With Grilled Beef, Tomatoes, Pico de Gallo, Cotija Cheese and Salsa, Tex-Mex Beef Taco Jalapeño Poppers are like a classic fresh Tex-Mex Taco — with a Roasted Jalapeño Taco Shell.
Tex-Mex Beef Taco Jalapeño Poppers
A half dozen small taco shops and food trucks have opened in my hometown, the ‘Ville, in the past year or so. Every single one of these new shops specializes in small, Southern California/Yucatan street-style tacos – and I have fallen hopelessly, head-over-heels in love with the things.
For too long around here and, I suspect, in most of the country “Mexican Food” has meant an over-sized plate of damp tortillas, filled with greasy meat and limp lettuce and smothered!!! in way-too-much gooey orange cheese. Not that there is anything wrong with that 😉 – but getting a taste of the “light side” of Mexican cooking is refreshing – and delicious.
While the recipe today (created a while back) is more Tex-Mex than SoCal – It is light with fresh bright flavors that could be a street taco – and that you will love.
Expect to see more Street-Style Taco Jalapeño Poppers here in the near future.
About the Recipes
One thing you will notice immediately is that most of our recipes do not have quantities listed for the ingredients. This is by design.
Jalapeños come in many different sizes and shapes (often depending upon the time of year). Their size, the cut you choose (see below) and your own personal tastes will determine how much cream cheese, bacon or other ingredients you put into each pepper. Use your tastes and be sure to experiment a bit.
You will also notice that most directions call for cooking the poppers in an oven. This is because that is the easiest and quickest way for most of us to cook and enjoy jalapeño poppers year round. But if you want to grill, smoke or cook your poppers any other way – Almost every recipe we have will work. We will let you know if it won’t.
How to Cut and Clean Jalapeños for Poppers (With Pictures)
Click the links below to how to make any style Jalapeño Popper cut.
- How and When to Do a Boat Cut Jalapeño Popper
- How and When to Do a Canoe Cut Jalapeño Popper
- How and When to Do a Cone Cut Jalapeño Popper
- How to Spread Cream Cheese in a Jalapeño for a Jalapeño Popper
Remember to wear disposable gloves when cutting and cleaning jalapeño peppers – and don’t touch your face.
RECPE
Tex-Mex Beef Taco Jalapeño Poppers Recipe
With Grilled Beef, Tomatoes, Pico de Gallo, Cotija Cheese and Salsa, Tex-Mex Beef Taco Jalapeño Poppers are like a classic fresh Tex-Mex Taco -- with a Roasted Jalapeño Taco Shell.
Ingredients (See Box Above, "IMPORTANT - About Our Recipes" for Information about Quantities)
- Jalapeño Peppers
- Salt and freshly ground Black Pepper to taste
- Cotija Cheese grated fine
- Grilled Beef cut into cubes or strips (I used a grilled London Broil)
- Fresh Tomatoes cut into thin wedges
- Pico de Gallo store bought or homemade (See below for links to some good recipes to make at home - Coming Soon)
- Salsa store bought or homemade (See below for links to some good recipes to make at home - Coming Soon), at room temperature or slightly warmed
- Limes Wedges to serve
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Cut the jalapeños into a boat cut. (Click the link above to see how to do a Canoe Cut.)
- Sprinkle insides of cut jalapeños lightly with salt and pepper, to taste.
- Place the jalapeños on a cookie sheet. Place sheet in preheated oven. Cook for about 10 minutes. (Skip this step if you prefer your finished jalapeños to be more raw and crunchy.)
- Remove from oven and allow to cool slightly so you can handle them.
- Sprinkle a small bit of the Cotija cheese into the bottom of each jalapeño.
- Add a nice bit of the grilled beef.
- Place 2 - 3 tomato wedges on each jalapeño.
- Top with a spoonful of pico de gallo.
- Place jalapeños back on cookie sheet and place back in oven.
- Cook, watching closely, just long enough to warm though, about 10 - 15 minutes.
- Remove from oven when hot and place on a serving dish or individual serving dishes.
- Quickly, while they are still hot, grate a generous layer of Cotija cheese over all poppers.
- Spoon a small amount of warm salsa over popper.
- Serve warm with a couple lime wedges.
Pre-Seasoned Jalapeño Popper Pan
Jalapeño Poppers are delicious, no doubt. And they are pretty easy to make. But cooking them in the oven or on the grill can be a challenge. As they cook, they tend to move and roll onto their sides, spilling out the cheese and other goodness you have stuffed inside.
Never again!
Now you can quickly and easily cook beautiful Jalapeño Popper Appetizers with this innovatively-designed Jalapeño Popper Pan. The eight large wells hold your Jalapeño Poppers tight and upright for perfect cooking with no spilled cheese.
Easily and perfectly cook up to eight filled Jalapeno Poppers at once in the oven or on the grill or stovetop. Even over an open camp fire.
Preseasoned and ready-to-use out of the box, this pan also has a rust-proof lacquer coating for super-easy clean up.
Recipes and instructions included.
Click HERE Now to get your own Pre-Seasoned Jalapeno Popper Pan
Recipe is original. Additional Information Courtesy of Wikipedia and is used by permission.
