
These vegan jalapeño poppers are a scrumptious celebration appetizer— making them excellent for recreation day. The cashew cream cheese filling is baked right into a bubbly golden hue paying homage to cream cheese, but with out the dairy. These are baked (or you’ll be able to air fry) and have able to serve in half-hour.

Why this Recipe Rawks
The key lies within the creamy cashew filling that we’re utilizing as a substitute of a standard cream cheese combination. Soaked cashews mix right into a easy, wealthy base that completely mimics the feel of cream cheese. We’ve amped up the flavour with a mix of zesty lime juice, savory dietary yeast (for that tacky tang), and a medley of spices together with chili powder, smoked paprika, and a contact of cayenne for some further warmth.
I additionally love the spiciness that comes from these little peppers (take extra seeds outta the jalapeño to make it milder). But the cashew cream filling helps neutralize the warmth, making it onerous to cease at one pepper. I may eat the entire tray myself!
These jalapeno poppers are additionally baked, not fried, making them a barely more healthy choice (shhh, don’t inform anybody!).

Vegan Jalapeño Poppers Components
My recipe would possibly appear like it has quite a lot of ingredient, but most of them are spices that you just most likely have already got in your spice drawer. Right here’s what I’m stuffing into this dish:
- Jalapeño peppers: I search for bigger ones which have nice stems, since you’ll use that for holding your completed “boat.”
- Uncooked cashews + water: That is going to show right into a cashew cream that can function the cream cheese alternative on this recipe. It’s straightforward to make and season right into a candy or savory end.
- Dietary yeast: This tremendous fascinating seasoning has a tacky taste that vegans worldwide use to create dairy-free model of their favourite dishes. It has an identical style as cheddar cheese and a pair of teaspoons of dietary yeast comprise 3g of protein!
- Tamari: That is my fav gluten-free soy sauce. You should utilize coconut aminos if you need a soy-free choice, but I discover the flavour of tamari a lot better.
- Spices: chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, cumin, cayenne pepper, sea salt
- Breadcrumbs: My go-to topping for these poppers is panko breadcrumbs with dietary yeast and avocado oil. Should you’re searching for a tacky taste and a little bit of a crumble end, then you definately discovered it. That is the right taste for the sort of factor you’d anticipate in jalapeño poppers.
Vegan Cream Cheese Alternate options
We’re utilizing a selfmade cashew cream to imitate the cream cheese in most jalapeno popper recipes. You may also buy a vegan cream cheese (like Miyoko’s) and blend within the spices and herbs by hand.

The way to Make Vegan Jalapeño Poppers
Aside from making certain you prep the cashews forward, this recipe doesn’t take lengthy to make. Put on gloves for dealing with the jalapeños fastidiously then dive proper in! Try to be carried out in about half-hour, whole.

Soak the cashews in room temp water for 4 hours (or quarter-hour in boiling water).

Wash the jalapeños and pat dry. Finely mince one pepper and put aside. Halve the opposite peppers and set on a parchment lined baking sheet, face up.
Tip for Reducing Jalapeños
Put on a pair of gloves when slicing the peppers to attenuate the prospect of a sizzling pepper burn. Additionally, watch out to maintain your fingers method out of your eyes till you’re carried out baking these and wash your fingers effectively.

Drain cashews and place in a small meals processor or mixing bowl. Puree to create a creamy texture. Add lime juice, dietary yeast, tamari and seasonings. Pulse once more to combine. Stir in inexperienced onions and reserved minced jalapeño.

Spoon the cashew combination into every jalapeño. You need fill them evenly with out overflowing.
Cashew Combination Useful Tip
If the cashew combination is simply too thick to mix then add a little bit water. But just a bit since you need it to be tremendous thick and creamy (not runny). Cease and scrape down the perimeters as wanted.

Add the breadcrumb combination to the highest of every pepper and gently press down in order that they adhere to the filling.

Bake for quarter-hour or till the tops are golden. Take away from the oven and permit to chill barely earlier than serving. You need them to be properly heat, simply not too sizzling to deal with.

Vegan Jalapeño Popper Dip Concepts
I’d simply love the dips as a lot because the meals… if no more. Right here’s just a few vegan dips that’ll go nice with these jalapeño poppers and amplify the flavors much more:
You actually can’t go improper with an excellent dipping sauce, so get artistic! But let this be your warning—an excellent sauce makes it that a lot simpler to take pleasure in this snack so don’t be stunned if you find yourself consuming the entire plate.
The way to Retailer Jalapeño Poppers
Whereas these tasty bites ought to be loved instantly, they are often saved within the fridge as much as 5 days and reheated. I don’t advocate reheating them within the microwave as they’ll simply get soggy. As an alternative, reheat them about 10 minutes within the oven or in a toaster oven to allow them to heat up and get crispy once more with out overcooking them.
Widespread FAQs
I like to recommend utilizing gloves when slicing spicy peppers. The seeds could cause contact dermatitis, or can actually harm your eyes if you happen to by chance contact your face whereas dealing with them. To chop, use a pointy, small chef’s knife and slice the peppers in half lengthwise. Then scoop the seeds out and discard, together with the white membranes.
Jalapeño poppers are spicy, even with seeds eliminated. If you’re tremendous delicate to spice then be at liberty to strive one other appetizer. But if you happen to love a kick loaded with tacky, heat flavors then these are for you!
When you can technically reheat jalapeño poppers within the microwave, they won’t crisp again up. I like to recommend reheating them within the oven or toast oven for about 10 minutes. This may heat them up with out cooking them.

Extra Vegan Occasion Appetizers
Should you want some vegan appetizers for recreation day or any sort of celebration, then I’ve acquired you coated. Whereas these are technically “vegan” that doesn’t imply they’re much less flavorful or edible. You could be stunned at how a lot everybody enjoys these appetizers:
- Cauliflower Buffalo Wings: I’m so addicted to those! They’re spicy and filled with fiber— and the Cashew Ranch Dipping Sauce is sooooo good!
- Crispy Avocado Fries: I really like these creamy and crunchy fries. They’re nice alone and utilized in tacos.
- Tofu Nuggets: I made these to beat my Stylish-Fil-A love hate relationship— and I’ve succeeded!
- Sweet Potato Nachos: The flavour of a candy potato chip takes nachos to the following degree. Simply make sure that to bake them so they’re good a crispy!
- Vegan Charcuterie Board: That is the straightforward option to entertain but appear like you spent all day on it.
Should you make my Vegan Jalapeño Poppers recipe, I’d love to listen to the way it turned out within the remark part under. Your suggestions helps me and all of the readers on this neighborhood. And if you happen to’re occupied with extra plant-based recipes (and unique content material), join my weekly recipe newsletter.
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Preheat oven to 350° F.
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Wash jalapeños and pat dry. Finely mince 1 jalapeño and put aside. Halve the opposite jalapeños and set on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
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Drain cashews and place in a small meals processor. Pulse till finely chopped. Add lime juice, dietary yeast, tamari and seasonings. Pulse once more. If combination is simply too thick to mix, add a little bit water till cashew combination is thick and creamy (however not runny). Scrape down sides as wanted.
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Stir in inexperienced onions and reserved minced jalapeño.
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Fill every jalapeño half with the cashew combination.
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Put together the topping by mixing dietary yeast, breadcrumbs and oil in a small bowl. Add the breadcrumbs on high of the poppers and gently press down in order that they adhere to the filling.
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Bake for quarter-hour, or till golden. Take away from oven and permit to barely cool earlier than serving.
- Air-Fryer choice: Prepare dinner in batches as needed at 380° F for 8-12 min.
- Should you don’t have time to soak the cashews, merely allow them to soak in boiling water for quarter-hour. Drain and proceed with Step 3.
- You may also use a store-bought vegan cream cheese (I really like the Miyoko’s model) or different vegan cream cheese instead of the cashew cream to make the prep a little bit sooner.
- Retailer leftovers in an air-tight container within the fridge as much as 5 days. Reheat within the oven or toaster oven as a microwave will simply make them soggy.
Energy: 424kcal, Carbohydrates: 37g, Protein: 17g, Fats: 26g, Saturated Fats: 4g, Polyunsaturated Fats: 5g, Monounsaturated Fats: 14g, Sodium: 619mg, Potassium: 758mg, Fiber: 8g, Sugar: 6g, Vitamin A: 1679IU, Vitamin C: 44mg, Calcium: 84mg, Iron: 6mg