Description
Classic jalapeño poppers turned into hearty cheese balls featuring a creamy, spicy center of beef, cream cheese, cheddar, and bacon, coated in crispy breadcrumbs.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 cup cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup jalapeños, chopped
- 8 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 egg, beaten
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Oil for frying
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, combine ground beef, cream cheese, shredded cheddar, chopped jalapeños, crumbled bacon, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Mix until everything is evenly distributed and the mixture holds together.
- Take small portions of the mixture and form into balls about 1 to 1.5 inches wide. If the mixture feels too soft, chill the balls on a tray for 15 minutes to firm up.
- Roll each ball in breadcrumbs, then dip into the beaten egg, and coat again in breadcrumbs so each ball has a double layer. Place coated balls on a tray while you heat the oil.
- Heat oil in a frying pan over medium heat to about 325–350°F (medium). Fry the cheese balls in batches until golden brown and cooked through, about 5–7 minutes per batch. Turn them gently so all sides crisp evenly.
- Remove from oil with a slotted spoon and let drain on paper towels. Let cool for a few minutes so the cheese centers set slightly. Serve warm.
Notes
For a lighter version, these can be baked at 400°F for 12-15 minutes. Chill the formed balls before frying to help them maintain their shape.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 430
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 520mg
- Fat: 33g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 11g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 19g
- Cholesterol: 70mg