Bacon Jalapeño Popper Dip – Camping Food!
Let’s face it… some things are just too difficult to make when you’re out camping! Like that time I tried to make homemade chicken and dumplings at the campsite. The harder I tried, the worse it got. It was a total fail! Total! (We ended up scrounging around for some leftover hot dogs and a few chips.) That’s when I learned the art of modifying a recipe (almost any recipe) to make it camping food friendly. This amazing Bacon Jalapeño Popper Dip is one of my favorite camping food modifications! It really is SO easy!
I love Jalapeño Poppers! All that rich creamy, cheesy goodness stuffed into a tender, spicy, jalapeño pepper, all wrapped up with some crisp smoky bacon! Love them! But making them at a campsite can be tedious, cumbersome, and frankly… a total pain! Don’t get me wrong, there are definitely folks who have mastered cooking even the most complex foods right at the campsite. But I’m not one of those people. (Remember my motto? Keep it Simple. Keep it Tasty. Keep it Easy to Clean!) My sister’s mother-in-law, however, is definitely one of those people. She can whip out the most beautiful Bacon Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers as we’re all sitting out by the late afternoon campfire sipping our cold beverage of choice. I don’t know how she does it. But she does and they’re awesome!
Well, I wanted that fantastic rich, creamy, spicy, cheesy flavor you can only get from a Jalapeño Popper, but I wanted it the easy way, of course! I wanted something I could make ahead and simply heat it up at the campsite (so I could be enjoying my cold beverage of choice along with everyone else). And I certainly didn’t want anyone stuck with cleaning up a gooey mess afterward! The choice became clear – Jalapeño Popper Dip! The perfect make-ahead-serve-it-up-in-a-disposable-foil-container-comes-together-in-minutes-heat-it-up-make-everyone-ooohhh-and-aaahhh-camping-appetizer! No muss. No fuss. And there won’t be a drop left!
How to Make Jalapeño Popper Dip – It’s SO Easy!
Mix cream cheese, sour cream, cooked bacon (click here if you want to know the secret to perfectly cooked bacon), minced jalapeño, shredded cheese, salt and pepper until blended, spoon into an 8×8 disposable foil container (I use these), then top with a bit more cheese, bacon and jalapeño. Heat and enjoy every last morsel! (See the full recipe below)
This Jalapeño Popper Dip is a real crowd pleaser! Make it ahead then heat it up at the campsite, serve with chips or bread, and a few fresh sliced jalapeños for those who want to add even more kick! It’s a great modification of the classic Bacon Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers everyone knows and loves. It’s just a whole lot easier! (Serve it with this Watermelon Feta Salad if you’re looking for something refreshing to pair with it!)
Oh… and I will definitely figure out the whole chicken and dumplings at the campsite thing! You’ll be the first to hear about it when I do…
Here are some things I use to make this dish:
Jalapeno Popper Dip - Awesome Camping Food!
Ingredients
- 3 Fresh Jalapenos, Seeded and Minced
- 12 Oz bacon, Chopped and cooked until crisp
- 8 Oz Cream Cheese, Room Temperature
- 1 Cup sour cream
- 3 Cups Shredded Mexican Blend Cheese, Divided . This is a blend of cheese commonly found packaged at grocery stores labeled as "Mexican Blend" Cheese
- 1/2 Teaspoon salt
- 1 Teaspoon Pepper
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350 degrees if cooking immediately (or just wait until you're at the campsite). In a large bowl, mix minced jalapenos (reserve a tablespoon for topping), cooked chopped bacon (reserve 2 tablespoons for topping), cream cheese, sour cream, 2 cups of the shredded cheese, salt and pepper. Mix well.
- Spoon into a disposable 8x8 inch foil pan. Top with remaining cheese, reserved bacon, and reserved jalapeno. If making ahead, cover tightly with foil. When ready to cook, remove foil and heat uncovered at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until bubbly. NOTE: I have an oven in our RV that I use, but if you don't, just heat up a grill on medium heat (or over your campfire coals) and place the pan on the grates. Cover grill if possible. Stir occasionally so the bottom doesn't burn. Enjoy!