Spicy Roasted Jalapeno Cowboy Cream Cheese Dip (Printable)
Bold, creamy dip with roasted jalapenos, sharp cheddar, and southwestern spices. Ready in 35 minutes.
# What You'll Need:
→ Vegetables
01 - 6 medium jalapenos, halved and seeded
02 - 1/2 red bell pepper, diced
03 - 1/2 cup corn kernels
04 - 1/2 cup red onion, finely diced
→ Dairy
05 - 12 oz cream cheese, softened
06 - 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
07 - 1/2 cup Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
08 - 1/4 cup sour cream
→ Pantry & Seasonings
09 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
10 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
11 - 1/2 tsp cumin
12 - 1/2 tsp salt
13 - 1/4 tsp black pepper
14 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
15 - 1 tbsp olive oil
→ Garnish
16 - Sliced jalapenos
17 - Chopped green onions
18 - Fresh cilantro
# Directions:
01 - Preheat your oven to 425°F.
02 - Place the jalapeno halves on a baking sheet, cut-side down. Drizzle with olive oil and roast for 12-15 minutes until skins are blistered. Let cool slightly, then dice.
03 - In a mixing bowl, combine roasted jalapenos, red bell pepper, corn, red onion, garlic, cream cheese, cheddar, Monterey Jack, sour cream, smoked paprika, cumin, salt, black pepper, and cilantro. Stir until well mixed.
04 - Transfer the mixture to a medium baking dish. Smooth the top with a spatula.
05 - Bake at 350°F for 15-20 minutes or until hot and bubbly, with cheese melted on top.
06 - Garnish with extra jalapeno slices, green onions, and cilantro if desired. Serve warm with tortilla chips, crackers, or vegetable sticks.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- Roasting the jalapenos first transforms them from sharp and aggressive to smoky and complex, so you get all that pepper flavor without the harsh heat
- This dip somehow tastes even better after sitting for twenty minutes, making it perfect for parties where people graze over hours
02 -
- Always wear gloves when handling raw jalapenos because I learned the hard way that pepper oil stays on your fingers for hours
- Let the roasted jalapenos cool at least 10 minutes before mixing or they will partially melt your cream cheese and create a weird texture
03 -
- Grate your own cheese from blocks because pre shredded cheese has anti clumping agents that prevent it from melting smoothly
- Line your baking sheet with foil for the roasting step because cleaning burned jalapeno juices off metal is nobody idea of fun