Cream Cheese & Sausage Stuffed Jalapenos

Ingredients

See recipe card for exact amounts.

Ingredient Notes

jalapeńo peppers – we look for peppers that have smooth, shiny and firm skin that are without blemishes. A pepper that has white lines on it will have a higher heat level than peppers without the lines. 

pork sausage – I like to use ground sausage and we usually buy mild Italian sausage, hot Italian sausage or even breakfast sausage can be used. 

bread crumbs – we like to use Italian bread crumbs to add a little bit of seasoning without adding another ingredient. 

seasonings – we season these simply with a bit of salt and some garlic powder. 

How to make cream cheese and sausage-stuffed jalapeño peppers

1. Wash and dry peppers. 
2. Cook the sausage in a skillet over medium heat until brown, about 5-7 minutes, drain grease. 
3. While the sausage cools use a paring knife to cut the peppers in half lengthwise, remove the membrane and seeds. 
4. Preheat the oven to 350°and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. 
5. Mix the sausage, cream cheese, bread crumbs, garlic powder and salt together in a medium bowl. Stuff jalapeño halves with the cream cheese mixture and place on top of the prepared baking sheet. 
6. Bake for 20-25 until the peppers are tender.
7. Serve with a dipping sauce like blue cheese or ranch dressing. 

Tips

Cutting the peppers – Always wear gloves and avoid your face (especially your eyes!) when handling fresh jalapenos because the oil can burn if it is transferred form your hands to another part of your body. 

Draining the sausage – the easiest way to do this is to put paper towels on a plate and put the cooked sausage on the paper towel, then pat the top with another couple of paper towels getting as much of the grease off as possible. 

Stuffing the peppers – I have found that a great way to do this is using my clean hands, for me it works better than a spoon. 

Substitutions and additions

• Not a fan of spicy peppers? Use mini sweet peppers instead. 
• Don’t like sausage? Ground beef, ground turkey or ground chicken will work. 
• If you don’t have bread crumbs you can leave those out. 
• Add shredded Parmesan cheese or other shredded cheese such as cheddar or Monterey Jack, anywhere from ½ to 1 cup.
• Garnish with a some sliced green onions or chopped chives. 

Storage & Reheating

Store leftover stuffed peppers in an airtight container for about 3 days. Warm up in the microwave.

Are jalapenos spicy?

While heat intensity can vary greatly a jalapeno pepper is mildly hot. Growing conditions, ripeness as well as individual variation can affect the heat level of peppers. 

Jalapeno peppers range from 2,500 – 8,000 Scoville Heat Units. 

Furthermore, much of the heat lives in the jalapeno seeds and membrane so removing them can remove some of the heat. Alternatively, leaving them in can maximize the heat level.

Something to keep in mind as you are preparing peppers.