Shrimp & Cheese Stuffed Jalapeños: 7 Easy Steps to Perfection

Why Make This Recipe

Get ready for your new favorite appetizer: Shrimp & Cheese Stuffed Jalapeños! These are a delicious mix of spicy, savory, and creamy flavors that everyone will love. They are perfect for parties, game nights, or just a special snack. Don’t worry, they look fancy but they are easy to make. You can also change the spice level and cheese to your liking. They are bright and colorful, looking as good as they taste.

How to Make Shrimp & Cheese Stuffed Jalapeños

Making Shrimp & Cheese Stuffed Jalapeños involves a few easy steps. First, you prepare the jalapeños and shrimp. Then, you mix the creamy cheese filling. After that, you stuff the peppers and bake them until they are golden and bubbly. Add a little garnish, and you have a perfect dish.

Ingredients of : Shrimp & Cheese Stuffed Jalapeños

• Fresh Jalapeños: 12-15 medium-sized, firm jalapeños. Choose brighter green ones for less heat, and darker green for more heat.
• Shrimp: 1 pound medium raw shrimp (41/50 count), peeled, deveined, and finely diced. Fresh or thawed frozen works well.
• Cream Cheese: 8 ounces, softened.
• Shredded Cheese Blend: 1 cup, such as cheddar, Monterey Jack, or a mix of both. Pepper Jack adds a little extra kick.
• Garlic: 2 cloves, freshly minced.
• Onion Powder: 1/2 teaspoon.
• Smoked Paprika: 1/2 teaspoon.
• Salt: 1/4 teaspoon, or to taste.
• Black Pepper: 1/8 teaspoon, or to taste.
• Optional Garnish: Fresh cilantro or chives, finely chopped.

Directions of : Shrimp & Cheese Stuffed Jalapeños

1. Prepare Jalapeños: Put on kitchen gloves. Carefully cut each jalapeño in half lengthwise. Use a small spoon to scrape out all the seeds and white membranes. This removes most of the heat.
2. Prepare Shrimp: If using raw shrimp, pat them dry with a paper towel. Dice the shrimp into small pieces.
3. Sauté Shrimp: Heat a small skillet over medium heat. Add the diced shrimp and cook for 2-3 minutes, just until they turn pink. Do not overcook. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
4. Make Filling: In a medium bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, shredded cheese blend, minced garlic, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Mix everything well until smooth and fully combined.
5. Add Shrimp: Gently fold the cooked, diced shrimp into the cheese mixture.
6. Stuff Jalapeños: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Spoon a generous amount of the shrimp and cheese mixture into each jalapeño half.
7. Bake: Arrange the stuffed jalapeños on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the jalapeños are tender and the cheese filling is golden and bubbly.
8. Garnish and Serve: Once out of the oven, garnish with fresh cilantro or chives, if desired. Serve warm.

How to Serve Shrimp & Cheese Stuffed Jalapeños

Serve these delicious jalapeños warm. You can offer dipping sauces like cool ranch, sour cream, or a zesty cilantro-lime crema. They are great with crisp white water or other refreshing drinks. They make a perfect appetizer for any gathering or a fun addition to a full appetizer spread.

How to Store Shrimp & Cheese Stuffed Jalapeños

It is best to enjoy these freshly baked. If you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days. Reheat them gently in the oven or an air fryer to keep them from getting soggy.

Tips to Make Shrimp & Cheese Stuffed Jalapeños

• Control Spice: To make them less spicy, make sure you remove all the seeds and white membranes from the jalapeños. For more heat, leave a few seeds or add a pinch of cayenne pepper to the filling.
• Don’t Overcook Shrimp: Cook shrimp just until pink and firm. Overcooked shrimp are tough.
• Prevent Soggy Bottoms: Use parchment paper on your baking sheet. This helps prevent the jalapeños from sticking and getting soggy.
• Make Ahead: You can prepare and stuff the jalapeños up to 24 hours in advance. Cover them and keep them in the refrigerator, then bake just before you want to serve them.

Variation

You can change this recipe to suit your taste. For example, add crunchy turkey bits into the filling for extra flavor and texture. For a different taste, try adding a little Spanish chorizo (turkey or mushroom based) to the shrimp mix. If you do not eat shrimp, use artichoke hearts or diced mushrooms for a vegetarian option. Experiment with different cheese blends like smoked gouda or a sharp cheddar. You can even grill these instead of baking for a smoky flavor.

FAQs

Q1: Can I make Shrimp & Cheese Stuffed Jalapeños ahead of time?

A1: Yes, you can. You can put together the jalapeños up to a day before you want to cook them. Keep them covered in the refrigerator and bake them right before you serve for the best taste.

Q2: How spicy are these Shrimp & Cheese Stuffed Jalapeños?

A2: The spice level depends on how you prepare the jalapeños. Most of the heat is in the seeds and white part inside. If you want them less spicy, clean out all seeds and white parts completely. For more spice, leave some seeds in, or add a little bit of extra spice to the filling.

Q3: What kind of shrimp is best for Shrimp & Cheese Stuffed Jalapeños?

A3: Medium-sized shrimp (about 41-50 pieces per pound) work best. You can use either cooked or raw shrimp. If you use raw, make sure to cook them quickly until they turn pink before mixing them into the filling. Fresh shrimp are great, but good quality frozen shrimp, once thawed and patted dry, are also excellent.

Classic Shrimp & Cheese Stuffed Jalapeños

These Classic Shrimp & Cheese Stuffed Jalapeños are a delightful appetizer, featuring spicy jalapeños filled with a creamy, cheesy, and savory shrimp mixture, then baked until golden and bubbly.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 25 minutes mins

Total Time 45 minutes mins

Servings 4 people

Equipment

• kitchen gloves
• small spoon
• paper towel
• small skillet
• medium bowl
• baking sheet
• parchment paper

Ingredients

  

Main Ingredients

• 12-15 medium-sized Fresh Jalapeños
• 1 pound Shrimp medium raw shrimp (41/50 count), peeled, deveined, and finely diced
• 8 ounces Cream Cheese softened
• 1 cup Shredded Cheese Blend such as cheddar, Monterey Jack, or a mix of both
• 2 cloves Garlic freshly minced
• 1/2 teaspoon Onion Powder
• 1/2 teaspoon Smoked Paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon Salt
• 1/8 teaspoon Black Pepper
• Fresh cilantro or chives finely chopped

Instructions

 

Jalapeño Prep

• Wear gloves, then slice each jalapeño in half lengthwise and scrape out seeds and membranes to reduce heat.

Shrimp Preparation & Cooking

• Pat raw shrimp dry and dice into small pieces.
• Sauté diced shrimp in a small skillet over medium heat for 2-3 minutes until pink, then cool slightly.

Filling & Baking

• Combine cream cheese, shredded cheese, minced garlic, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper in a bowl; mix until smooth.
• Fold the cooked diced shrimp into the cheese mixture.
• Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C), line a baking sheet with parchment paper, and spoon the shrimp and cheese mixture into each jalapeño half.
• Arrange stuffed jalapeños on the baking sheet and bake for 20-25 minutes until tender and golden.

Serving

• Garnish with fresh cilantro or chives and serve warm.

Notes

For milder jalapeños, choose brighter green ones. For extra kick, use Pepper Jack cheese in your blend. Ensure shrimp are not overcooked to keep them tender and juicy.