 

  • JALAPENOS – Be sure to clean them out carefully with gloves and/or wash your hands directly after handling them. 
  • CHEESE – I’m using two kinds of cheese in the grilled jalapenos stuffing: cream cheese and grated cheddar.
  • SEASONINGS – All you’ll need are garlic and onion powder. The jalapenos and bacon are super tasty as is, so you just want a little something extra to help highlight their natural flavors.
  • BACON – You’ll wrap your grilled jalapeno poppers up with bacon to give it that delicious smoky flavor. (I know, just writing this is making me hungry!)
overhead closeup: jalapeno poppers on a plate fresh off the grill and garnished with herbs

Instructions to Grill Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers

RECIPE PREP: Preheat the grill to medium heat and clean and oil the grates. In a small bowl, combine softened cream cheese, cheddar, onion powder, and garlic powder and set the mixture aside. 

CUT THE JALAPENOS: Carefully cut each jalapeno in half horizontally, but be sure to leave the steam intact. You should try to split the stem in half too. Use a spoon to scrape out the ribs and seeds. Wear gloves and/or wash immediately after you’re done.

ASSEMBLE THE POPPERS: Fill each jalapeno half with the cream cheese mixture and wrap a piece of bacon around the pepper. Make sure to wrap it so that the bacon covers the cheese filling. 

GRILL THE BACON WRAPPED JALAPENO POPPERS: Secure the bacon with 1-2 toothpicks and place the poppers on the grill, cheese side down first. Grill for a total of 15 minutes, or until the bacon is cooked through. Turn often!

side view: jalapeno poppers on the grill filled with a creamy cheese mixture and wrapped in smoky bacon

FAQ

What if I keep getting flare-ups on the grill?

You’re going to want to turn your jalapeno poppers on the grill often to help avoid flare-ups! If turning doesn’t quell the flare-ups, place a piece of foil on the grates and place the poppers on top.

What kind of sauce goes with jalapeno poppers?

I think homemade buttermilk ranch dressing would be superb with these grilled jalapeno poppers, as well as a blue cheese dip.

Does grilling jalapenos make them spicier?

No! In fact, it mellows out their spice a little bit and adds that delicious grilled smoky flavor.

Do you flip jalapeno poppers on the grill?

Yes! Make sure to flip and turn often as you grill the bacon wrapped jalapeno poppers. You don’t want one side to be undercooked while the other side is a burnt mess!

Tips for Making Jalapeno Poppers on the Grill

  • Take the cream cheese out of the fridge about 30 minutes before you make your grilled jalapeno poppers. It’s much easier to mix when it’s room temperature!
  • You can easily control the spice level of your grilled jalapenos — if you want them milder, make sure to remove the seeds and ribs completely. For a bit more heat, leave some seeds in.
  • Thin-cut bacon is your friend when it comes to making jalapeno poppers on a grill! It cooks up faster and will crisp up around the poppers more evenly than thick-cut strips.
  • If you’re super tight on time, you can always par-cook the bacon in the oven for a few minutes before wrapping the jalapenos. This also helps ensure everything cooks through evenly without burning the peppers.

More Barbecue Recipes To Try

Thanks so much for reading! Let me know what you think about jalapeno poppers on the grill!

HUNGRY FOR MORE? Subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on PinterestFacebook, and Instagram for all my latest updates!

Grilled Jalapeno Poppers

Course: Appetizer, Side Dish
These Grilled Jalapeno Poppers are filled with gooey, melty cheese, wrapped in smoky bacon, and to top it all off, they’re then grilled to perfection. Enjoy these grilled jalapenos at your next barbecue alongside burgers or steaks!
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 5
Author: Countryside Cravings
Print Recipe Save Recipe

Ingredients

  • 4 oz cream cheese softened
  • 1/2 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese
  • 1/4 teaspoon each onion powder & garlic powder
  • 5 small jalapenos
  • 10 slices bacon

Instructions

  • Preheat grill to medium heat. Clean and oil grates.
  • In a small bowl combine the cream cheese, cheddar, onion powder and garlic powder, set aside.
  • Carefully cut each jalapeno in half horizontally leaving the stem intact (try to split the stem in half too) Using a spoon scrape out the ribs and seeds. Wear gloves while doing this or wash immediately after you are done.
  • Fill each jalapeno half with cream cheese mixture then wrap a piece of bacon around the pepper. Make sure to wrap well and cover all of the cheese. Secure bacon with 1-2 toothpicks. Place on the grill cheese side down first and grill for a total of 15 minutes (or until bacon is cooked through) Watch your peppers carefully and turn often to help avoid flare ups. If flare ups are becoming a problem place a piece of foil on the grates then place peppers on top.
titled image (and shown): grilled jalapeno poppers

8 thoughts on “Grilled Jalapeno Poppers”

  1. 5 stars
    These are perfect for football season! I can’t wait to enjoy them even more often when the fall rolls around 🙂

    Reply
  2. Oh no! I hope your little one heals fast! These poppers, though. They had to take away a little pain from the weekend! They look amazing! Can’t wait to try them!

    Reply
  3. Oh no!!!! That’s traumatic for Mom too! These poppers look amazing. Love that you can make them on the grill!

    Reply
    • Oh my is it ever! I am just so grateful that I don’t have to go through what some of those parents do with kiddos in the hospital! Thank you so much Julie!!

      Reply

Leave a Comment

Recipe Rating