I had a craving recently for something spicy and cheesy…. something with big flavor that wouldn’t be a dish I’ve had in the past or one of our standard weeknight meals.  Jalapenos were the first thing to cross my mind, so I started getting creative and settled on Jalapeno Popper Dip and Cheesy Jalapeno Turkey Sliders.

Jalapeno Popper Dip is very similar to Jalapeno Poppers but in dip form with the jalapenos mixed in.  If you love Jalapeno Poppers, you’re going to love this Jalapeno Popper Dip!  There is plenty of cheese and diced jalapenos in each bite, and the breadcrumbs on top adds a little crunch that brings the whole dip together.  It’s the perfect party appetizer!

The recipe can be found here.

Here’s how you make it!  Start by preheating the oven to 400 degrees.  Then, dice the jalapenos.  I used 4 jalapenos but feel free to add 1 or 2 more depending on how much you like jalapenos.  I also removed the seeds, but you can easily add those to the dip for some extra heat.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the cream cheese (softened) and sour cream.  Add the cheddar cheese, ¾ cup parmesan cheese, and jalapenos.  Stir to combine.

Some recipes for jalapeno poppers call for bacon while others don’t.  I chose to leave bacon out of the dip, but you are welcome to add some crumbled bacon to the dip if you choose.  I think it would add great flavor!  If you do want to include bacon, cook according to package instructions, let cool, chop, and stir into the mixing bowl with the cheeses.  You probably only need about 6 slices.

Pour the mixture into a 5×7 or 8×8 baking dish and spread in an even layer.  You can use either size.  I chose to use a 5×7 baking dish.  The dip was a little thicker than it would be in an 8×8 pan but that’s ok…more spicy, cheesy goodness in every bite!

Next, add the butter to a microwave safe dish and melt in the microwave.  Add the breadcrumbs, ¼ cup parmesan cheese, and parsley.  Stir to combine.  I used Italian breadcrumbs, but you can use original if that’s what you have on hand.  They will taste just as good and add the crunch you are looking for on top.

Use your hands to sprinkle the breadcrumb mixture on top in an even layer, making sure to cover the entire dish.  You can also lick you fingers afterward for a little taste 🙂

Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the breadcrumbs are toasted and the dip is heated through.  I served the dip with sliced baguette, but you could use crackers, naan bread, etc.  So good!

The recipe can be found here.

The Cheesy Jalapeno Turkey Sliders are another take on Jalapeno Poppers in sandwich form.  There is plenty of melty cheese, bacon, turkey, jalapeno, and spice in these sandwiches.  They make a great weeknight meal with leftovers for lunch the next day or 2 or can be served as an appetizer at a party.

The recipe can be found here.

Start by cooking the bacon according to package instructions.  Then let the bacon cool, chop it, and set aside.  I use about 8 strips of bacon that are thick cut.  You probably want no less than 6 strips to have enough bacon for the sandwiches but can use more than 8 strips if you prefer.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and spray a 9×13 baking pan with cooking spray.

Use a long bread knife to slice the rolls in half.  You want to keep the rolls attached to each other and not separate them into individual rolls.  This helps with assembling the sandwiches.  I use plain King’s Hawaiian Rolls but if you can find the jalapeno flavored rolls, I highly recommend using those for the sandwiches.  Why not add a little extra jalapeno flavor?

Place the bottom half of the rolls in the baking pan.

Spread the softened cream cheese on top of the rolls.  Making sure the cream cheese is softened will help with this step.  Use as little or as much as you would like but I recommend about 4oz or half of the package of cream cheese.  You don’t want the cream cheese to be too overpowering but feel free to experiment with other flavors.  I used plain cream cheese, but an herbed or spicy cream cheese might taste great too!

Add the sliced turkey on top of the cream cheese in an even layer.  I like to buy shaved turkey so I can add it in clumps.  Any thickness of turkey will work, and you can fold it or cut it to meet your needs when building the sandwiches.

Sprinkle the shredded cheese on top of the turkey.  If you can’t find shredded cheese, sliced works well too!  Just make sure you add the cheese in an even layer.

Sprinkle the chopped bacon on top of the cheese.

Sprinkle the jalapeno on top of the bacon.  I used 1 large jalapeno (it was huge).  Use more or less depending on how spicy you want the sandwiches.

Place the top half of the rolls on top of the sandwiches.

In a microwave safe bowl, melt the butter.  Add the cumin, garlic powder, and onion powder to the butter and stir to combine.  Pour this mixture over the top of the sandwiches, making sure to cover the edges and sides.  This will help the tops of the rolls get a little crispy in the oven and also adds great flavor.

The next step is optional but completely worth it in my opinion – sprinkle breadcrumbs on top of the sandwiches as well, on top of the melted butter mixture.

Cover the baking pan with aluminum foil and bake for 20-25 minutes.  Remove the foil and bake for another 2-4 minutes or until the breadcrumbs are toasted and the top of the rolls have a nice crust.

Let sit for about 5 minutes to set, then slice and enjoy!  If you have any leftovers, cover them with aluminum foil and place in the fridge.  They hold up very well and can be reheated in the oven or microwave the next day.

The recipe can be found here.

I hope you enjoy these recipes as much as I do!  I definitely fulfilled my craving 🙂

Happy Cooking!

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