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Easy Cheesy Jalapeño Popper Football Pull-Apart Bread

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A quick and easy game-day appetizer featuring a round sourdough loaf stuffed with a creamy, spicy jalapeño popper filling of cream cheese, cheddar, bacon, and fresh jalapeños, baked until golden and bubbly. This pull-apart bread is perfect for Super Bowl parties and disappears fast.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 large round sourdough bread loaf (or Italian bread loaf, about 8–10 inches wide)
  • 8 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
  • 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
  • 4–5 fresh jalapeños, seeded and diced
  • 6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/4 cup green onions, sliced
  • Optional: 1/4 cup pickled jalapeños

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Cook the bacon in a small skillet over medium heat until crispy, about 6-8 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain, then crumble into small pieces.
  3. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, shredded cheddar, shredded mozzarella, diced fresh jalapeños, crumbled bacon, and half of the sliced green onions. Mix until well combined.
  4. Place the round sourdough loaf on the prepared baking sheet. Using a sharp serrated knife, cut the bread in a grid pattern—about 1-inch apart cuts going both directions. Cut almost all the way through the bread, but leave the bottom crust intact.
  5. Take small spoonfuls of the cream cheese mixture and push them down into the cracks between the bread pieces. Use all of the mixture, pressing it deep into every crevice.
  6. In a small bowl, mix the melted butter with the garlic powder and onion powder. Brush this mixture generously over the top of the bread, getting it into the cracks as much as possible.
  7. Bake for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, check the bread. If the top is getting too brown, tent a piece of aluminum foil loosely over the top. Continue baking for another 10-15 minutes, until the cheese is fully melted and bubbly and the bread edges are golden and crispy. Total bake time is about 25-30 minutes.
  8. Remove from the oven and let it cool for 5 minutes. Sprinkle the remaining sliced green onions on top. Serve warm, pulling apart with your hands.

Notes

Don’t cut the bread too deep—leave the bottom crust intact to prevent collapse. Let the bread rest for 5 minutes after baking to avoid burning mouths on molten cheese. The filling can be made up to 2 days ahead and refrigerated.

Nutrition

Keywords: jalapeño popper, pull-apart bread, football bread, game day appetizer, Super Bowl recipe, cheesy bread, bacon, cream cheese

Find it online: https://lyrafeast.com/easy-cheesy-jalape-n-o-popper-football-pull-apart-bread/