Jalapeño Popper Puffs

These jalapeño popper puffs are a quick, cheesy appetizer made with crescent dough, cream cheese, cheddar, jalapeños, and bacon. If you love the flavor of jalapeño poppers but want something easier to bake and share, these rolls are a simple party recipe that always disappears fast.

Gather This

You only need a handful of simple ingredients to make these crescent roll appetizer. A full list of ingredients with measurements for this recipe is available in the printable recipe card below.

• Cream cheese – This is the base for our puff filling, and it’s also what gives that classic jalapeño popper richness to the bites.

How to Make Jalapeño Popper Puffs (Step-by-Step)

Making your new favorite appetizer couldn’t be easier with these simple steps.

1. Prepare oven and baking sheet. Preheat the oven and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
2. Make filling. In a mixing bowl, stir together the softened cream cheese, cheddar cheese, jalapeños, bacon, taco seasoning and hot sauce until fully blended.
3. Add filling to dough and roll. On a workspace, unroll the crescent rolls, working one triangle at a time. Spoon the cream cheese filling into the wide end of each roll and roll up, placing on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining rolls.
4. Bake in the preheated oven until rolls are lightly browned.
5. Baste with taco seasoning and butter. When the rolls are baked, whisk the melted unsalted butter with the remaining taco seasoning and baste on top of the rolls. Serve hot.

Easy variations include swapping cheddar for pepper jack, adding green onions, using crumbled cooked sausage instead of bacon, using a hotter pepper (check the Scoville scale) or drizzling with hot honey or agave nectar before serving.

Tips for Best Jalapeño Popper Puffs

While this game day snack is quite easy to make, I do have some tips to set you up for success.

• Don’t overfill the dough – Too much filling can leak out while baking and make the rolls harder to keep neat.
• Use softened cream cheese – Softened cream cheese mixes more smoothly and allows the other ingredients to incorporate easier.
• Seed jalapenos for milder heat – Removing the seeds and membranes helps control the spice level.
• Brush with butter while still hot – This helps the tops absorb the flavor and gives the finished puffs an extra savory finish.

Best Dipping Sauces

These poppers are even better when served with something to dip them in. Here are some of my favorites.

Make-Ahead, Storage & Freezing

Storage: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Freezing: Jalapeño Popper Puffs also freeze well, in fact I made two batches and froze one for the night there is an impromptu meeting of football fans at my home. Cook fully, then freeze.

Reheating: Reheat at 350°F for 10 minutes or until warmed through (if cold). If room temperature, they will only take about 4-5 minutes. You can also microwave them, but any bread product gets a little rubbery. To prevent this, wrap in a very damp paper towel and heat for 20-30 seconds at 50% power.

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Jalapeño Popper Puffs Recipe

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These jalapeño popper puffs are an easy baked appetizer made with crescent dough, cream cheese, cheddar cheese, jalapeños, and bacon. Flaky, cheesy, and perfect for game day, parties, or holiday entertaining.

Prep Time: 5 minutes mins

Cook Time: 15 minutes mins

Total Time: 20 minutes mins

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Servings: 16

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Equipment

• Silicone Basting Brush
• Whisk
• Food Gloves
• Parchment Paper
• Box Grater

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup cream cheese , softened
• 1/2 cup sharp cheddar cheese , freshly shredded
• 2 jalapenos , minced & seeded
• 2 tablespoons bacon , cooked and crumbled
• 2 teaspoons taco seasoning , divided
• 1 teaspoon hot sauce
• 2 cans refrigerated crescent rolls
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter , melted

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
• In a mixing bowl, stir together the softened 1/2 cup cream cheese, shredded1/2 cup sharp cheddar cheese, minced and seeded 2 jalapenos, cooked and crumbled 2 tablespoons bacon , 1 teaspoon of the taco seasoning and 1 teaspoon hot sauce until fully blended.
• On a workspace, unroll the 2 cans refrigerated crescent rolls , working one triangle at a time. Spoon 1 heaping tablespoon of the cream cheese filling into the wide end of each roll and roll up, placing on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining rolls.
• Bake for approximately 12-14 minutes or until rolls are lightly browned.
• When the rolls are baked, whisk the melted 2 tablespoons unsalted butter with the remaining 1 teaspoon of taco seasoning and baste on top of the rolls. Serve hot.
• If you've tried this recipe, swing back through and let us know how you liked it in the comments or ratings.

Notes

Jalapenos can have oils that will burn your finger tips. Unfortunately you won’t be able to tell if the oils are hot until you start working with the pepper. To avoid tender finger tips or *gasp* accidentally touching your eye, coat hands in olive oil, fashion plastic sandwich baggies into gloves or use powder-free latex gloves. If you do end up with sore fingers, soak them in milk or cream, the higher the fat content the better.

Storage: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Freezing: Jalapeño Popper Puffs also freeze well, in fact I made two batches and froze one for the night there is an impromptu meeting of football fans at my home. Cook fully, then freeze.

Reheating: Reheat at 350°F for 10 minutes or until warmed through (if cold). If room temperature, they will only take about 4-5 minutes. You can also microwave them, but any bread product gets a little rubbery. To prevent this, wrap in a very damp paper towel and heat for 20-30 seconds at 50% power.

Nutrition

Calories: 159 kcal, Carbohydrates: 12 g, Protein: 3 g, Fat: 12 g, Saturated Fat: 6 g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2 g, Monounsaturated Fat: 3 g, Trans Fat: 0.1 g, Cholesterol: 16 mg, Sodium: 287 mg, Potassium: 21 mg, Fiber: 0.1 g, Sugar: 3 g, Vitamin A: 196 IU, Vitamin C: 2 mg, Calcium: 33 mg, Iron: 0.4 mg

Author: Chef Jessica Formicola

Calories: 159

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: Mexican

Keyword: bacon jalapeno appetizer, cheesy crescent roll appetizer, easy party appetizer, game day appetizer, jalapeno popper, jalapeno popper crescent rolls, jalapeno popper puffs

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