Hot and creamy jalapeno cream cheese is made easily with a handful of ingredients. It's a must-try spicy condiment that tastes like jalapeno poppers in a dip version. It's one of the best tailor-made recipes for a party or potluck.
Additionally, it is great for prepping ahead of time. The fun part is that it tastes delicious when served chilled.
Whip up this delicious jalapeno spread in under 10 minutes. Use a food processor or a blender and witness a party appetizer dish ready in a flash.
This jalapeno cream cheese is versatile. It can be served as a dip, an ingredient in making a jalapeno popper, or a spread.
Then why wait? Make this easy-to-put-together spicy cream cheese, and thank yourself for trying this recipe.
Coming back to the context, this Jalapeño cream cheese is one of my favorite dips, similar to our cranberry jalapeno dip, jalapeno artichoke dip, and jalapeno sour cream dip.
Serve it with fresh vegetables like pepper, carrot, broccoli, celery, crackers, sour bread, baguettes, and pretzels, or even pour over pasta and make an effortless weeknight meal.
Highlights of jalapeño cream cheese
This hot cream cheese dip is thick, velvety, and has a hint of heat but abundant flavors of jalapeños.
Are you searching for a recipe when the jalapeños are in season? This jalapeno cream cheese is one of the best finds.
This simple recipe is great for anyone who wants to try serving homemade food to guests.
It is a cost-effective, refreshing substitute for store-bought flavored cream cheese packages.
The Ingredients
Cream cheese. The main ingredient I have used is the store-bought one. If you prefer adopting this jalapeno cream cheese recipe the vegan way, opt for vegan cream cheese.
Onion powder and garlic powder are the flavor enhancers and bridging ingredients for the cream cheese and jalapeno. I highly suggest using both together.
Jalapeño peppers. Jalapeños pepper's heat is in its ribs; add the seeds. Depending on your heat tolerance, you may leave or remove them altogether.
For this recipe, I discarded about 70% of the seeds, as I wanted the cheese sauce to be mildly hot but with bold jalapeno flavors. If you want your cheese sauce to be hot, add more seeds.
Reserve the seeds if you're unsure how much heat you want while chopping the jalapeños. When done, taste jalapeno cream cheese and add the seeds in small quantities until they match your heat preference.
I always mention in each post to avoid any miss handling jalapeño mistakes and links. Always wear gloves while handling jalapeno to prevent any skin irritations.
How To Make Jalapeno Cream Cheese?
In a food processor, toss in the ingredients, such as cream cheese, deseeded jalapeno, onion powder, and garlic powder.
Pulse until all the ingredients are combined.
Transfer to a dipping bowl, and serve with crackers, chips, sour bread, or fresh-cut vegetables.
How To Store And Make-Ahead Ideas
- Make ahead. This jalapeno cream cheese dip is excellent to store in the refrigerator, and you may prep and store this spicy dip five days ahead. Furthermore, the flavors infuse well with cream cheese after a day of making.
- Refrigerator. The leftover cream cheese can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for about a week.
- Freeze. Transfer the cream cheese to a freezer-friendly container or a freezer bag, and you may freeze it for up to six months. To thaw, refrigerate them overnight.
How To Use Jalapeno Cream Cheese
- As a spread, a classic way to use this spiced cream cheese is to slather it over a slice of bread or bagel.
- As a dip. The first choice for enjoying this jalapeno cream cheese dip. It’s creamy and silky with a little punch. Crackers, pita chips, and vegetable cuts are some to mention. Dunkin a broccoli floret or celery, and enjoy its creaminess.
- As a sauce, toss this creaminess in the mac and cheese or with the cooked pasta and make a quick dinner.
- As stuffing. In wonton, jalapeno poppers, stuffed shells, stuffed chicken breast,
As a star ingredient, cream cheese adds a touch of richness and spiciness to any recipe that calls for it. Think of chowder or soup recipes. Stir in oatmeal or toss in mashed potato, and feel the magic.
Printable Recipe Card
Jalapeno Cream Cheese
Ingredients
- 8 oz cream cheese
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 jalapeno
Instructions
- Cut the jalapeno into half. Remove the seeds and the white membrane and reserve them to add later according to our personal preference.
- In a food processor jar, add cream cheese, garlic powder, onion powder, deseeded jalapeno.
- Pulse until all the texture becomes smooth.
- Taste and check the heat, if you want to increase the spice level, you may add in more seeds(that you have reserved already).
- And serve with chips or crackers.
Notes
- Wear gloves while handling jalapeno if you have sensitive skin.
- Refrigerator. You may store the leftover cream cheese for about a week in the fridge in an airtight container.
- Freeze. Transfer the cream cheese to a freezer-friendly container or a freezer bag and you may freeze it for up to six months.
- To thaw. Refrigerate them overnight.
Aimee Mars says
I love your idea of mixing this in with some pasta for an easy weeknight meal! I love a good spicy pasta too, but I think most of all it's going to make an appearance at my Super Bowl party too for a delicious dip.
Pepper Bowl says
Glad to hear it, Aimee Mars.
Sandhya Ramakrishnan says
This is my husband's favorite cream cheese to smear on his bagels and I can't believe how simple it is to make it. I will now be making different flavors of cream cheese at home. Thanks for the inspiration.
Suja md says
Yay! So happy to hear that, Sandhya Ramakrishnan
Deborah L Dennis says
I put a pretty good slather of this on a grilled hamburger. I do use a little more jalapeno, but I like spicy. Best hamburger I've ever had!
Sujatha Muralidhar says
Thank you Deborah, Spicy cream cheese with hamburger is our favorite too! Glad you liked this recipe!