Cashew Free Goat Cheese Stuffed Jalapeño Poppers
These jalapeño poppers bring serious heat and serious flavor — smoky, spiced ground turkey folded together with creamy goat cheese, all nestled inside blistered, tender jalapeño halves. The filling gets its depth from cumin, smoked paprika, and a touch of turmeric, so every bite is layered and satisfying without relying on any nuts or nut-based cheeses. Goat cheese is the real star here, melting into the turkey mixture and turning golden on top in the oven — it's tangy, rich, and holds the filling together beautifully. A hot oven at 425°F does the heavy lifting, giving you lightly charred pepper edges and a filling that's set and golden in under 20 minutes. Finished with fresh cilantro and a squeeze of lime, these poppers are bright enough to cut through the richness and bold enough to anchor a whole spread. They're the kind of appetizer that disappears fast, so consider doubling the batch before guests arrive.
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Learn more →Ingredients
6 servings
For the poppers
- 12 large jalapeños (about 3–4 inches each)
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
For the filling
- ½ lb ground turkey
- 1 tsp extra virgin olive oil
- 3 scallions (green tops only), thinly sliced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- ¼ tsp ground turmeric
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 4 oz goat cheese, softened
For serving
- 2 tbsp fresh cilantro, finely chopped (optional)
- 1 lime, cut into wedges (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- 2
Arrange the halved jalapeños cut-side up on the prepared baking sheet. Brush the cut surfaces lightly with the 1 tbsp olive oil and set aside.
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