Jalapeno Popper Breadsticks

Dripping with melted cheese, Jalapeno Popper Breadsticks are prepared with pickled jalapenos, crumbled bacon, and cream cheese! Make this appetizer in less than 30 minutes and watch as everyone gobbles them up! Pair these with your favourite ranch dressing or, my personal favourite, a sweet, homemade dipping sauce to balance the spiciness of the jalapenos!

I blame Little Ceasar’s Pizza for the breadstick craze – even though I have only ever eaten pizza from Little Ceasar’s once or twice! It’s that commercial I remember so well! It seemed like every pizza order was accompanied by breadsticks – not just plain, seasoned breadsticks; they were loaded with melted cheese. They’re delicious, but I wanted more! So, I’m adding bacon and jalapenos to make these Jalapeno Popper Breadsticks extra special and even more delicious!

Who doesn’t love breadsticks; really!?  Whether you decided to serve them alongside a green salad, or with a piping hot pizza, as a game night appetizer, or just by themselves in your pajamas with Netflix as your only company – the choice is yours.  And, no matter how you slice it, they are the ultimate in comfort food.

To make breadsticks, you could certainly make a pizza dough from scratch.  Or, you could be lazy like I am most of the time and take shortcuts. For my Jalapeno Popper Breadsticks, I used store-bought pizza dough.  All I had to do was stretch it out to fit the pan and pile on the toppins before baking. If you prefer to make your own dough, I’ve got you covered!

HOW TO MAKE A HOMEMADE PIZZA CRUST

My pizza dough recipe is going to be your new favourite pizza dough – trust me!  The dough takes about 15 minutes from start to finish.  And, you can optionally load the crust with seasonings like oregano, basil, and even dried red chili flakes for some heat!

To make homemade dough, fill a glass or metal mixing bowl with hot tap water. This will temper the bowl which is important to yeast activation and growth. Measure out 3/4 cup of water that’s 110 degrees F. Pour the water out of the bowl. Place one teaspoon of sugar into the bottom of the bowl and pour over the 3/4 cup of water. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon of active dry yeast over the surface of the water and let sit for two minutes.

Next, whisk in 1 1/2 tablespoons of olive oil. Add 2 1/4 cups of all-purpose flour and any seasonings you would like too – again, these are optional! Use a wooden spoon to stir the flour into the water and oil until the liquid is absorbed. Use your hand to knead the dough until it forms a smooth ball. Cover with a clean tea towel and set aside to rise for 15 minutes. (Be sure to keep away from drafts or an open window.) Then, it’s ready to roll out and assemble your pizza!

SPEAKING OF JALAPENO POPPERS…

I have a Jalapeno Popper recipe here at Lord Byron’s Kitchen. It’s quite popular and I think it’s because my popper uses three types of cheese. It’s the ultimate gooey cheesy jalapeno popper! I used to be quite weary about spicy foods like jalapenos. That might sound funny, but I used to be so afraid of anything spicy. I used to think that just by touching jalapenos I would put myself at risk. You see, I would surely be that one person who would rub his eye right after! It took me years to master the ability to eat spicy food.

You must understand, Dear Reader, I grew up in a house where the spiciest and hottest ingredient ever used was regular ground black pepper. Even that was used sparingly! Eventually, I was able to increase my heat/spice level tolerance bit by bit until I could comfortably eat a jalapeno. Now, I have jalapenos on hand quite regularly, and in the summer, I grow my own; and several other spicy peppers like cayenne, bonnets, fish peppers, big Jim’s, Bulgarian carrot peppers, and Portuguese hot peppers too.

Come to think of it, I probably add spiciness to almost everything I prepare for myself. Let’s take dried red chili flakes, for example. I use about a jar of those in one month because I load up on them all the time. Of course, I only use those when I make something for myself. If John.e is eating what I’m preparing, it’s back to the ground black pepper only! He’s good with a bit of spice, but only sparingly.

HERE IS WHAT YOU WILL NEED:

The following is a list of the ingredients needed to prepare this recipe. For exact amounts and measurements, refer to the printable recipe card located near the bottom of this post.

• Pizza Dough – I used 300 grams of store-bought pizza dough. You can also prepare your own pizza dough. I’ve written out the instructions above.
• Cream Cheese – Use brick-style cream cheese for best results. Whipped or spreadable cream cheese is not as thick.
• Seasonings – You will need dried oregano, dried basil, onion powder, and garlic powder.
• Cheese – Use aged sharp cheddar for best results.
• Bacon – The bacon must be pre-cooked and drained well.
• Jalapenos – Pickled jalapenos are easy to find in any grocer. You could use fresh sliced jalapenos here too.

HOW TO MAKE JALAPENO POPPER BREADSTICKS

In a mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese until smooth. Beat in the dried oregano, basil, onion powder, and garlic powder. Add the shredded cheddar, crumbled bacon, and jalapenos to the bowl. Beat until just combined. Don’t overbeat – just incorporate! Set aside.

Spread the dough out onto a baking sheet that has been lightly coated with non-stick cooking spray. Spread the cheese mixture onto the pizza dough.

Bake according to the pizza dough package instructions, or for 10 minutes at 400 degrees F. Remove from oven and allow to cool for 2 minutes before cutting into sticks. Garnish and serve with ranch dressing or homemade donair sauce!

MORE JALAPENO POPPER STYLE RECIPES

So, you might have come to the conclusion by now that I love jalapenos and jalapeno poppers. The flavours associated with jalapeno poppers can be infused into other recipes as well. Take for instance this Jalapeno Popper Flatbread! Or this Jalapeno Popper Creamed Corn! To be quite honest, I cannot get enough of that corn. It’s such a great side dish in the summer when corn and jalapenos are most readily available.

If, however, you are looking to make a complete jalapeno popper-inspired meal, why not try my Jalapeno Popper Mac and Cheese? It’s super creamy, very delicious, and of course, loaded with cheese, jalapenos, and bacon! Another grea meal option, this time on the lighter side, is my Jalapeno Popper Egg Salad Sandwiches. These are so amazingly good! I could eat one of these every single day and never tire of them. And, finally, if you really want to load up on carbs, why not pair my Jalapeno Popper Pizza with these Jalapeno Popper Breadsticks? Hey, if Little Ceasar’s can do it, so can I!

QUESTIONS?

If I have not answered all of your questions in the text above, don’t hesitate to reach out to me! You can contact me by sending me a message in the comments section further down the page. I will try my best to answer as soon as possible! You might reach me even faster by following me on Facebook and sending me a private message. Scroll down below the recipe card to find my Follow Me on Social Media box and never miss another recipe!