Baked Jalapeno Poppers

January 23, 2021

These Baked Jalapeno Poppers are an excellent appetizer recipe for anyone, but especially for those who are watching their calorie intake on Game Day.

Super Bowl Appetizer:

One of the most calorie-consuming days of the year for football lovers and party-goers is approaching, and you have to decide how you’re going to handle that “day of food.” You could just write it off and tell yourself that it’s going to be a day of enjoying deep fried fabulousness, endless bowls of chips and sugary desserts. Or you may be one of those people who possess extreme willpower to have just a little of this and a little of that, without overdoing it. I suggest you just enjoy the day and make a few lighter things like these Baked Jalapeno Poppers.

Ingredients needed:

whole wheat sandwich bread
whipped cream cheese
ricotta cheese
Monterey Jack cheese
fresh parsley
fresh jalapeños
flour
salt and pepper
egg
smoked paprika, garlic powder and cayenne pepper

Tips for preparing Jalapeños:

You’ll need fresh jalapeños for this recipe. Cut them in half and scrape out the seeds and ribs. Your hands are going to get spicy… and what I mean by spicy is that if you touch your eyes with your fingers after performing this task, you’re not going to be very happy.

Once you’ve handled the peppers, place your hands in bowl of milk or cream to neutralize the capsaicin. Then wash your hands with soap and water.

How to make Baked Jalapeno Poppers:

Fill the hollowed-out jalapeño halves with a lightened up cheese mixture (cream cheese, ricotta, Monterey Jack and parsley).

Dip the cheese-filled jalapeños in egg wash and bread crumbs, and spray them lightly with cooking spray. Bake until crispy!

These “baked” and lightened-up jalapeno poppers are indeed a pretty nice substitute for the deep-fried, evil, ooey gooey version. They’re definitely not the same as those, but they’re a decent alternative for those who are watching their calorie intake.

You’ll be able to eat four of these for 187 calories and 5 WW points. And they happen to be gluten-free adaptable too.

I’m pretty happy with how the turn out. The jalapeños lose a little bit of their spice during the baking process (which is good for me since I’m not super big on spicy food), the cheese mixture becomes properly melty, and the exterior develops some crispness to it.

We shared these with our neighbors and everyone chowed down on pretty much all of them in one sitting. They’re definitely good football-watching fare. And guess what? No one had any clue that this is a lightened-up recipe. I’d call that a win-win. They’re delicious- enjoy!

Comfort Food Fix by Ellie Krieger:

The recipe for these Baked Jalapeno Poppers comes from Ellie Krieger’s book: Comfort Food Fix. I have and use Ellie Krieger’s other cookbooks: The Food You Crave and So Easy– she is a fabulously talented recipe developer and she focuses on recipes that are a little bit healthier. In this cookbook, Krieger puts a healthy twist on your favorite comfort food dishes. All nutritional information is included.

Must-tries for me are her Crispy French Toast Fingers with Blueberry- Maple Sauce, Broiled Buffalo Wings, Chicken and Biscuit Pot Pie, Creamy Shrimp and Grits, Skillet Mac and Cheese, Green Bean Casserole with Crispy Shallots, Corn and Cheddar Spoon Bread, Chocolate Chunk Cookies and Double Chocolate Bread Pudding. Everything looks so good!

Here are a few more appetizers you might like to try: