Food and Recipes Dish Dips Cast-Iron Jalapeño Popper Cream Cheese Spread Will Win Over The Game Day Crowd 5.0 (2) 1 Review This dip will have everyone cheering! By Giovanna Vazquez Giovanna Vazquez Giovanna Vazquez has garnered over a decade’s worth of culinary experience. She has worked several different roles in almost every part of the industry. As a recipe developer she has created over hundreds of original recipes. Her skills exceed cooking and baking to encompass food styling and culinary nutrition. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Published on September 28, 2024 Save Rate PRINT Share Close Photo: Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Active Time: 5 mins Total Time: 20 mins Servings: 8 to 10 Jump to recipe Warm up a block of cream cheese in a cast-iron skillet until it's creamy and smooth. Then, top it with the crisped-up bits of jalapeño slices and crumbled bacon, and suddenly, you have transformed the cream cheese into an irresistible new version of the beloved jalapeño popper dip. A slightly deconstructed version, if you will. This dip is great for serving when you want guests to be a bit more hands-on with their snacks. They'll need a knife so they can scoop up some of the cream cheese, grab a few crispy pieces, and top a mini pepper half or chip before rushing it into their mouths for the first bite. Cook Mode (Keep screen awake) Ingredients 1 1/2 Tbsp. canola oil 4 jalapeños, seeded and thinly sliced (about 1 1/2 cups) 1 Tbsp. fresh lime juice (from 1 lime), divided 1/4 tsp. kosher salt 1 (8-oz.) pkg. cream cheese 1/2 cup cooked and crumbled bacon (6 slices) 1/4 cup Cheddar cheese crisps, coarsely crushed (such as Whisps) 1/2 tsp. honey Sweet mini peppers, halved lengthwise, to serve Directions Gather ingredients: Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Cook jalapeño slices: Preheat oven to 350°F. Heat oil in a shallow 10-inch cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add jalapeno; cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until browned on edges, about 5 minutes. Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Remove from heat. Transfer jalapeno mixture to small bowl. Top with lime juice; sprinkle with salt. Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Reserve liquid; strain jalapeno mixture. Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Warm cream cheese block: Brush reserved liquid evenly over cream cheese. Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Bake in preheated oven until warmed through and lightly golden brown, 10 to 12 minutes. Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Assemble dish: Top cream cheese evenly with jalapenos, bacon, and cheese crisps. Drizzle evenly with honey. Serve with sweet mini peppers. Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Rate It Print