Jalapeño Popper Bites
Ingredients
- 8 oz. cream cheese softened
- 2 cups shredded pepper jack cheese
- 3 jalapeños seeded and diced
- 1/4 cup chopped crispy bacon
- 2 Tablespoons sriracha sauce
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 eggs beaten
- 1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
- 1/2 cup plain bread crumbs
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon coarse salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 4 cups oil peanut, canola or veg oil, for frying
Instructions
- In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, blend cream cheese, pepper jack, jalapeños, bacon bits, and sriracha sauce.
Using a Tablespoon-sized scoop, form into balls. Place on a baking sheet and freeze for 30 minutes.
Place flour in a medium bowl. Place beaten eggs in a separate bowl. In a third separate bowl, combine panko crumbs, bread crumbs, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, salt and pepper.
In a large pot, add oil. Set to medium heat. Check oil temperature (around 365-375 degrees F), or drop in a little bit of flour. Once it sizzles and rises to the surface, you are ready!
Remove cheese balls from freezer. Coat in flour mixture, then egg, and lastly into bread crumb mixture.
Fry several bites at once, for 30 seconds, until golden brown. Carefully remove to a paper towel-lined plate.
Serve warm and enjoy!