If you enjoy jalapeno poppers, you need to try these festive Jalapeno Popper Mummies this Halloween! They are fresh peppers filled with cream cheese and then wrapped in bacon and pastry strips to look like a mummy. Not only are they absolutely adorable, but they're also delicious. I promise that if you put these out at a party, they are going to go fast.
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I've made these a handful of times. I don't have Halloween parties often, but it can still be fun to make the poppers look like cute little mummies. They look impressive even though they don't take a lot of work to make. However, if you have kids in your life, they will enjoy them as well if they can handle the spice.
More festive Halloween recipes include mummy cherry hand pies and Halloween bread.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- There are many customization options: There are several different ways that you can make these Halloween poppers, including fillings, decorations, and dips!
- It's easy to make ahead: I love that some of the steps can be done in advance. This makes cooking them right before serving so much quicker and easier.
- It's budget-friendly: The ingredients used to make these jalapeno popper mummies are low-cost, so you don't have to worry about spending a fortune to make them.
Ingredients
The key ingredients for making these poppers are listed below. It's a simple, cheesy filling that includes breadcrumbs and eggs as well to bind it together.
- Jalapenos: I use fresh jalapenos for this recipe. Ensure they are bright green and firm. Scoop out the seeds and remove the membranes to keep them from tasting too spicy.
- Cheese: For these jalapeno mummies, I chose a few different kinds of cheese, including cream cheese, shredded cheddar, and shredded Monterey Jack. If you like, you can use all cheddar, some pepper jack, or any other kind of shredded cheese you want.
- Lime juice: The bright flavor of the lime juice enhances the natural flavor of the jalapenos and cuts through the richness of the filling.
- Crescent rolls: Canned crescent rolls are perfect for this. Any brand will work great. If you can find them, crescent dough sheets work well, too.
- Bacon: Any variety of uncooked bacon is fine. I would avoid thick-cut to ensure that they cook properly without the rest of the popper overcooking.
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.
Variations
- Add shrimp: Add one cooked medium shrimp to each jalapeno before you wrap them for a seafood twist.
- Add beef: Mix some cooked ground beef into the cheesy filling to add more texture and flavor.
- Extra spicy: Add a couple of dashes of sriracha or your favorite hot sauce to the filling for more heat.
How to Make Jalapeno Popper Mummies
These are the steps needed to prepare and cook your jalapeno mummies in the air fryer. Preheat your air fryer to 325°F before starting to ensure even cooking.
Step 1: Make the filling. Combine the cheese, breadcrumbs, egg, seasoning, and lime juice in a mixing bowl until it's fully incorporated.
Step 2: Stuff the jalapenos. Fill each half about ⅔ with filling.
Step 3: Wrap them in bacon. Take half a bacon strip and wrap it around a stuffed pepper. Repeat this for all of them and then secure it with a toothpick.
Step 4: Air fry. Place them in the air fryer with some space in between (cook in batches if needed) and cook them for 10-15 minutes or until the bacon is cooked.
Step 5: Wrap them in crescent dough. Now, take your crescent strips and wrap each jalapeno, leaving space for the eyes.
Step 6: Air fry and add eyes. Put them back in the air fryer and cook them for an additional 5 minutes or until perfectly golden. Finally, use specks of ketchup or mustard to attach the eyes. Serve and enjoy!
Recipe Tips
- Handle the peppers with care: If you're sensitive, use gloves when handling the jalapenos. Otherwise, keep your hands away from your face and wash them thoroughly.
- Chill before cooking: I like to stick the poppers in the refrigerator before I air fry them to ensure that the filling doesn't get too warm and ooze out.
- Don't overstuff the jalapenos: Don't try to put too much filling into the peppers, or they will be difficult to wrap and make a mess as they cook.
If you're a jalapeno popper fan, then you must try these bacon-wrapped cream cheese poppers.
Storage Directions
- Storing: Store leftover mummies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. You may freeze them for up to 2 months. Just keep in mind that the jalapenos are much softer after thawing them.
- Reheating: You can reheat them in the microwave for 1-2 minutes or in the air fryer or oven at 325°F for 5-7 minutes.
- Make Ahead: A great way to make these in advance is to store them in the fridge, cooked and wrapped in bacon, up to 24 hours ahead. Then, you can wrap them in crescent strips and finish cooking them. This is great so that you will have the jalapeno poppers for Halloween.
Serving Suggestions
- Try a rich and creamy spinach artichoke dip or a simple buttermilk ranch to dip your mummy poppers.
- Add some more heat and a little sweetness with a spread of jalapeno jam.
- Looking for more easy hot appetizers? Try enchilada meatballs and homemade pizza rolls. They may not be themed, but they're easy and delicious.
Recipe FAQs
Of course! Follow the same steps except bake them with the bacon at 400 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until they're fully cooked. Then, an additional 5-7 minutes after you add the crescent strips.
An awesome hack to make the jalapenos even milder is to bake them cut side down directly on the oven rack for 4-5 minutes at 500 degrees. Let them cool completely before you stuff them.
If you're not a fan of the candy eyes, you can just do specks of mustard or use black olives.
More Delicious Appetizer Recipes
Do you like appetizer recipes? Here are some recipes you may also like to try.
If you try this recipe and love it please leave a star rating in the recipe card below or even better, drop a review in the comment section. I always appreciate your feedback. Be sure to follow along with me on Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube for more easy recipes!
Jalapeno Popper Mummies
Ingredients
- 12 jalapeños halved lengthwise with stems left intact, seeds and ribs removed, between 3 and 4 inches long
- 1 cup cheddar cheese shredded
- 1 cup Monterey Jack cheese shredded
- 4 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 green onions thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons panko bread crumbs
- 1 large egg yolk
- 2 teaspoons lime or lemon juice
- 1 tube refrigerated crescent rolls (8)
- edible eyeballs
Options
- 8 slices bacon diced
- 2-3 tablespoons minced fresh cilantro or parsley if desired
- 1 teaspoon chili powder taco seasoning, curry powder, ground cumin, paprika or coriander
- cayenne pepper red pepper flakes, dashes of sriracha or hot sauce, to taste
- cooked medium shrimp deveined and shelled (one for each jalapeño half), optional
- ½ pound cooked ground beef leftover roast beef, sausage, shredded chicken or crab meat, if desired
Bacon Wrapped
- bacon strips cut in half crosswise to match number of jalapeño halves
- toothpick for each jalapeño half
- ¼ cup Barbecue Sauce of choice
Instructions
If using shrimp, beef, chicken, sausage or BACON
- If using shrimp, sauté in a skillet in 1 tablespoon butter or olive oil until pink on both sides. Set aside until ready to use.
- If using ½ pound ground beef or sausage, use a skillet to brown it, then place on a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Allow meat to totally cool before blending with cheese mixture.
- Cook diced bacon in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat until crispy, 8 to 9 minutes. Transfer to paper towel-lined plate. Set aside.
Making Your Poppers
- Mix cheddar, Monterey Jack, cream cheese, bacon, garlic powder, scallions, cilantro or parsley, panko, egg yolk, lime juice, seasoning of choice, bacon and any extra options you want to include together in a bowl until incorporated and nice and creamy.
Optional Step to Reduce Heat in Peppers
- Adjust your oven rack to upper-middle position and preheat your oven to 500 degrees. Prepare your rimmed baking sheet with a wire rack lightly coated with cooking spray.
- Season jalapeños with sprinkles of salt and place cut side down on top of your wire rack. Bake until just starting to become tender, between 4 and 5 minutes.
- Remove jalapeños from oven and set aside to cool.
Making your Poppers
- Set your oven's temperature to 450 degrees F.
- Once jalapenos are cool enough to handle, flip them over so the cut side is facing up.
- Divide cheese mixture among each of your jalapeños, carefully pressing into each. Fill each jalapeño about ⅔ full with cheese mixture and do not overfill them.
- Wrap each jalapeño half with bacon and secure with a wooden toothpick, if desired.
Air Fryer
- Prepare to place inside air fryer.
- Place inside air fryer basket. You will likely have to cook these in batches.
- If not wrapped in bacon, only 10 minutes at 325 degrees F is needed.
- Cook at 325 degrees for 10-15 minutes and bacon is cooked. It could take up to 5 minutes longer, depending on the size of your peppers.
- Next, once cool enough to handle, wrap in crescent dough strips. Remember to leave a space for the eyes to go. Return to air fryer for 5 more minutes at 325 degrees.
- Once golden brown, remove from air fryer and place on rack. Get out your eyeballs and some mustard, barbecue sauce or ketchup. You will not need much.
- One at a time, place a tiny speck of ketchup, mustard or barbecue sauce where the eyeballs should go. Place eyeballs directly on top of the sauce.
- Continue until all jalapeno poppers are done.
- Place on serving plate.
- Serve with barbecue sauce for dip or whatever you desire.
- Enjoy every bite.
Oven
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
- Place poppers on parchment lined pan.
- Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, and bacon is cooked. If not wrapping in bacon, only bake for about 10 minutes or filling is staring to brown.
- Let sit until cool enough to handle and wrap in crescent strips, leaving room for the eyes.
- Bake for an additional 5-7 minutes and crescent strips are golden brown.
- Allow to cool for 5 minutes before serving.
Video
Notes
- Store leftover jalapeno popper mummies in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the fridge.
- Try making them in the oven instead of the air fryer.
- Use gloves when handling the raw peppers, or ensure that you wash your hands thoroughly before touching your face.
Nutrition
This post was originally published, 7/28/21. It's been updated with new content and images.
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