Looking for the ultimate grill-day appetizer? These Grilled Bacon Wrapped Stuffed Jalapeños are a Farmhouse favorite.
By using the top rack of the grill, we let the bacon crisp up perfectly over indirect heat while the main dish sizzles below. Today I’m making gilled jalapenos with my BBQ meat loaf… Filled with creamy cheese and wrapped in smoky bacon, they’re the perfect sidekick to any BBQ!
Tips for the Best Grilled Jalapeno Poppers
- The “Top Rack” Secret
Coking your jalapenos on the top grill rack or in indrect heat allows the hot air to circulate (like a convection oven) so the bacon crisps up without the bottom of the jalapeño getting charred or like they would on the bottom rack (or in direct heat). - Controlling the Spice
I don’t want my jalapeños too spicy because I’m feeding kids, so I remove all the seeds and the membrane inside the jalapeños. The membrane is the plant tissue that’s a whiter color and it helps hold the seeds in the middle of the peppers! 😉 Pro Tip: Wear gloves… So you don’t accidentally rub your eyes later…. Trust me, it’s bad! - Preventing “Cream Cheese Blowout”
Chill your stuffed peppers for 15 minutes before putting them on the grill…. This helps the cheese stay firm longer so it doesn’t all melt out before the bacon is done. - Bacon Prep
Use standard cut bacon instead of thick-cut… Thick-cut bacon takes a lot longer to cook, which can mean overcooked jalapeños by the time the bacon is crispy. 😉
Why the “Indirect Heat” Matters
If you search for grilled jalapeño popper recipes, most will tell you to put them right on the grill grates… I’ll be the first to tell you: don’t do it! In the beginning, I tried cooking these directly on the grates. Even though I oiled the grill well, the bacon still stuck in spots. There is nothing worse than losing a perfectly good piece of crispy bacon to the bottom of the grill! Plus, when you cook them over direct flames, the bacon fat drips down and causes “flare-ups.” This leads to charred, burnt bacon on the outside while the jalapeño stays raw and crunchy on the inside.
That’s why I switched to the indirect heat method using a parchment-lined baking sheet on the top grill rack… By moving the peppers away from the direct flame, the heat circulates around the tray… This allows the bacon to render slowly and get perfectly crispy all the way around without the bottom of the pepper getting scorched. And using the top rack is the secret to a mess-free, farmhouse-style appetizer that actually stays in one piece! 😉
Grilled Bacon Wrapped Stuffed Jalapeños
Ingredients
- 10 large Jalapeños sliced in half, seeds and membranes removed
- 8 oz Cream Cheese 1 full block, softened for easier filling
- 1 lb Bacon standard cut, about 20 slices to wrap each half
Instructions
Prep the Peppers
- Preheat your grill to 400°F. While the grill warms up, slice each jalapeño in half lengthwise. Using a small spoon, scoop out the seeds and the white membrane (the pith). Removing the entire white membrane is the secret to making these mild enough for kids!
Stuff with Cream Cheese
- Using a butter knife or small spatula, generously fill each jalapeño half with the softened cream cheese. You’ll use about one full 8 oz block for all 20 halves, so don’t be afraid to mound it up!
Wrap with Bacon
- Take one slice of standard-cut bacon and wrap it tightly around each stuffed jalapeño half. Start at one end and overlap slightly so the cream cheese is “tucked in.”
The Indirect Heat Method
- Place the wrapped jalapeños on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Set the tray on the top grill rack (indirect heat). This allows the heat to circulate like a convection oven, crisping the bacon perfectly without burning the bottom of the peppers.
Grill to Perfection
- Close the grill lid and cook for about 20 minutes. Check them periodically; they are done when the bacon is golden brown and crispy. Let them rest for 5 minutes before serving so the cheese can set.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
About Juliea
Juliea is a mother of six, a sourdough baker, and a homestead builder living in Idaho. Alongside her husband and their horse, Dude, she manages a busy farmhouse and shares her love for scratch-cooking and simple homemaking. Through her blog and YouTube channel, she helps millions of families every year master the art of the handmade home.
