10+ Spicy & Savory Jalapeno Recipes
A little pepper with a big punch, jalapeños are so much more than just an ingredient in your favorite salsa. Jalapeños add a nice spicy punch to whatever meal you add them to, and if you ant to cut down the heat a bit, just make sure to remove the inner white membrane and seeds—that’s where the heat lives!
Whether you have a huge jalapeño harvest on your hands or got them on sale at the Co-op, kick up the heat with over 10 ways to utilize jalapeños whether they’re stuffed, chopped, or canned!
Photo Courtesy of Co+op
Sweet and Spicy Refrigerator Pickle Relish
Sweet, spicy, and tangy, this refrigerator-pickled relish gets a kick of heat from jalapeños that’s the perfect addition to hot dogs, burgers, and even grilled cheese.
Ingredients
1 lb. cucumber, seeded
2 large jalapeños, seeded
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons sugar
Directions
Use the shredding blade in the food processor to shred the cucumbers and jalapeños. (You can also grate or finely chop the vegetables by hand.)
Place the shredded vegetables on a clean kitchen towel and sprinkle with salt. Toss with your fingers to mix. Let stand for 5 minutes. Wrap the towel around the vegetables, hold it over the sink, and twist the towel to wring out the liquid.
Put the cucumber mixture into a medium bowl, add the apple cider vinegar and sugar, and stir to mix. Refrigerate 4 hours or longer until serving.
Keeps for up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator, tightly covered.
Photo Courtesy of Co+op
Jalapeño Cheddar Cheese Bites
Add these cheese balls to your next charcuterie for something sharp and spicy!
Ingredients
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 teaspoon minced garlic
Pinch of salt
4 ounces cheddar cheese, shredded
2 tablespoons seeded and minced jalapeño pepper
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 tablespoon minced cilantro
1/2 cup finely-crushed corn tortilla chips
Directions
In a food processor, blend the cream cheese, garlic and salt until smooth. Transfer cream cheese mixture to a bowl and stir in the cheddar cheese, jalapeño, cumin, paprika and cilantro until evenly distributed. Line a plate or pan with parchment paper.
Roll the cheese mixture into 1-inch balls and set on the parchment paper. Then, roll each ball in the crushed tortilla chips and return to plate or pan.
Place the cheese balls in the refrigerator to firm. Serve with tortilla chips or crostini.
Photo Courtesy of Spend with Pennies
Jalapeño Poppers
You just can’t write a roundup of jalapeño recipes without a mention of jalapeño poppers!
Easy breezy for game day or any day, making jalapeño poppers is as simple as slicing the peppers in half and stuffing them with a combo of cream cheese, cheddar, and garlic powder before over-roasting and topping with panko bread crumbs and chopped chives.
While the recipe doesn’t call for bacon, you can always skip the breadcrumbs and wrap your peppers in bacon instead!
Photo Courtesy of RecipeTin Eats
Cucumber Lime Jalapeño Granita for Oysters
Say that recipe title three times fast! Next time you enjoy raw oysters at home, take them to the next level with this simple but elegant granita recipe.
Cucumbers, jalapeño, and lime juice give this garnish a vibrant green color that adds a dash of spice to this Northwest delicacy.
And don’t be fooled thinking this is a complicated recipe, as Nagi of RecipeTine Eats says, “It is literally flavoured liquid that’s frozen then scraped into shavings using a fork.”
Photo Courtesy of Love & Olive Oil
Strawberry Jalapeño Jam
Sweet and juicy meets hot and spicy in this bold jam recipe!
If you've grown strawberries or peppers before, you may have found yourself in the lucky position of having a bountiful harvest of each. When you get to the point of not being able to eat them all before they go squishy on you, this unique jam recipe would be quite a treat to enjoy when winter comes.
This recipe link also includes directions for a strawberry basil jam, if something herby is more your speed.
Photo Courtesy of Lemon Blossoms
Jalapeño Popper Quiche
Game day snacks meet Sunday brunch in this quiche recipe from Lemon Blossoms!
Calling for less than 10 ingredients, including a premade pie crust to make prep even easier, this quiche is packed full of cheesy, spicy, bacony goodness.
You can even bake this quiche up to 2 days ahead of time and reheat it in the oven to serve in a snap.
Photo Courtesy of Dinner at the Zoo
Jalapeño Popper Chicken
Another iteration of jalapeño poppers, this time as a stuffed chicken breast!
Cream cheese, cheddar, diced jalapeño, and garlic powder and combined and stuffed into chicken breast before everything is wrapped in bacon and baked in the oven.
Serve along with a loaded baked potato and a side of roasted veg for a unique twist on a standard chicken dinner.
More Jalapeño Recipes
Jalapeño Artichoke Dip from Yellow Bliss Road
Grilled Steak with Roasted Jalapeño Chimichurri from Serious Eats
25 Minute Black Pepper Jalapeño Basil Chicken Stir Fry from Half Baked Harvest
Jalapeño Ranch Dressing from Natasha’s Kitchen