Target: 6 × 4 inches · landscape

Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers

58 min · 6 appetizer servings

Ingredients

□ 8 medium fresh jalapeños

□ 3 mini sweet bell peppers, for mild servings

□ 8 oz cream cheese, softened

□ 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, finely grated

□ 2 scallions, thinly sliced

□ 1 garlic clove, finely grated

□ 1/4 tsp kosher salt

□ 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper

□ 11 slices regular-cut bacon, cut crosswise in half

1. Heat oven to 400 F with a rack over a rimmed pan. Mix softened cream cheese, cheddar, scallions, garlic, salt, and pepper.

2. With gloves, seed jalapeños and sweet peppers, keeping them separate; fill each half level with the cheese mixture.

3. Wrap each half with a half-slice of bacon, seam down. Arrange spicy and mild groups separately on the rack.

4. Bake at 400 F until bacon browns and filling bubbles. Rest 5 minutes; plate the mild pieces separately with clean tongs.

Cook’s note: Scrape out jalapeño ribs and keep the sweet pepper batch separate.