Easy to make and even easier to eat, these cheesy Baked Jalapeño Popper Phyllo Cups are the ultimate appetizer! Everyone is sure to adore this jazzed up, bite-sized, crowd-pleasing recipe!
I’ve got some serious rambling to do today, so I’m foregoing the typical food blogger protocol of making you endure my blabbering before rewarding you with a recipe.
Eff that noise.
Here’s the good stuff:
Baked Jalapeño Popper Phyllo Cups
This recipe is crazy easy to double, triple, or even quadruple to feed a large crowd!
Make a little… or a LOT!
Baked Jalapeño Popper Phyllo Cups
Ingredients
- 45 frozen phyllo shells (3 packages of 15)
- ½ cup greek yogurt
- 4 oz softened cream cheese
- 1 cup Pepper Jack cheese (see notes)
- 1 cup sharp cheddar
- ⅓ cup chopped pickled jalapeños
- ¼ tsp garlic powder
- red pepper flakes to taste
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Prepare a baking sheet by lining with foil and spritzing with a little olive or oil to prevent sticking. Feel free to use a silicone baking mat or parchment paper instead. All will work.
- Arrange phyllo cups on your baking sheet and set aside.
- Combine greek yogurt and softened cream cheese in a bowl.
- Add freshly grated cheeses, pickled jalapeños, and garlic powder (optional but delicious!)
- Spoon mixture into cups and bake for approx 13 minutes or until crispy and melty. Feel free to switch the oven or toaster oven to broil for a minute or so for a golden topping!
- I may or may not have eaten a few before popping them in the oven. Holy yum! They’re actually great chilled too! Yes I was so desperate as to try them every which way. I’ll eat them upside down if I have to! SO GOOD!
- Craving an extra kick? Top with some zesty red pepper flakes. You can also garnish with fresh sliced (or pickled!) jalapeno slices! Yum!
Notes
Nutrition
BONUS RECIPE!
This is totally one of those bonus recipe inception type of deals with a recipe within a recipe. You can follow the full schpiel and make the jalapeño bites as written above or simply serve the filling up as a dip with a small mountain of tortilla chips, some fresh bakery baguette, and a pile of crunchy veggies. Easy peasy!
I usually jump back and forth between the two, but my favorite dip delivery method is by far via phyllo cups! They’re so flaky and cruncy and perfect for the easy cheesy jalapeño dip!
I’ve always served this dip in a baking dish, and have been making it for parties for the past several years. If you’re anything like my friends you’re screaming “WHY IS THIS NOT ON THE BLOG!?” and quite possibly shaking a fist in the air menacingly while you do so.
I know, I’m the worst. I let my food blogger insecurities get the best of me and couldn’t get a decent photo of my dip to save my life. I’ve tried everything under the sun to make this dip look pretty and each and every time I’m left with an un-photogenic hot mess. A delicious hot mess, but un-photogenic to say the least.
Hello understatement of the century.
But you guys know how it works, sometimes the most delicious dishes are the ugliest ones. My Madras Lentils and black bean dip can surely attest to that. Terrible on the eyes; delicious in the face! I’ve always lumped my beloved jalapeño popper dip into that category and simply let it be.
Until now.
Now my dip is pretty. AND in it’s own crunchy little bite-sized bowl-o-yum. Perfection! I may or may not have scarfed over a dozen of these in a sitting. No regrets!
Can’t find premade fillo cups or shells? No problem! Make your own at home with this super simple technique from Bless This Mess and The Kitchn.
If you get a chance to try these Baked Jalapeño Popper Phyllo Cups, let me know! You can leave me a comment here (LOVE checking those daily!) or tag @PEASandCRAYONS on Instagram so I can happy dance over your creations. I can’t wait to see what you whip up!
Questions & Reviews
Want to make for a party and was wondering do the cups get soggy after cooling down/sitting out?
Hey Cindy! They get devoured pretty fast whenever I have made them for parties, but they’ll still be tasty once they reach room temp. Once cooled the filling has a pimento cheese consistency so it’s not super liquidy. Hope your guests adore them as much as my friends and family do! xoxo
I can’t wait to make this for company this coming weekend. I would love to add some bacon bits. How much would you add to this recipe?
They’re SO good with bacon – I actually made a similar app here: jalapeno popper bites using about 2-3 TBSP of crumbled cooked bacon per 30 phyllo cups. Hope they’re a hit!
Hi quick question! Could you replace wonton cups for the phyllo?? I don’t think there’s phyllo shells where I live and I’m nervous to try to make them myself as I need them for tomorrow. Thanks
Yes totally! Simply adjust bake time as needed to get them nice and crispy!
Would these get soggy if I stored them overnight in the fridge? I need to bring a finger food appetizer to a baptism party and would like to make these the night before. These little poppers in a shell sound delicious! Thanks in advance!
Hi Skye! They can get soggy overnight so what I typically do is make the filling and keep it in a covered bowl. Then a few hours before I need them (or right before baking, whatever time permits) I will fill the cups. Before you head out to the party you can bake them up and you’re good to go!
Thanks Jenn!
I love anything, any way, in phyllo shells. I will prepare these tomorrow as there is no way I’ll wait for a party to share these. I do have suggestion so all will love these and they’re not to spicy for anyone. I also use mild pickled jalapenos and they do have heat, just not enough to make your face red and you can blow fire. I would start out as the recipe suggests and at Step 5, I would add the cheeses and garlic powder, if using, and mix thoroughly. Add the jalapenos a little at a time just to get the taste, maybe using a little of the juice. Mix thoroughly again and fill the shells you want to be mild. Add a little topper, maybe a slice of black or green olive or anything that will make them different than the others or just leave them plain. (I always like to add a little something to the tops) Add the jalapenos, to taste, with the rest of the mixture and mix thoroughly. After you fill the shells you might want add a slice of jalapeno, a pickled carrot slice, you can get these at the grocery store also, or a sprinkle of red pepper. You know some like them hot. Continue with the recipe and there you have it, BAKED JALAPEÑO POPPER PHYLLO CUPS for everyone’s taste.
Very good and easy! I added goat cheese with the cream cheese and bacon bits. This is also good with tortilla chips as a dip.
I will never NOT make these for every party I go to! I used fresh jalapeño, Mexican sour cream instead of yogurt and Colby jack cheese only… I also topped them with a drop of pineapple habenero sauce (from Costco).. omg! I want to eat all of them!
OMG I need a Costco membership stat so I can try this sauce — that sounds like a such a fun addition! So glad you’re loving the recipe, Erica! Thank you!
Besides the spinach artichoke dip in phyllo shells, I will be making these jalapeno poppers for my birthday as well. I’m sure they’ll be a hit as well.
So exited for you to try these! We make them for game nights and they vanish so fast. I hope you have a wonderful birthday!
I didn’t know to buy the prebaked shells you mentioned. I just bought regular sheets of the phyllo dough that I will need to cut and put into mini muffin tins. My question is, is the baking time different?
Hey Erica! So I’d follow the steps here for making the cups: DIY PYLLO CUPS and then after they cool and are ready to be filled, follow the recipe of mine as written but maybe shave off a 2-3 min and see if they are ready early and if not, add the remaining time as needed. I’m making this tonight too actually! Happy New Year! xoxo
Thanks for responding quickly! Making them now!
You’re super welcome! Enjoy!
I want to make this but prefer to use fresh jalapeno peppers. How many fresh jalapeno peppers would you suggest?
Hi Cindy! Since fresh peppers often pack more heat, feel free to add them to taste. I’m a bit of a jalapeño addict and would probably start with 2 jalapeños and taste test from there but if you’d like it less spicy you can start with one and then keep adding until your level of spice perfection is reached. xoxo
Do you remove the seeds from the jalapeños? Do you use sharp or x-sharp cheese? Thanks!
Hi Rizzo! If I’m making it for just my husband and I to snack on, I let the seeds in on the fun. If I’m making it for friends, I’ll usually skip the seeds. Cheese can be interchanged based on what you have handy! I wrote this recipe using sharp but extra sharp can work as well. Also Cabot brand pepper jack is my favorite to use here. So melty and good! Hope this helps. xoxo
Has anyone ever made this with canned jalapeños that are NOT pickled?
Are the jalapeño peppers drained?
Great question Mar! Ok so I kind of do partial drain, and when I scoop out each tablespoon from the jar I tilt it a little against the inside rim of the jar to pour off any extra liquid, but not like a full drain until dry sort of thing. I feel like a little of the liquid adds flavor!
Could these be made in an air fryer?
Hi Gayle! I’m not sure as the cups are already crispy that all they need is a quick bake. I don’t have an air fryer to test it with but LMK if you experiment! xo
Hi! Were you Phyllo cups prebaked before you filled them? THanks!
Hi Alisha! The ones I buy are already crisped/baked and then stored in the freezer section of my grocery store. I use them straight out of the package without pre-baking them since they’re already light and crispy! The kind I buy are called “Athens Mini Fillo Shells” – Hope this helps! xoxo
That exactly what I wanted to know, thanks! They look amazing, can’t wait to try them!
Yay! Soooo excited for you to try them! xoxo
One of the best things I’ve ever put in my mouth. All the deliciousness of poppers in a creamy, gooey dip. We didn’t have phyllo cups, but it worked perfectly as a dip for corn tortilla chips. The bowl was practically empty in minutes.
Total fan girl of this recipe and will be keeping it on hand as a definite crowd-pleaser.
Ahhhh yay! So super stoked you enjoyed the popper dip!
These were such a hit at the party I threw last weekend, so easy too!
I love jalapeno poppers but hate all the work! These were so delicious and so much easier. Going to make these while watching football all fall!!
I absolutely love this recipe! It has become my app go-to for parties. I use fresh jalapeños instead of canned and add a little crispy turkey bacon. There’s never any left! Next stop…the Super Bowl. Thanks so much!!
So so SO glad you love it! And hooray for fresh jalapeños! The ones here have been especially good lately so I’ve been buying them by the cartful! <3 Hope you have a fabulous weekend Jen -- Thanks for the super sweet review! 🙂
Are these good served @ room temperature?
My friends and I love them hot or room temperature, as long as they’re out we can’t stop eating them! <3
This looks delish! Do you think I could sub the greek yogurt for a light sour cream?
Thanks Jessica! Absolutely! Not long after I published this post I switched to using Greek Yogurt in place of sour cream entirely – I’m obsessed with Fage’s plain nonfat and 2% Greek yogurts!
These look great…would you recommend freezing before baking or after?
I tried both and it worked great either way! Freezing before will be the easier of the two methods so I’ll be doing that from here on out 🙂 Hope you adore them!
have not been able to find Greek Yogurt pepper jack cheese. Can you tell me a brand so that I can follow up with mfg to see if it is stocked anywhere in my area?
Hi Linda! Absolutely! Regular Pepper Jack works absolutely fabulous in this recipe but the yogurt cheese is amazing as well. I’ve been buying the same brand for just about a year now. It’s called “The Cultured Way” and around here they have it at Publix and Harris Teeter, and I think I’ve seen it another place as well! It’s DELISH!
If using Cheese yogurt, it will be a sub for Greek yogurt or Pepper Jack cheese (which of the listed ingredients in the recipe?) or it can be used as an added ingredient? If so, how much? TIA!! Can’t tell how much I love your recipes…XOXO
So glad you’re enjoying the recipes Lolita, thank you! So I was able to get the most amazing pepperjack-esque yogurt cheese when I lived in NC. Here in FL I can’t find anything like it so I use Cabot Pepper Jack. (It’s quickly become a new favorite of mine!) If you’re able to find a shreddable pepper studded yogurt cheese you’ll use it in place of the pepper jack cheese. xoxo
Jalapeno and cheese is one of my favrite combinations, but phyllo cups are a little out of my budget. Do you suppose I could use wonton wrappers? I’ve used them for mini baked snacks before, and they make nice “cups” for things.
Thanks, Cheryl 🙂
Thanks Cheryl! I feel ya, I stock up and freeze them in my deep freezer when they’re ridiculously on sale. There’s a link to a homemade phyllo cup recipe using phyllo sheets in the post. It’s super easy and the phyllo sheets are cheaper than wonton wrappers for the amount you end up with. Won-ton cups will absolutely work too if you have them handy already! Have fun with it! <3
This dip sounds amazing! And how have I never heard of yogurt cheese? I will have to try and track some down. 🙂
I can’t recall the brand to save my life right now but I’ll write it down next time I purchase a block! It’s over in the fancy cheese section of the supermarket but doesn’t cost an arm and a leg! I’m obsessed! It’s basically really yummy cheese with probiotic cultures <3
I’m laughing – that whole constant blog problem. Food that Looks Good and food that Tastes Good are not always the same! And so many readers are convinced otherwise…
Your cute little cups are a great workaround.
Thanks Anne! I have to get creative to get the bowls-o-slop to look as delicious as they taste! My phyllo shell addiction proved a bit useful 😉
I think this summer be should have operation eat all the cheese run in tandem with operation eat all the veggies.
Oh my GAWD!!! I am obsessed with this recipe. YUM!
Ooooh, I’m so making these for football season this year!
OMG! How amazing do these look?!? So.much.yum.