Spicy Roasted Jalapeno Cowboy Cream Cheese Dip (Printable Version)
Bold, creamy roasted jalapeno dip with sharp cheddar and southwestern spices. A crowd-pleasing appetizer ready in 35 minutes.
# What You Need:
→ Vegetables
01 - 6 medium jalapenos, halved and seeded
02 - 1/2 red bell pepper, diced
03 - 1/2 cup corn kernels, fresh or frozen
04 - 1/2 cup red onion, finely diced
→ Dairy
05 - 12 oz cream cheese, softened
06 - 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
07 - 1/2 cup Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
08 - 1/4 cup sour cream
→ Pantry & Seasonings
09 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
10 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
11 - 1/2 tsp cumin
12 - 1/2 tsp salt
13 - 1/4 tsp black pepper
14 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
15 - 1 tbsp olive oil
# How to Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 425°F. Place jalapeno halves on baking sheet cut-side down. Drizzle with olive oil and roast for 12-15 minutes until skins blister. Cool slightly then dice.
02 - In mixing bowl, combine roasted jalapenos, red bell pepper, corn, red onion, garlic, cream cheese, cheddar, Monterey Jack, sour cream, smoked paprika, cumin, salt, black pepper, and cilantro. Stir until thoroughly blended.
03 - Transfer mixture to medium baking dish. Smooth top evenly with spatula.
04 - Bake at 350°F for 15-20 minutes until hot and bubbly with melted cheese on top.
05 - Garnish with additional jalapeno slices, green onions, and cilantro if desired. Serve warm with tortilla chips, crackers, or vegetable sticks.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The roasting transforms jalapenos from spicy little peppers into something smoky and almost sweet
- It comes together faster than you can heat up the oven and disappears even quicker
02 -
- Room temperature cream cheese is nonnegotiable here because cold cream cheese creates stubborn lumps that ruin the texture
- Letting the roasted peppers cool for just a few minutes makes them way easier to handle and dice evenly
03 -
- Reserve some of the shredded cheese to sprinkle on top during the last 5 minutes of baking for that gorgeous golden crust
- If your peppers are on the smaller side, use 8 instead of 6 to maintain the right flavor balance