Jalapeno popper stuffed manicotti takes everything we love about the classic appetizer and transforms it into a show stopping dish. Imagine manicotti shells stuffed with a creamy, cheesy jalapeno popper filling, wrapped in crispy bacon, and glazed with a sweet and smoky barbecue sauce. The combination of flavors is simply delicious.
If you love the creamy, spicy, bold flavor of jalapeno poppers, then I have a recipe for you. My jalapeno popper stuffed manicotti stuffs a rich, spicy cream cheese, bacon, and cheese filling into manicotti noodles and coats them with BBQ sauce to create a meal that tastes more like an appetizer! I’ve always loved poppers, and I’ve always loved trying new ways to turn my favorite flavors into new dishes. That’s how I came up with these noodles. I’ve been making this manicotti version for a couple of years, and everyone has loved it from the beginning. This stuffed manicotti recipe is a frequent flyer on my list of party and potluck foods, and I routinely serve it for dinner as a fun change of pace.
Jalapeno Popper Stuffed Manicotti
This recipe starts with a bold, spicy filling made with cream cheese, bacon, diced jalapenos, and spices. I cook and crumble the bacon, then mix it with all the other ingredients to make a creamy filling with a big kick of popper flavor. Then, I stuff it into manicotti noodles and wrap them all up with bacon. After chilling overnight, I bake them until they’re gooey and bubbly, then slather them with BBQ sauce. It’s an easy recipe loaded with flavor, and it always has everyone begging for more!
Why You’ll Love This Jalapeno Popper Stuffed Manicotti Recipe
- Three combined tastes in one bite: the creamy, cheesy filling, the crispy, smoky bacon, and the tangy sweetness provided by the barbecue sauce.
- They are easy to make and full of flavor.
- It’s a surprising and decadent dish that’s perfect for those who enjoy a little adventure on their plate.
Jalapeno Popper Stuffed Manicotti Ingredients
- Manicotti: Manicotti noodles are large and accommodate plenty of popper filling.
- Cream Cheese: Cream cheese is the soft, creamy, cool base for the spicy flavors of the filling.
- Bacon: Crumbled bacon in the filling and strips of bacon on the outside of the noodles add tons of salty, smoky flavor.
- Shredded Cheese: Sharp cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese make the filling extra melty.
- Diced Jalapenos: Diced jalapenos add a kick of heat and classic popper flavor.
- Seasonings: A blend of bold seasonings adds even more flavor.
See the recipe card at the end of the post for a full list of ingredients and their exact amounts.
How to Make Jalapeno Popper Stuffed Manicotti
This is a quick and easy recipe that requires just a few simple steps. The hardest part is waiting a few hours for the stuffed manicotti to chill!
Step 1: Prep
Line a baking sheet with foil and place a wire rack on top of it.
Step 2: Cook the Bacon
Cook the bacon over medium heat in a frying pan until crispy. Then, set it aside on a plate lined with paper towels. Crumble when cooled.
Step 3: Cook the Jalapenos
Leave 1 tablespoon of bacon grease in the pan and cook the diced jalapenos over medium heat until tender. Remove and let cool.
Step 4: Make the Popper Filling
Beat the cream cheese in a large bowl for 2 minutes or until smooth and creamy. Then, add the seasonings, crumbled bacon, both cheeses, green onions, and jalapenos and mix.
Step 5: Fill the Noodles
Add the filling to a piping bag and stuff the noodles, squeezing the filling into them from both sides.
Step 6: Wrap and Chill
Wrap a strip of bacon lengthwise around the ends of the noodles to hold in the filling. Then, wrap bacon around the outside of the noodles. Place the stuffed noodles on the prepared baking sheet, cover, and chill overnight.
Step 7: Prep for Baking
Remove the stuffed manicotti and let it sit at room temperature while the oven preheats to 300 degrees.
Step 8: Bake
Bake the noodles on the middle rack for 60 minutes. Then, brush them with BBQ sauce, flip them, brush with sauce again, and bake for another 30 minutes or until the bacon is crispy.
Recipe Tips
- Medium heat is the sweet spot for cooking bacon. It allows the bacon to crisp up nicely without burning.
- A piping bag is the easiest way to fill your manicotti, and it prevents cracking the noodles.
- There’s no need to cook the noodles before baking them. The moisture in the filling and the bacon will help the noodles cook perfectly as they bake.
- Wash your hands thoroughly, and NEVER touch your face when working with hot peppers. It’s best to wear gloves.
Variations
- You can use your favorite brand and variety of bacon for this recipe.
- For hotter filling, leave the jalapeno seeds intact.
- Make a Tex-Mex version by using Taco blend and Mexican blend cheeses, even pepper jack cheese works perfectly.
What to Serve with Stuffed Jalapeno Popper Manicotti
The flavors in this recipe make it the perfect addition to everything from potlucks to Taco Tuesdays. Serve them at parties alongside your other favorite finger foods and dips or as a dinner with all your favorite Mexican and Tex-Mex sides.
Recipe FAQ
You can and should prep stuffed manicotti ahead of time. Stuff the noodles with filling and let them chill overnight until you’re ready to bake them. It’s actually a very important step in the process that ensures perfectly cooked stuffed manicotti.
Jalapeno popper stuffed manicotti is a spin on the classic stuffed shell that uses a cream cheese, bacon, and jalapeno filling in place of the classic Italian cheese blend. The outside is then wrapped in bacon, baked, and coated in BBQ sauce.
Most people use a piping bag. It’s the easiest way to evenly fill the manicotti without cracking the shell.
These stuffed manicotti will last for up to 4 days in the fridge when stored properly.
Yes, you can. This is a freezer-friendly dish that will last for up to a month when stored properly.
How to Store and Reheat Leftover Jalapeno Popper Manicotti
Refrigerate these stuffed manicotti in an airtight container for up to 4 days. For longer storage, freeze for up to a month in an airtight, freezer-safe container. Defrost overnight in the fridge before reheating.
To reheat the manicotti, place it in a baking dish, add a bit more BBQ sauce, cover, and bake at 300 degrees for 30 minutes or until heated through.
Try This Stuffed Manicotti Recipe Today
This delicious jalapeno popper stuffed manicotti is a tasty, easy mashup of stuffed manicotti and jalapeno poppers that everyone will love. Wrapped in bacon and stuffed with a cream cheese mixture loaded with classic popper flavors, this stuffed manicotti can be an appetizer or a dinner, and it will ALWAYS be super easy to make. Give it a try!
More Jalapeno Popper Recipes You’ll Enjoy
These Jalapeno Cream Cheese Crescent Rolls are an easy and delicious appetizer recipe loaded with a creamy cream cheese mixture with jalapenos rolled up in crescents, and baked until golden.
Jalapeno Popper Stuffed Manicotti
Ingredients
Jalapeno Popper Filling
- 16 ounce cream cheese, room temperature
- (3) 12 ounce bacon, divided
- 1 ½ cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 ½ cups Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
- 1 teaspoon Slap Ya Mama seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 3 jalapenos, stem and seeds removed, diced
- ½ cup sliced green onions
- 8 ounce box manicotti pasta
- ⅓ cup barbecue sauce
Instructions
- Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and place a wire rack on top.
- In a frying pan, cook 12 ounces of bacon over medium heat until crispy. Remove and place bacon on a plate lined with paper towels to absorb excess grease. Set aside. Once cool, crumble bacon.
- Drain all but a tablespoon of bacon grease and return the grease to the pan.
- Saute diced jalapenos in bacon grease over medium heat until tender. Remove and let cool.
- In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth and creamy, approximately 2 minutes.
- Add seasonings, crumbled bacon, both types of cheese, green onions, and jalapenos. Stir to combine.
- Using a piping bag, Fill with popper filling and squeeze filling directly into both sides of the uncooked manicotti noodles.
- Once all the noodles have been filled, take a strip of bacon and wrap it around the ends (to hold in the filling), and then take another strip or two and wrap the whole manicotti noodle.
- Place wrapped manicotti on the prepared baking sheet and place in the fridge for 4-6 hours or overnight.
- Remove from the fridge and let sit out at room temperature while the oven is preheating.
- Preheat the oven to 300 degrees.
- Place the baking sheet on the center rack and cook for 60 minutes. Remove from the oven, brush with barbecue sauce and flip them over to the other side. Brush with additional barbecue sauce and return to the oven and continue to bake until the bacon is crispy, approximately 30 minutes.
- Enjoy with your favorite dipping sauce.
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