20 Smokin’ Hot Jalapeño Recipes (2024)

We’ve all topped off a heaping mound of nachos with a few rings of jalapeños, but these spicy green peppers are so much more than a last-minute addition to a standard Tex-Mex dish. We’re bringing you 20 of the most creative jalapeño recipes around to breathe some new culinary life into this under-appreciated pepper. Think jalapeño popovers, jalapeño chimichurri grilled cheese and even jalapeño pineapple popsicles. That’s right; things are about to get spicy up in here.

1. Jalapeño Cornbread Muffins: We all love a good jalapeño cheddar cornbread, especially in mini-muffin form. (via Damn Delicious)

2. Sweet and Spicy Pulled Pork With Honey Jalapeño Lime Slaw: The pulled pork smothered in Sweet Baby Ray’s may be considered the star of this dish, but all of that means nothing without a spicy jalapeño lime slaw to pull it all together. (via Host the Toast)

3. Jalapeño Bacon Mac and Cheese: Carbs, cheddar, bacon and jalapeños? This recipe brings everything we love all into one bowl! (via Horses + Heels)

4. Pickled Jalapeños: Jalapeños on top of nachos is good, but pickled jalapeños folded into nachos is GREAT. (via Peanut Butter and Peppers)

6. Cheddar Jalapeño Chicken Burgers: These chicken burgers are literally bursting with flavor. Let’s see… there’s onion, cilantro, garlic, jalapeño, cumin, paprika, cheddar cheese… (via What’s Gaby Cooking)

7. Baked Coconut Shrimp With Jalapeño Pineapple Dipping Sauce: Coconut shrimp is only as good as the dipping sauce you serve with it. So basically, this recipe is really, REALLY good. (via Tablespoon)

8. Honey Jalapeño Dressing: You’ll never eat a boring lunch salad again. You’re welcome :) (via Chef Savvy)

9. Salmon Tacos With Jalapeño Cream: Switch up your fish taco game by opting for some spice-rubbed salmon topped with jalapeño crema. (via Lemons for Lulu)

10. Creamy Jalapeño Corn Dip: Bring along this creamy dip next time you’re invited to a weekend get-together. It’s a little bit sweet and loaded with jalapeños for a nice kick. (via Lemon Tree Dwelling)

11. Yuca Fries With Jalapeño Aioli: This healthy hack tastes great without the guilt that comes with scarfing down handfuls of French fries. Plus, the aioli, made with lemonaise, garlic and jalapeños is super easy to make. (via Brit + Co)

12. Jalapeño Lime Chicken Wings: Chicken wings are an American classic. In preparation for Superbowl XLVIII, practice making these spicy wings for your loved ones to see if they’ll make the cut. It’s never too early to start training for game day. (via Stupid Easy Paleo)

13. Avocado, Mozzarella and Jalapeño Chimichurri Grilled Cheese: Uhhh, we’ll take four of these. No, no, we’re not sharing. (via Naturally Ella)

14. Avocado and Orange Salad With Jalapeño Vinaigrette: This citrusy salad looks beautiful and delicious. We’re adding this one to this week’s lunch menu. (via The Bitten Word)

15. Pineapple Jalapeño Salsa: Every girl’s gotta have a go-to salsa recipe. Why not make this one yours? (via Barefeet in the Kitchen)

16. Jalapeño Popper Burger: We swear, the burgers we feature on Brit + Co are just getting taller and taller! We blame this burger’s height on the jalapeño poppers that make up the top layer. (via Simply Delicious)

17. Mini Jalapeño Polenta Cakes: These one-serving polenta cakes will make a fantastic side dish at your next dinner party. We suggest frying the jalapeño slices you’ll use to top these puppies off. (via Tablespoon)

18. Jalapeño Cheddar Popovers: As if popovers weren’t delicious enough, now we’re adding cheddar and Mexican chilis to the mix! (via Mother Thyme)

19. Grapefruit and Jalapeño Infused Tequila co*cktail: Fruit-infused liquor is all the rage right now. Try your hand at infusion by whipping up this grapefruit and jalapeño tequila. (via 100 Layer Cake)

20. Pineapple Jalapeño Popsicles: These popsicles are sooooo refreshingly spicy… if that’s even a thing. (This just in: It is.) (via The View from Great Island)

What jalapeño recipe are you ready and rarin’ to try out? Let us know below!

Samantha Andreacchi

A Bay Area native, Sam currently lives in Philadelphia and is loving the city of brotherly love. If she isn’t working, trying a new restaurant or window shopping on Walnut Street, she’s probably at home binging on Pinterest, making a mess in the kitchen (aka cooking) or trying to read three books at once.

20 Smokin’ Hot Jalapeño Recipes (2024)

FAQs

How long to smoke jalapeños at 225? ›

To cook, smoke at 225 degrees for approximately 1 hour.At an hour into cooking, brush the poppers with a thin coat of Somethin' Somethin' Sauce to create a sticky glaze. Do this every 10 minutes for the next 30 minutes. Total cook time is a approximately a 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Does jalapeños raise blood pressure? ›

It has been proven that consuming spicy foods from peppers that contain capsaicin can help lower blood pressure. Statistics show people who consume spicy food on a daily basis have a 14 percent lower risk of death, diabetes and cancer than people who consume it less than once a week.

Why do pickled jalapenos hurt my stomach? ›

Some research shows that the capsaicin in peppers may make heartburn worse and cause problems for people with irritable bowel syndrome. You may want to avoid jalapeños if you have a digestive system condition.

What temperature do you smoke jalapenos? ›

Fire up any kind of smoker: dry, water, electric, side or stovetop. Keep heat very low, under 230 degrees if possible. Stem your peppers, but don't seed them. Place peppers in a single layer on the grate.

What temperature is too hot for jalapenos? ›

Ideal temperatures are 70°F to 80°F during the day, and 60°F to 70° F at night. A tip for helping the soil warm up more quickly is to use black plastic mulch to cover the soil around the peppers. Extremely high temperatures (90°F or above) during flowering often results in blossom drop.

How many jalapeños is too many? ›

You can eat 30 pounds jalapenos if you can tolerate its heat. If you eat more than that you may have some physical problem. There is a substance called capsaicin in certain kinds of peppers (including bell peppers, jalapeño peppers and some chili peppers) that can trigger diarrhea.

Is it better to freeze or can jalapeños? ›

If you find yourself with too many jalapeños and want to preserve them, freezing is the way to go! It's so easy to freeze small peppers so that you can use them in countless recipes at a later time.

Does jalapenos burn belly fat? ›

Jalapeños may help you lose weight by boosting your metabolism, increasing fat burn and reducing your appetite ( 6 ). Several studies have found that capsaicin and other similar compounds called capsaicinoids can boost metabolism by 4–5% per day, potentially making it easier to lose weight ( 7 , 8 ).

When should you not eat a jalapeno? ›

Fresh jalapenos should have a smooth, firm skin with a bright green color. Next, give the pepper a sniff. If it smells musty or moldy, it may have started to spoil. Fresh jalapenos should have a spicy, pungent aroma.

Are jalapenos bad for your gut? ›

What are the side effects of eating jalapeños? For people with stomach sensitivities like acid reflux (heartburn) or ulcers, spicy foods like jalapeños may exacerbate these symptoms. This may go without saying, but if you're not a fan of spicy food, you may want to steer clear of jalapeños.

What happens if you eat too many jalapenos? ›

Although usually enjoyable in our food, too much hot pepper can result in nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea and a burning sensation when ingested. During meal preparation, if capsaicin-containing oils get on the skin, it can lead to pain and redness with irritation.

Are jalapenos a laxative? ›

Hot Peppers

There is a substance called capsaicin in certain kinds of peppers (including jalapeño peppers and cayenne peppers) that can trigger diarrhea. It does so by irritating the lining of the intestines, which, in turn, speeds the movement of the intestines to "flush out" the offender.

Is it OK to eat jalapenos everyday? ›

Enjoy jalapenos more often to gain the benefits. They can aid in weight loss, provide several vitamins and nutrients, and add a spicy flavor many enjoy. Anyone looking to improve their health should add jalapenos and other vegetables to their list of regularly consumed foods.

How long to smoke peppers at 250? ›

Fill your smoker box with hot coals and your choice of wood chips. Place the peppers on your grill when the temperature reaches 250 degrees Fahrenheit. Cook your smoked peppers for 30 minutes or until they become soft. Serve and enjoy.

How long to smoke jalapenos to make chipotle? ›

Once you've smoked your jalapenos for at least 6 hours, and 12 to 16 is better, you can then put them in a regular dehydrator to finish. Yes, the room you dehydrate your chipotles in will smell smoky, but I find that delicious…

What is the lowest temperature for jalapenos? ›

Most peppers are not happy when temperatures drop below 50-60˚ F. If you live in a short season climate, we recommend starting pepper seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost of the spring is expected, and wait to transplant outside until it's warmed up to at least 55-60˚ F at night consistently.

How long do peppers take in smoker? ›

There are many different wood options available to you. I prefer maple wood, though mesquite is a good choice, as is hickory. Here you should really experiment with wood of your choice, as each will impart a different smoky flavor. Use enough wood to smoke the peppers for 2-3 hours.

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