Jalapeño Popper Salad Recipe
With its blend of crunchy veggies, white cheddar cheese bits, Hatch chile crouton crumbles, fried onion pieces, and jalapeño popper ranch dressing, our Jalapeño Popper Chopped Salad Kit pulls off the (formerly) impossible by recreating a long-cherished fried snack in salad form — with amazing results, if we might admit. That said, this recipe was clearly inevitable because the obvious upgrade of such a tasty and innovative salad is to top it with the real thing. So, that’s what we did. And while the extra effort of making jalapeño poppers from scratch is a little more complicated than preparing the ready-to-eat salad kit itself, we know you’ll find the time to be well worth it!
- Active Time:
- 30 minutes
- Total TIME:
- 45 minutes
- SERVINGS:
- 4
Ingredients
For the Salad:
- 1 Taylor Farms Jalapeño Popper Chopped Salad Kit
- Optional: Sliced green onions or chopped cilantro, for garnish
For the Jalapeño Poppers (makes ~10):
- 10 fresh jalapeños, halved lengthwise and seeds removed
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 2 tbsp finely chopped green onions
- ¼ tsp garlic powder
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- ½ cup panko breadcrumbs (use gluten-free if needed)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Make the filling: In a medium bowl, mix together the softened cream cheese, shredded cheddar, green onions, garlic powder, salt, and pepper until smooth.
- Stuff the peppers: Spoon the cheese mixture into each jalapeño half, filling generously but not overflowing.
- Add crunchy topping: In a small bowl, toss the panko with olive oil until lightly coated. Press a little onto the top of each filled jalapeño to create a crunchy topping.
- Bake: Place the poppers on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 18–22 minutes, or until the jalapeños are tender and the tops are golden and crisp. Let cool for 5 minutes.
- Prepare the salad: While the poppers cool slightly, toss the salad mix, cheddar, croutons, and dressing from the kit in a large bowl until evenly coated.
- Assemble: Plate the salad and top each serving with 2–3 warm jalapeño poppers. Garnish with sliced green onions or cilantro, if desired.
- Serve immediately and enjoy that hot-cold, creamy-crunchy contrast!
When Did Jalapeño Poppers Pop Off?
Ever wonder how those fabulous jalapeño poppers came to be? Think of them as the mischievous little cousins of a beloved Tex-Mex classic: chiles rellenos. Although it seems like they’ve been around forever, their origin story is not all that far off. Sometime in the late ’70s to early ‘80s, inventive cooks in the Southwest decided that big poblanos were apparently too much commitment for party snacking, so they downsized to jalapeños, packed them with cream cheese, rolled them in breadcrumbs, and fried them in hot oil. Boom — a new classic appetizer was born and later began to show up at fairs, football tailgates, and backyard barbecues.
By the 1990s, several casual restaurant chains were adding them to the menu, and new variations began to emerge, such as bacon-wrapped, sausage-stuffed, air-fried, and even smoked. Yet the true formula stays deliciously simple: spicy jalapeños, melty, cheesy filling, and a crispy shell. It’s hard to improve upon perfection, but we think this recipe is a rare exception.
More Recipes
Pizzeria Crunch Flatbread
Enjoy this quick and easy Pizzeria Crunch Flatbread Recipe featuring the Taylor Farms Pizzeria Crunch Chopped Salad Kit that’s perfect for weeknights.
See Recipe
Pizzeria Crunch Flatbreads
Crispy, cheesy flatbreads meet cool, zesty crunch in this quick, craveable recipe. Topped with Taylor Farms Pizzeria Crunch Chopped Kit, it’s a perfect bite of hot, savory, and fresh in every mouthful.
See Recipe
Thai Mango Shrimp Salad
A fresh, tropical salad made with Taylor Farms’ Thai Chili Mango Chopped Salad Kit, grilled shrimp, sweet mango, crunchy peanuts, and fresh basil. Sweet, spicy, and satisfying, it’s the perfect light meal for warm days, quick dinners, or easy entertaining.
See Recipe
Mexican Street Corn “Huevos + Greens”
A bold, 15-minute brunch salad made with Taylor Farms’ Mexican Style Street Corn Chopped Salad Kit, crispy fried eggs, avocado, pickled onions, and hot sauce for a fresh, zesty twist on breakfast-for-dinner.
See Recipe
Santorini Sunset Salad
Taylor Farms Mediterranean Crunch Chopped Salad Kit tossed with feta, Kalamata olives, sun-dried tomatoes, and grilled chicken for a fresh, flavor-packed meal in minutes.
See Recipe
Southwest Crunch Tostadas
Craving bold, fresh flavors and irresistible crunch? These Southwest Crunch Tostadas start with crisp shells layered with the Taylor Farms Southwest Chopped Kit, sweet mango, jicama, crispy lentils, Cotija, and chili crisp — a vibrant, flavor-packed bite perfect for any occasion.
See Recipe
