Lighter Jalapeño Popper Dip

This version of classic Jalapeño Popper Dip gets lightened up with reduced fat cream cheese and sour cream and a panko topping while still remaining creamy, delicious and full of Jalapeño Popper flavor! Perfect for game day or a Superbowl Sunday appetizer.

Lighter Jalapeño Popper Dip

Jalapeño Poppers are such a classic when it comes to American appetizers. Wrapped in bacon, stuffed with sausage or simply filled with cream cheese, these poppers are a game day favorite. Jalapeño Popper dip takes all of that delicious flavor and turns it into a scoopable appetizer that's easy to make and feeds a crowd.

Ingredients in Jalapeno Popper Dip

• Jalapeños - I prefer to use fresh jalapenos for this dip because they add delicious flavor and texture to the dip.
• Garlic - fresh garlic, grated into the mixture.
• Cream Cheese - reduced fat cream cheese makes a classic base for this appetizer.
• Sour Cream - light sour cream gives a tangy quality to the dip.
• Cheddar Cheese - shred your own block of cheddar to ensure the dip is smooth and melty.
• Parmesan Cheese - shredded parmesan goes into this dip and on top as well.
• Diced Green Chilies - to add even more pepper flavor.
• Panko Bread Crumbs - this is the topping for this baked dip.

How to Make Jalapeño Popper Dip

1. Mix cream cheese and sour cream with a hand mixer until smooth.
2. Stir in grated garlic, jalapeños, cheddar, parmesan, chilies, salt and pepper.
3. Transfer to a greased baking dish.
4. Sprinkle on Panko and more parmesan.
5. Bake until golden and bubbly.
6. Serve with chips for dipping.

Classic Jalapeño Popper dip is usually made with full fat cream cheese, sour cream, and often times mayonnaise. The topping is generally bread crumbs mixed with melted butter and even more cheese.

This dip, while still not completely fat-free, gets significantly lightened up with a few minor tweaks while still remaining creamy and decadent!

Possible Substitutions:

• Full Fat - feel free to use full fat cream cheese and sour cream if you are not looking to reduce calories.
• Cheese - looking for a cheesier dip? You can add an additional sprinkle of cheddar on top of the dip before the bread crumbs if you are looking for a good cheese pull.
• Bacon - Crumbled crispy cooked bacon makes a classic addition to Jalapeño Popper dip.

Top the bubbly hot Jalapeño Popper Dip with more sliced Jalapeños, and a sprinkle of chopped parsley. Serve immediately while the dip is hot with a side of tortilla chips. I personally recommend blue corn tortilla chips for this appetizer.

More Game Day Recipes:

• Hot Blue Cheese Dip
• Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
• Super Bowl Blue Hawaiian Cocktails
• Build Your Own Michelada Bar
• The Ultimate Guacamole

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Lighter Jalapeño Popper Dip

Yield: 6

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Additional Time: 2 minutes

Total Time: 2 minutes

A slightly lighter version of creamy Jalapeño Popper Dip.

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Ingredients

• 3 large jalapenos, diced (about ¾ to 1 cup total)
• 1 clove garlic, grated
• 8 oz reduced fat cream cheese
• ¾ cup light sour cream
• 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
• ½ cup parmesan cheese + 2 Tablespoons for topping
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon pepper
• ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 can fire roasted diced green chilies
• ⅛ cup Panko bread crumbs
• chopped parsley, for garnish
• sliced jalapeno, for garnish

Instructions

1. Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees.
2. In a mixing bowl combine cream cheese and sour cream. Mix with a hand mixer until smooth.
3. Grate in garlic, and season with salt, pepper and granulated garlic.
4. Stir in cheddar cheese, parmesan, chopped chilies and diced jalapeños. Mix until well combined.
5. Transfer mixture to a greased baking dish sprayed with non-stick cooking spray.
6. Sprinkle with ⅛ cup Panko and 2 Tablespoons parmesan cheese.
7. Bake for 15 minutes or until golden and bubbly.
8. Additionally you can place this dip under the broiler for another minute or so to brown up the top. Just watch carefully as it can brown quickly.
9. Garnish with chopped parsley and fresh jalapeño slices.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 275Total Fat: 21gSaturated Fat: 12gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 64mgSodium: 613mgCarbohydrates: 8gFiber: 1gSugar: 2gProtein: 13g

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