If you’re not from the South, you might not be privy to the gloriousness that is pimento cheese-stuffed jalapeños. If you’re looking to put a keto spin on them, then these Keto Jalapeño Poppers are going to rock your world.
Let me just tell you, the day I thought “hey, I should stuff some of this pimento cheese into a jalapeño” was life changing. When it comes to keto appetizers, I don’t think there is any one time of year that they are more beloved than another. In fact, I’d argue that in the world of keto, appetizers are a queen bee!
Think about it, who doesn’t love finger foods?
Who doesn’t make a keto appetizer to take to a party, secretly hoping there are some leftover to bring home? Okay, well maybe I’m alone on that one, but you get my drift.
An appetizer or snack are always good! And these keto jalapeño poppers are no exception. Y’all, they are seriously so delicious that I had to force myself to stop eating them during this photo session or else I’d have had no food to shoot.
You’ll Love this Keto Jalapeño Popper Recipe
Here’s why…
- Maintains a little heat without being overwhelmingly spicy
- Needs only 3 ingredients
- Super easy to make
- Crispy on the outside, soft and creamy on the inside
- Full of flavor that packs a punch
Can You Eat Jalapeño Poppers on a Keto Diet?
Traditional jalapeño poppers are often made with breadcrumbs, which as we all know, aren’t keto. But with the substitution of bacon, these keto jalapeño poppers are low-carb and gluten-free, so you can absolutely enjoy these on a keto diet without worry.
What Are the Variations of Keto Jalapeño Poppers?
I knew there were a million and one recipes on the web for your run of the mill jalapeño poppers but I had not heard of many spins on the original variation. You can change up this keto jalapeño popper recipe any way you like. I’ll give you an example; One day I opened the fridge and noticed I had a couple of jalapeños that needed to be used and half of a container of pimento cheese leftover from another recipe. I thought to myself, “I wonder how a jalapeño stuffed with pimento cheese wrapped in bacon would taste”.
But, you can also swap out the pimento cheese for any type you have on hand, like goat cheese, blue cheese, or the classic cheddar and cream cheese method. Bacon can be substituted for almond flour (to make it vegetarian-friendly) or crushed pork rinds. For something less spicy, try my Bacon Wrapped Pickle Poppers!
Making Your Own Keto Jalapeño Poppers at Home?
When you cook a jalapeño, be it on the grill or oven, they become this warm, flavorful, firecracker of scrumptious. They also become a little soft for the most palatable eating experience. Ah, so damn good! In all seriousness, these 3 ingredient keto jalapeño poppers are hardly a recipe BUT If you’re looking for a new keto appetizer to take to your pool parties, lake days, work luncheons, or even a keto side dish for your homemade burgers and dogs, then I dare you to try these keto jalapeño poppers. They’re only 3 ingredients and the easiest of easy recipes. By the way, if you’re grilling out, you can throw these on indirect heat and let them cook alongside your other foods! Mmm!
Ingredients
Here are the only 3 ingredients you’ll need to make these delicious keto jalapeño poppers:
- 5 jalapeños
- 10 tbsp pimento cheese
- 10 slices thinly cut bacon
How to Make Keto Jalapeño Poppers
- Preheat broiler to 500 degrees Fahrenheit (or low if you cannot set the degree). Line a baking sheet with a cooling/wire rack.
- Slice the jalapeños in half lengthwise. Use a spoon to scrape out the seeds and core.
- Add 1 tbsp of pimento cheese to each jalapeño half.
- Wrap each jalapeño half in 1 slice of bacon.
- Place the poppers on the baking sheet and place the baking sheet on the center rack in the oven. Do not put them on the high rack directly under the broiler plate.
- Cook for approximately 10 minutes. The bacon should be a chewy crisp and poppers should be softened.
- If needed, cook in 1 minute intervals after the 10 minutes is up if the bacon is not cooked enough. Do not let bacon get too crispy or it will not stay on the poppers.
FAQs
There’s an array of dips you can pair with these tasty appetizers that pack even more flavor into every bite. These keto jalapeño poppers would also work well as a side dish, alongside some crispy baked keto chicken drumsticks or keto broccoli salad. Whether you’re hosting a party or preparing dinner, these keto jalapeño poppers are perfect for any occasion.
If you’re not from the South and well versed in pimento cheese, you can generally find it in the deli area of your grocery store. I always use the Palmetto brand because it’s the best (unless I make it homemade, which goes great with Pimento Cheese Deviled Eggs). If you’re from the Wisconsin area, then I know for a fact y’all know pimento cheese because Palmetto uses Wisconsin cheese in their blend!
There are about 3 grams of protein and 1 gram of carbs for every 2 tbsp of pimento cheese. Thinly-sliced bacon carries about 3 grams of protein and negligeable amounts of carbs per piece. And jalapeños have around 1 gram of carbs. So for each popper, you’re looking at 3 grams of protein and 1 gram of carbs.
How to Store Keto Jalapeño Poppers
If you’ve made more keto jalapeño poppers than you can possibly eat, you can store them in the refrigerator for up to a week. You can also freeze them and store for 1 to 2 months. When reheating them, place the poppers on a lined baking sheet with a wire rack and stick them in the oven at 500 degrees Fahrenheit on the broiler setting. Aim for for 5 to 10 minutes when cooking from cold, and 15 to 20 minutes when cooking from frozen.
Keto Jalapeño Poppers
Ingredients
- 5 jalapeños
- 10 tablespoons pimento cheese
- 10 slices of bacon not thick cut
Instructions
- Preheat broiler to 500 degrees (or low if you cannot set the degree). Line a baking sheet with a cooling/wire rack.
- Slice the jalapeños in half lengthwise. Use a spoon to scrape out the seeds and core.
- Add 1 tablespoon of pimento cheese to each pepper.
- Wrap each jalapeño in 1 slice of bacon.
- Place the poppers on the baking sheet and place the baking sheet on the center rack in the oven. Do not put them on the high rack directly under the broiler plate.
- Cook for approximately 10 minutes. The bacon should be a chewy crisp and poppers should be softened.
- If needed, cook in 1 minute intervals after the 10 minutes is up if the bacon is not cooked enough. Do not let bacon get too crispy or it will not stay on the poppers.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
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