We love to bring snacks to parties but wanted to find something different to make this year at Christmas time.
I wanted to buy frozen jalapeno poppers to make life easy and yikes that price! So I needed a fast Jalapeno popper wontons recipe that would do the trick.
Jalapeño poppers are always a hit with my family, and that got me thinking—why not combine them with an easy twist using crescent rolls as wonton wrappers?
This recipe is the perfect solution for a quick, crowd-pleasing appetizer that won’t break the bank or take hours to make.
Key Takeaways
- Cook Time: 10-15 minutes
- Main Ingredients: Pillsbury Crescent Rolls, Cream Cheese, Cheddar Cheese, Diced Jalapeño Peppers
- Servings: 8
- Extras: Sweet berry dipping sauce, ranch, or sweet chili sauce
- Tips: Never cut jalapenos without gloves; flour helps to unroll and roll out the crescent dough; get pre-shredded cheddar cheese, but fresh shredded cheese melts better!
Jalapeno Popper Wontons Recipe: Easy WonTon Party Appetizer
Sometimes, holiday recipes can be overly complicated, but when you’re a busy mom juggling everything, simple recipes that deliver on taste are the way to go.
The price of fun little frozen appetizers can be SO expensive, so making something simple to bring saves time and makes food with love, of course.
Prepping the jalapeno wontons only took me about 20 minutes, which I was super happy with! Apps and meals in 30 minutes is a good goal.
The ingredients are simple – here are the four you will need for this Jalapeno Popper Recipe:
- Pillsbury Cresent Rolls
- Sliced Jalapeño Peppers
- Cheddar Cheese (I grabbed sharp cheddar cheese- it’s a classic!)
- Cream Cheese (softened)
I went to my local Price Chopper store to get the ingredients. You can find the Pillsbury Crescent Rolls in the Refrigerated Section of the grocery store.
The Jalapeno Peppers are located right near the pickles in the aisle that has the condiments. Hopefully, this will help you find the ingredients easily!
Now let me walk you through this step by step:
The first step is technically preheating the oven to 350 degrees, but that takes seconds, so I get right into prepping the jalapeños.
First things first- I wear gloves because those little guys can be deceivingly hot!
The juice can stick to your hands and make things harder later- even just rubbing your eyes can become a bad trip to the doctor.
After dabbing them dry to remove any excess liquid, I dice them into small pieces. You can remove the seeds for less spice, but in our house, we love the kick so I only remove some of them.
Next, you’ll grab the softened cream cheese and shredded cheese to bring the filling all together.
Mixing the jalapeños into these gives us the perfect cream cheese filling—creamy, and cheesy, with just the right amount of heat.
Next, take the Pillsbury Crescent Rolls out of their package, and try to keep them intact if possible- I know it can be hard, that’s why I use flour to unroll it to avoid the sticky breakage where I can.
Rolling them out on a floured surface, I gently press the seams together to make one big sheet of dough, then cut it into squares.
Then cut them into 32 equal squares.
Lastly, it’s time to plop a little bit of filling onto each square and seal them up. Filling them all at once helps me from overstuffing some and running out of filling!
Pinching the edges can help prevent the filling from leaking out while they’re baking.
A little trick I learned is to wet my fingertips before sealing, which keeps the dough from sticking to my hands and helps the edges stay sealed during baking.
Once all 32 squares are now little nuggets, they’re ready to pop into the oven. At 350 degrees, they’ll take 10-15 minutes, and then they’re ready to cool and consume!
BONUS: Sweet Dipping Sauce
Now not everyone eats jalapeno peppers with sauce, but this wonton version needed a little something for dipping to make it all come together!
While the wontons bake in the oven, I whipped up a quick berry dipping sauce to get a bit of sweet and spicy action.
A lot of recipes for sauces require simmering ingredients, but as a busy mom, I don’t have time for that.
I have a simple hack for you – place 1 cup of frozen strawberries in the microwave for 2 minutes.
Then add 1 Tbsp of sugar and blend with an immersion blender until smooth. Press through a wire strainer and there ya go – the same sauce with less work!
Ingredients
- 1 package Pillsbury Crescent Rolls
- 1/2 brick of cream cheese
- 3 oz of cheddar cheese
- 1/3 cup of diced Lindsay Jalapeño Peppers liquid removed
- 1 cup of frozen or fresh strawberries
- 1 Tbsp sugar
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Wearing gloves, dice up the jalapeno slices into small pieces to get them tiny for the filling.
- Combine cream cheese, cheddar cheese, and the diced Jalapeño Peppers in a bowl.
- Unroll Pillsbury Cresent Rolls onto a floured surface.
- Press the seams together until it becomes one piece of dough.
- Cut the rolled-out dough into 32 equal squares.
- Fill with a small amount of cream cheese and pepper mixture.
- Fold the square in half until it makes the shape of a wonton and seal the edges.
- Bake at 350 for 10-15 minutes or until golden brown, flipping halfway through.
- Make The Sweet Sauce
- Microwave 1 cup of frozen strawberries for 2 minutes.
- Add 1 Tbsp of sugar and blend with an immersion blender or food processor until smooth.
Nutrition
Recipe Swaps and Customizations
One of the great things about this recipe is how versatile it can be.
If you’re not a fan of cheddar, you can swap it for pepper jack, pepper jack, or mozzarella for a different flavor profile.
You can also swap the crescent rolls with puff pastry for a lighter, flakier texture.
But the most interesting thing you can do is add more to your filling!
Here are some ideas for meat and more to add to the filling for layers of flavor:
- Creamy Ranch Mix: Add a packet of dry ranch seasoning to the cream cheese mixture for a zesty twist. It’s a new taste, though I prefer a bit of garlic powder to compliment the jalapeno.
- Chorizo: For a spicy, flavorful addition, mix in crumbled, cooked chorizo. It pairs perfectly with the jalapeños and gives the appetizer a smoky kick.
- Green Onion: Add finely chopped green onions to the cheese mixture for a little extra crunch and a mild onion flavor that complements the jalapeños.
- Smoked Gouda: Swap out the cheddar for smoked gouda to add a rich, smoky flavor that elevates the entire dish.
- Pineapple: For a sweet and spicy combination, add finely chopped pineapple to the filling. The sweetness balances the heat from the jalapeños and adds a tropical flair.
- Chicken: Shredded, cooked chicken can be mixed into the filling to create a more substantial, protein-packed appetizer. This turns these baked poppers into mini chicken jalapeño bites.
- Cilantro: For a fresh, herbaceous note, stir in chopped cilantro to the filling. It adds brightness and balances the richness of the cheese.
- Crumbled Feta Cheese: If you want a tangier option, swap part of the cream cheese with crumbled feta. Its sharp, salty flavor complements the heat of the jalapeños nicely.
- Bread Crumbs: Missing that bit of crunch you get from the original jalapeno popper recipe? Roll these wontons in bread crumbs so they’ll crisp up in the oven!
With these swaps and add-ins, you can create endless variations of this Jalapeño Popper Recipe to suit your family’s taste or impress guests at your next party. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different ingredients to make the dish your own!
FAQs
Can I use fresh jalapeños instead of jarred?
Yes! If you prefer fresh jalapeños, they can be used instead of jarred- just be sure to deseed them if you want less spice.
The jarred version is slightly milder and comes pre-sliced, which makes the process quicker, but fresh stuff is often less expensive.
It might take you a few extra minutes to cut the jalapenos, but nothing crazy.
Can I make jalapeno popper wontons ahead of time?
Absolutely. You can prepare them the night before, store them in the fridge, and bake them right before serving. If you bake them ahead of time, just reheat them in the oven to keep the pastry crisp.
What can I use instead of crescent rolls?
Puff pastry or even legit wonton wrappers work well as alternatives to crescent rolls.
Puff pastry will give a lighter, flakier texture, while wonton wrappers provide a crispier bite.
I wanted something a bit breadier, which worked to soften the spice, but I’d be happy with any version of the wonton wrapper!
What dipping sauces go well with these?
A berry sauce like the one in this recipe is delicious, but ranch or even a sweet chili sauce would also pair well with the flavors.
Can I freeze these?
Yes! You can freeze the assembled, unbaked poppers and bake them straight from the freezer.
Just add a few extra minutes to the baking time if you’re not thawing them.
To prep them for the freezer, I’d freeze them on a tray to keep them from sticking together while fresh, and then dump them into a freezer bag or container that’s well sealed.
I usually try to prep and cook them within 2-3 months, just as an FYI.
Final Thoughts
Mark says they are AMAZING and he knows his Jalapeño Poppers! They’re quick, inexpensive, and sure to impress.
Kelan and the kids rave about how good these are every time I make them.
They’re fun to eat, and I love how easy they are to throw together, especially when the store-bought frozen appetizers are so pricey.
I’m definitely bringing these to our next holiday party—who wouldn’t love jalapeño poppers wrapped in flaky crescent dough?
Give them a try, have fun making them, and watch as they disappear off the plate!
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