Keto/Paleo Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers [Grilled, Air Fried, Or Baked]

These keto jalapeno poppers are stuffed with a mixture of Kite Hill almond cream cheese, Primal Kitchen mayo, wrapped with sugar free bacon and sprinkled with sugar free BBQ rub. They are THE perfect appetizer for parties and a tasty side dish to pair with a juicy steak or chicken breast. Grill or bake! You will love these jalapeno poppers so much that you might just make them every chance you can get!

Whether you are planning a summer BBQ or a New Years Eve party, jalapeno poppers are a guaranteed favorite for every occasion.

They are delicious. They are filling. And when made keto or paleo style, jalapeno poppers can even be reasonably healthy.

These keto jalapeno poppers are one of Ken and I’s favorite appetizers to make. First and foremost, they’re low carb and they taste incredible. Secondly, they are super easy to make. And finally, they are so versatile: sometimes we enjoy them as an appetizer, sometime as a side dish, and once, we even made them the main course for an event!

Keto Jalapeno Poppers Ingredients List

This recipe is insanely simple and only requires 5 ingredients:

• Jalapenos
• Kite Hill Almond Cream Cheese (Only 2g carbs per serving)
• Primal Kitchen Mayo (Chipotle is my favorite)
• High Quality Bacon (My favorite bacon is from Snake River Farms)
• Sugar-Free BBQ Rub (Lots of good options – I like this one from Simple Girl)

You can also throw in your own herbs, spices, chives, green onions, or whatever you want. 

If you don’t care about making your jalapeno poppers keto, than you can use pretty much any time of cream cheese, mayo, and BBQ rub, and it’s going to turn out great using the same amounts and steps from the recipe below.

Personally, however, I like making the keto option, because you don’t lose any flavor, and it lets me include these more regularly into my diet with no guilt.

Cooking Keto Jalapeno Poppers

There are three great options for cooking jalapeno poppers:

1. Bake your jalapeno poppers in the oven.

Bake at 400 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until the bacon is crispy. This is a great choice if you are trying to multi-task or need to bake a significantly large number of keto jalapeno poppers for your event.

While they taste great, I find that the texture isn’t quite as enjoyable as what I get from grilling or air frying.

2. Grill your jalapeno poppers on a gas or charcoal grill.

Grill at 200-250 degree using indirect heat for 30-40 minutes or until bacon is crispy. For extra flavor when using a charcoal grill, add a chunk of hickory or applewood to the grill, directly onto the coals.

We have a Big Green Egg and when we cook on that, sometimes the temp gets up to around 300. We adjust cooking time accordingly. We basically eyeball it when cooking on whichever grill we use.

3. Fry your jalapeno poppers in an air fryer.

Fry at 325 degrees for 12 minutes or until the bacon is crispy. From a texture standpoint, this option is my favorite. The jalapeno poppers have a delightfully crisp texture that really enhances the experience.

This is the fastest option and perfect for putting together a quick treat for a smaller group. Unfortunately, the size of most air fryers makes this option unviable when attempting to cook for larger groups or events.

Tips for making Keto Jalapeno Poppers

1. Slice the jalapenos lengthwise. Do not cut off the tops – leaving the tops helps keep the almond cream cheese inside the jalapeno during cooking.
2. Remove all of the membranes and seeds to cut back on the heat. 
3. After removing the membranes and seeds, rinse the jalapenos under cold water. This helps cut down on heat. 
4. Add herbs such as chives or green onion to the almond cream cheese.
5. Try taco seasoning in place of the BBQ rub. 

Keto Jalapeno Poppers (Bacon Wrapped & Grilled)

Yield: 12 jalapenos / 4 servings

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

These keto jalapeno poppers are stuffed with a mixture of Kite Hill almond cream cheese, Primal Kitchen mayo, wrapped with sugar free bacon and sprinkled with sugar free BBQ rub. A perfect appetizer for parties and a tasty side dish to pair with a juicy steak or chicken breast. You will love these jalapeno poppers so much that you might just make them every chance you can get!

Print

Ingredients

• 6 medium sized jalapenos
• 4 oz Kite Hill Almond Cream Cheese
• 2 tbsp Primal Kitchen Mayo (any flavor works, Chipotle is awesome)
• 6 slices of high quality bacon
• 1-2 tbsp of sugar free BBQ rub
• Fresh herbs such as chives or green onion, if desired

Instructions

1. Slice the jalapenos lengthwise. Remove the membranes and seeds (use a paring knife). Rinse in cold water. DO NOT remove the stem end.
2. Mix the cream cheese and may together. Mix in any desired herbs or green onions.
3. Spread the cream cheese mixture into the jalapenos. Use about 2 tsp per jalapeno and add more to the jalapenos if any is leftover.
4. Slice the bacon in half width wise so you end up with 12 pieces of bacon.
5. Wrap each jalapeno with the bacon - center the jalapeno over the bacon and fold the ends of the bacon up.
6. Sprinkle the tops of the bacon wrapped jalapenos with desired amount of BBQ rub.
7. For Baking: Place on a parchment or foil lined baking sheet and bake at 400 for 20-25 minutes. For Grilling: place over indirect heat on a grill heated to 250 degrees (can place on a grill pan or directly on the grill). Grill for 30-40 minutes or until the bacon is crispy.
8. Remove from the oven or the grill and allow to cool for about 5 minutes.
9. Enjoy.

Recommended Products

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• 
  Stainless Steel Grill Pan
• 
  Mercer Culinary Renaissance Forged Paring Knife, 3.5 Inch

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 4 Serving Size: 3 jalapenos
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 216 Total Fat: 22g Saturated Fat: 4g Cholesterol: 25mg Sodium: 391mg Carbohydrates: 2g Fiber: 1g Sugar: 1g Protein: 4g