Description
These Jalapeño Popper Bagels combine spicy jalapeños, creamy cheese, and crispy bacon (optional) baked on toasted bagels for a deliciously cheesy and mildly spicy snack or breakfast treat that’s perfect for any time of day.
Ingredients
Scale
Bagel Base
- 4 bagels (choose your favorite flavor or gluten-free)
Cheese Mixture
- 8 oz cream cheese (full-fat or vegan)
- 1 cup cheddar cheese (or substitute pepper jack for extra spice)
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 2 medium jalapeños (roasted or pickled, diced)
Toppings
- 2 slices bacon (optional, for extra savoriness)
- 2 tbsp olive oil or butter (for brushing)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to prepare it for baking the bagels evenly.
- Toast Bagels: Slice each bagel in half horizontally and lightly toast them for about 5 minutes until they’re slightly crisp but still soft inside.
- Prepare Cheese Mixture: In a bowl, mix the cream cheese, cheddar cheese, diced jalapeños, garlic powder, and onion powder together until the mixture is creamy and well combined.
- Spread Mixture: Evenly spread the creamy jalapeño cheese mixture over each toasted bagel half, covering the surface generously.
- Add Bacon: If using bacon, crumble the crispy bacon slices and sprinkle the bits over the cheese-covered bagels.
- Bake Bagels: Place the prepared bagels on a baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and slightly golden.
- Serve: Remove from the oven and serve the bagels hot. Optionally, garnish with fresh chives or cilantro for added flavor and presentation.
Notes
- For extra heat, use pepper jack cheese or add more diced jalapeños.
- Bacon is optional; skip for a vegetarian version or substitute with plant-based bacon.
- Use gluten-free bagels to make the recipe gluten-free.
- Roasting jalapeños beforehand softens the heat and adds smoky flavor.
- Brush the bagel halves with olive oil or butter before toasting for a richer taste.
