Watching sports is a massive part of world culture. It's always fun to get with your friends and family and watch a big game. It's fun to feel the roar of the crowd. Cheering your favorite team to a championship is electric. Though I do find considerable enjoyment in watching sports, one of my favorite parts of this experience is always the food.

Game day food is a special group of food with a lot of talent in the pool. You've got wings, pizza, soda, mozzarella sticks, and one of my favorites... jalapeno poppers. The thing about game day food though, is that it doesn't have to belong to game day. I've started making these for family dinners, and they have been a smashing success.

The strong and familiar flavor of cheddar cheese pairs excellently with the spice of the jalapeno, and they are rounded out by delicious bacon. This is one of those treats that you don't want to miss out on.

TIPS FOR SUCCESS

The first step is getting the jalapenos cut in half and the insides cleared out. I would recommend wearing gloves because the seeds can cause serious irritation for some people. Rubbing your eyes during this phase is a bad idea as it will burn with the fury of a thousand suns. Actually it's not that bad. I've made the mistake and it was unpleasant, but not the worst thing ever.

I like to cut the stem in half as well because it gives them a better look (in my opinion) and a little handle. You can leave a few seeds in if you want a little bit of an extra kick but I usually choose to clean mine all the way out.

Building the cream cheese filling is super simple. Toss in the green onions, cream-cheese and sharp cheddar cheese with a little salt and pepper and then mix it on high. You want it to be thoroughly mixed and of a fairly even, but chunky, consistency.

Toothpicks aren't needed for this recipe but they are very helpful. I use a half slice of bacon for every popper. I usually start on the top near the center and then wrap the bacon around the pepper. I then pull it tight enough to make two loops, and end where I started by making a little "X" on the back side. Then I poke one toothpick through, and the bacon will hold in place much better.

INGREDIENTS

- Jalapenos: This is where most of your heat is coming from, but these really aren't that hot once you take out the seeds. Jalapenos make the perfect boat for your filling, and another thing I love about them is how cheap they are. I think this time I made them they were less than $2 for all of them. Talk about a steal of a deal to flavor town.

- Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese: Poppers aren't a particularly large food and at a party you might only have one or two. So you really want to use strong flavors to make them a dish that will standout. They are meant to pop. That's why I strongly recommend extra sharp cheddar cheese. It just packs in a bit of a bolder flavor. Also I recommend grating your cheese fresh as a rule of thumb. You'll save money and get improved flavor.

- Cream cheese: This is where you get the creaminess in every bite.

- Green Onions: I love green onions and love putting them on (maybe) more dishes than they belong on. However, jalapeno poppers is one dish where green onions definitely belong. Use the whole onion - both the white part and the dark green - to maximize flavor.

SERVING

Jalapeno poppers are a finger food. They can be greasy and cheesy, but they are a finger food all the same. I think they taste better the fresher they are, so keeping them warm in the oven can be a big win.

I made this recipe based around quantities of one package of bacon from Costco. Because of this, it actually makes quite a few jalapeno poppers. And while it happens rarely, I have had leftovers. Thankfully these reheat like a dream. 30 seconds in the microwave, or until you hear that nice sizzle sound, and you are good to go.

PERSONAL PREFERENCES

I like to get jalapenos that aren't the same size. This might be a hot take because consistent sizes provide for a more even cook, but I think giving people a variation in how big of an appetizer they want to get can be fun.

This recipe can be cooked in the air fryer. Just throw them in at 400 for 10-12 minutes and you will have really nicely cooked jalapeno poppers. It's a great option. It saves time but we don't have a large enough air-fryer so we would be doing multiple batches.

After cooking these in both the air fryer and the oven, I have found that I have a slight preference for the oven because I make these for flavor rather than for health. When I put them in the air fryer the fat drips down below. However, when these poppers are in the oven, they sit on my sheet tray, which I line with silicon baking mats . Silicon baking mats make for easy cleanup, AND the the poppers get to soak in bacon grease while they cook! The oven option just makes the poppers that much more delicious.

This isn't to say the jalapeno poppers don't cook well in the air-fryer. They cook fast and even, and they are still phenomenal. I would love to hear what other people think, so let us know in the comments.

Ingredients:

Directions: