Light Jalapeño Popper Dip

Wow friends and family with the ultimate appetizer: Light Jalapeño Popper Dip. It’s a satisfying and savory dish and can be served with your choice of crackers, chips, or veggies!

The most delicious jalapeño cheese dip

From gatherings with friends and sports viewing Sundays to dinner parties and plain old snacking, there is always a reason to break out the appetizers. And when you want something with a bit of heat that tastes savory and oh so satisfying, this light jalapeño popper dip is the way to go.

This app is just what it sounds like: like the flavors and layers of jalapeño poppers were turned into a dip! We’re achieving this by using ingredients like cream cheese, cracker crumbs, and of course, jalapeños, all of which are staples in the classic appetizer.

Let’s get into it!

Ingredients in light jalapeño popper dip

Jalapeño popper dip is made in two parts. We’ll start with the base consisting of cream cheese, yogurt, loads of cheese, and more, and then we’ll top it off with a cracker and bacon mix!

Dip

• Cream cheese: First thing’s first: cream cheese! You’ll need 1 block of your favorite brand. Be sure it’s a light version, and let it soften before beginning your recipe
• Greek yogurt: Next, you will need 1 cup of plain Greek yogurt. This is a swap for sour cream and it makes a delicious result!
• Jalapeños: For the jalapeños, use 1 whole jar. Dice them up into tiny pieces.
• Cheese: Finally, the cheese! Start with 1 cup of your favorite shredded cheddar.
• Parmesan: Supplement the cheddar with 1/4 cup of parmesan for extra flavor and texture.
• Seasonings: To add flavor to the dish, include 1/2 tsp each of garlic powder, onion powder, and salt.

Topping

• Crackers: For the top layer of the dip, begin with 1 4oz box of crackers or some panko breadcrumbs. Consider almond flour for a gluten free option! I used Simple Mills Almond Flour, and it was great.
• Butter: 2 tbsp of melted butter will help the top layer reach the perfect consistency.
• Parmesan: Throw in another 1/4 cup of parmesan cheese for flavor.
• Turkey bacon: Add a delicious layer to the dip with 4 slices of cooked and diced turkey bacon.
• Jalapeños: Finally, complete the dip with some jarred jalapeño slices!

Tools used to create this recipe

You’ll need a handful of kitchen items to bring this recipe to life. Before getting started, grab your cutting board, chopping knife, a large mixing bowl, a stirring utensil, cake, pan, spatula (to spread out the dip layers), and a food processor or blender.

For measuring, you will need 1/2 tsp, 1 tbsp, 1/4 cup, and 1 cup.

How to make this jalapeño popper dip recipe

Jalapeño dip is very simple to create. We’ll start by preparing the cream cheese base, and then we’ll get into the top layer before baking everything for half an hour!

Begin by preheating the oven to 400°F.

In a large bowl, combine the softened cream cheese and the Greek yogurt.

Next, add the diced jalapeños, cheddar cheese, parmesan cheese, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt.

Spread the dip into the bottom of an 8×8 baking dish or an 8-inch cake pan.

Using a food processor, blend the crackers, melted butter, and parmesan cheese until it all becomes fine crumbs.

Cook and chop the turkey bacon.

Spread the crumb mixture in an even layer on top of the dip. From there, add the crumbled bacon and some jalapeño slices.

Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the topping is golden brown.

Serve with crackers, chips, or veggies!

How this jalapeño cheese dip is lighter

To create a lighter version of this dip recipe, I made a few key ingredient swaps.

Cream cheese
The first switch was so easy and doesn’t alter the taste – light cream cheese! It’s the easiest swap to make and doesn’t change the dish at all.

Greek yogurt
Next, I used Greek yogurt in place of sour cream. This is a healthier option that creates a great consistency and tastes delish!

Turkey bacon
Finally, I went with turkey bacon over regular bacon. This is usually a go-to for me as I love the crispiness and the flavor! The swap is less fat and slightly lower in calories too.

You can further lighten this dish by serving with an array of veggies like celery, carrots, and cauliflower (versus chips and crackers).

Here are a few commonly asked questions that may help you as you create your own jalapeño popper dip recipe!

Can I use regular bacon?
Absolutely. This is a simple swap – prep everything in the same way and add the bacon when the recipe calls for turkey bacon.

What can I add?
One ingredient that adds a lot of flavor and is easy to incorporate is finely diced white onion. Simply chop it up and add it during step 3.

How should this be stored?
Store leftover jalapeño dip in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator. Enjoy within 2-3 days for the best flavor.

If you liked this recipe, you’ll want to try these!

Craving some more mouth-watering appetizers? Try these!

• Honey Pecan Bacon Baked Brie
• Chicken Spinach Artichoke Dip
• Healthier Buffalo Chicken Dip
• Healthy Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp

Recipe by Erin Morrissey and Photos by The Mindful Hapa