Fiery heat crosses paths with cooling vegan cream cheese in this jalapeno popper recipe. The cheese filling is seasoned with savory nooch and smoky cumin while a shower of salty tortilla chip crumbles delivers a satisfying crunch!
Are you looking for a delicious, dairy-free snack that's bursting with flavor and will surely be a hit at your next gathering? Then vegan jalapeno poppers are sure to tantalize the taste buds of foodies and families alike! Ideal as an appetizer or even as part of a light meal, these crunchy vegan stuffed jalapenos offer just the right amount of heat along with rich, creamy goodness, thanks to the vegan cream cheese mixture. So read on for our recipe on how to whip up some mouthwatering jalapeno poppers in under 30 minutes!
Table of Contents
Why You'll Love This Vegan Jalapeno Popper Recipe
Great For Parties- Jalapeno poppers are the perfect appetizer for your next party. Everyone will love these jalapeno poppers with their combination of spice, creamy filling, and crispy topping.
Simple To Make- Vegan stuffed jalapenos are super easy to make, so even if you're a beginner cook, you can still impress your guests.
What Are Jalapeno Poppers?
Jalapeno poppers are the perfect finger food made with jalapeno peppers, usually stuffed with a cream cheese mixture and spices. They can be baked, deep fried, or even grilled - making them the ultimate party food! This vegan version takes all your favorite flavors of traditional jalapeno poppers and makes them vegan-friendly. We start with jalapeno peppers cut in half lengthwise, stuff them with a tasty blend of plant-based cream cheese, spices, and crushed tortilla chips, and then bake them to golden brown perfection! The result is a savory and tasty snack that's sure to be a hit at any gathering.
Equipment Needed
- Baking Sheet or Baking Dish
- Parchment Paper
- Cutting Board
- Sharp Knife
- Spoon
- Small Bowl
- Piping Bag (Optional)
Ingredients
- Jalapeno Peppers- Gives the poppers their signature spicy kick and serves as the base of this delicious appetizer.
- Vegan Cream Cheese- Provides a creamy and savory filling.
- Nutritional Yeast- For more vegan cheese flavor.
- Garlic Powder- Added to the cream cheese to enhance the flavor.
- Cumin Powder- To give the cream cheese filling even more depth of flavor.
- Salt- Balances out the jalapenos' spiciness and the cheese's creaminess.
- Vegan Tortilla Chips- Creates a satisfying crunchy texture.
How to Make Vegan Jalapeno Poppers
- Preheat and prepare. Line a baking sheet or baking dish with parchment paper and preheat your oven to 400℉. Using a cutting board and sharp paring knife, cut the jalapeno peppers in half lengthwise and remove the seeds and the membrane.
- Combine. In a small bowl, mix the vegan cream cheese, nutritional yeast, garlic powder, cumin powder, and salt.
- Mix. Stir until all of the ingredients are well blended, then transfer the cream cheese mixture to a piping bag or a resealable zip-top bag and snip off a corner.
- Fill the poppers and bake. I prefer to pipe the cream cheese mixture into my poppers as it’s a bit easier and I love how neat they come out! But if you’d rather not fuss, you can most definitely use two spoons to stuff your peppers instead. Either way, equally distribute the cream cheese filling amongst all of your jalapeno halves, then top each with a sprinkle of crushed tortilla chips. Bake in the preheated oven until the cheese is melty and just browned on top, about 15-20 minutes.
- Serve! Enjoy your vegan poppers while warm and melty!
Watch Me Make Vegan Jalapeno Poppers
FAQ
Can You Make Jalapeno Poppers Without Vegan Cream Cheese?
Vegan cream cheese is available in most stores nowadays, but if you don’t have access to the product or don’t care for it, you can still make some tasty poppers! Try using mashed avocado or blended silken tofu, or make a creamy cashew filling by soaking raw unsalted cashews in water overnight, draining, and blending with seasonings until thick and creamy.
How to Store Vegan Jalapeno Poppers
Refrigerating. If you have any leftover poppers, place them in an airtight container and refrigerate them for up to 5 days.
Freezing. Freezing cooked poppers is possible, but I don’t necessarily recommend it as both the peppers and vegan cream cheese may change texture due to the temperature fluctuations.
Reheating. Reheat the poppers in a 350℉ oven for 5-10 minutes until warmed through.
📋 Recipe
Easy Vegan Jalapeno Poppers
Ingredients
- 6 jalapenos
- 6 oz. Vegan cream cheese like Trader Joe's Vegan Cream Cheese or Tofutti
- 1 ½ tbsp nutritional yeast
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp cumin powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 2-3 tbsp crushed tortilla chips Vegan
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400F and line a baking sheet or baking dish with parchment paper.
- Cut the jalapenos in half and remove the seeds and membrane.
- In a bowl, combine cream Vegan cream cheese, nutritional yeast, garlic powder, cumin powder, and salt.
- Spoon the mixture into a piping bag, pipe it into the halved and cleaned jalapenos, or just stuff it with a spoon.
- Sprinkle crushed tortilla chips over the jalapenos.
- Bake the jalapenos for 15-20 minutes or until the cheese is melty and lightly golden.
- Serve as desired.
Notes
Ingredients
- Instead of vegan cream cheese, you could use mashed avocado, blended silken tofu, or homemade cashew filling as the basis for these stuffed poppers.
Tips
- To de-seed your jalapeno peppers, use a paring knife to slice each pepper in half, then carefully remove the seeds and white membrane. Wear gloves when handling hot chili peppers like this, and be sure to wash your hands, cutting board, and knife very well after.
Variations
- To make your poppers even spicier, try incorporating ingredients like hot sauce, chili crisp, or minced jalapeno into the vegan cheese mixture.
- Other ingredients make great toppings for these poppers; try crumbled vegan bacon, shredded vegan cheese, or your favorite vegan sour cream!
Storage
- Refrigerate leftover poppers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. To reheat, place them in a 350℉ oven until warmed through. I do not recommend freezing these poppers as the textures will become less pleasant.
Diane
These were excellent!
Husband and son loved. Just as good as ones with regular cream cheese!
Used kite hill cream cheese as didn’t want an oil based cream cheese.
Used sari brand nutritional yeast
Didn’t have crushed tortilla chips so used kettle brand backyard bbq.
Definitely will be a party favorite