Fresh jalapeño peppers, sliced in half and stuffed with a creamy olive and cheddar filling, topped with panko bread crumbs and baked to crispy perfection. The perfect party appetizer or game day snack!

Jalapeno poppers with crispy panko topping on a white plate.

Cheesy, creamy, spicy, salty, crispy - these homemade baked jalapeño poppers will be a hit at your next get together. Filled with cream cheese, sharp cheddar, fresh herbs and ripe California olives, these poppers are full of bold flavors. Skip the frozen aisle and make this fresh, homemade version of your favorite party food with just a few simple ingredients.

For more party appetizers with California Grown goods, check out Cannellini Bean Salad, Avocado Ranch Dip, and these Goat Cheese and Almond Stuffed Prunes.

The recipe and blog post for Olive and Cheddar Stuffed Jalapeño Poppers was made in partnership with California Ripe Olives! I love olives and my opinions are genuine. I deeply appreciate your continued support!

Why you will love this recipe

Making jalapeño poppers from scratch with fresh ingredients is so easy and tastes way better than frozen.
Instead of deep fried, these poppers are topped with crispy panko breadcrumbs and then baked to golden brown perfection for the perfect crunch.
You can control the spice level in the recipe!

Ingredient Notes

Recipe ingredients including whole jalapeno peppers, cream cheese, cheddar cheese, black sliced olives, garlic powder, olive oil, panko breadcrumbs and chives.

California Ripe Olives - I use sliced black olives in this recipe, but you can definitely use green olives too if that's what you prefer.
Fresh jalapeño peppers - Look for peppers that are on the smaller side, about 2 inches in length. This helps ensure that people are able to easily pick them up to eat with their hands.
Cream cheese
Sharp cheddar cheese
Garlic powder
Fresh chives - lend a slight oniony herby flavor to the recipe. You can also use the green parts of some fresh sliced green onions or switch it up with fresh cilantro.
Panko bread crumbs
California olive oil - toasting the bread crumbs in a bit of olive oil before baking ensures that the topping is golden brown and super crispy!

How to cut jalapeño peppers for poppers

I highly recommend that you wear gloves when making this recipe. You will be handling a lot of raw jalapeños and the oils will rub off on your hands. It may or may not burn your fingers right away but it can be hard to get off and you definitely don't want to make the mistake of touching your eyes or nose! Wear gloves to be safe - you will thank yourself!

To prep the peppers, use a small paring knife to slice them in half lengthwise right through the stem. Try to leave as much as the stem intact as possible as it makes a great handle for picking up the peppers and popping them into your mouth!

Halved jalapeno peppers on a wood cutting board.

Once you've sliced all the peppers in half, use a small spoon to scrape out the seeds and the white membranes. Here is the step where you can control the spice level in the recipe. The spiciness in jalapeno peppers is in the seeds and the white membranes found on the inside, not so much in the actual flesh of the pepper. You can make this recipe as mild or as spicy as you want by removing all or a portion of the seeds and membranes.

If you want your poppers to be mild, remove all of the seeds and all of the white membrane. For poppers with just a little heat, scrape out all of the seeds and leave just a little bit of the white membrane behind. For spicy peppers, leave all of the membranes intact and maybe just a few of the seeds.

How to make baked jalapeño poppers

Cream cheese mixture in a glass bowl with a green silicone spatula.

Step 1: Make the creamy, cheesy filling by combining softened cream cheese, shredded cheddar cheese, garlic powder, sliced California ripe olives and fresh chopped chives in a medium bowl

Filling jalapeno pepper half with cream cheese mixture.

Step 2: Cut the jalapenos in half, lengthwise, scoop out seeds and stuff each pepper half with the cream cheese mixture, using an offset spatula or a small spoon.

Toasted panko bread crumbs in a skillet.

Step 3: In a medium skillet, heat olive oil over medium low heat and add Panko breadcrumbs. Stir continuously for about 3-4 minutes until lightly golden brown and toasted. Transfer immediately to a plate to prevent burning.

Pressing pepper halves, filling side down into toasted panko to adhere crispy topping.

Step 4: Press the filling side of each pepper half into the toasted panko topping to thoroughly coat the top of each popper.

Jalapeno poppers on a foil lined baking sheet fitted with a wire rack.

Step 5: Place the pepper halves filling side up on a baking sheet lined with foil or parchment and fitted with a wire rack. Bake in a 400 f degree oven for 18-22 minutes until the filling is a little bubbly and the topping is a rich golden brown.

Crispy jalapeno poppers on a white plate.

Step 6: Transfer to serving platter, sprinkle with more chives and serve warm.

Recipe tips

Use gloves when handling the raw jalapeño peppers!
Don't skip toasting the bread crumbs. It's an extra step but the Panko will not get golden brown and get that super crispy topping in such a short time in the oven.
Bake on a wire rack! The rounded bottoms of the peppers will roll and the filling could tip out while baking - that would be very sad.
Make ahead tip for a party - fill the peppers and place them on the baking rack, cover with plastic wrap and store in the fridge until ready to bake. When you're ready to get the party going, add the crispy panko topping and bake!

Storing and freezing

Homemade poppers are best enjoyed fresh. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 1-2 days. For best results, reheat in the air fryer or in a low oven to crisp up the topping.

You can store unbaked poppers in the freezer and bake them on demand from frozen. Just add a few extra minutes to the cook time!

What to serve with jalapeño poppers

For the ultimate game day spread, serve jalapeño poppers with other finger foods like tortilla chips and salsa, guacamole, sliders and wings.
These make a delicious side dish or appetizer for a cookout or tailgate. Serve with burgers, hot dogs or bbq ribs
Poppers are also a great side for tacos or grilled steak or chicken.