Healthy Jalapeño Popper Dip

A healthier Jalapeno Popper dip recipe, made with neufchâtel cheese and turkey bacon. A perfect, guilt free, low carb/keto friendly crowd pleaser that will be a hit time and time again!

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With Super Bowl Sunday just around the corner, I felt like this was the PERFECT time to introduce you guys to one of my FAVORITE dip recipes that I have healthified. Without further ado, I bring to you - Healthy Jalapeño Popper Dip!

I have always been a huge fan of dips and sauces. I just feel like they pretty much take any food from good to amazing. One of the problems with sauces and dips however, is that the calories consumed can add up fast. For the calorie/macro conscious peeps, that's a no no.

Thankfully, I've been able to shave the calories down in this Jalapeño Popper dip recipe by switching a few things up without compromising the taste that we all love. One of the ways that I've been able to do so, is by substituting the cream cheese found in traditional recipes with Neufchâtel cheese.

Neufchâtel vs Cream Cheese

You may have seen Neufchâtel cheese sitting beside the regular cream cheese at the grocery stores. At first glance, it truly doesn't look any different than regular cream cheeses at all. However, it has ⅓rd less fat than regular cream cheese and most brands contain around 70 calories per 1oz as opposed to 100 calories for cream cheese.

Taste wise, they are very similar. So much so that honestly, if I had to do a blind taste test, I don't think I would be able to really tell the difference. The taste may just be slightly more tangy and the texture ever so slightly more grainy than regular cream cheese. But when using Neufchâtel cheese in a recipe like Jalapeño Popper Dip, the difference between the two is unremarkable.

How to Make Healthy Jalapeño Popper Dip

The process of making this Jalapeño popper dip is extremely easy. So much so, that it can actually be prepared ahead of time and then just thrown into the oven 15 minutes before you're ready to eat it (yay for convenience!)

INGREDIENTS

• Neufchâtel cheese (softened to room temperature)
• Fresh or jarred jalapeños
• Sharp cheddar cheese
• Light sour cream
• Unsweetened almond milk
• Minced garlic
• Turkey bacon

Step by Step

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a large bowl, combine cream cheese, sour cream, almond milk and minced garlic. Add in the jalapeño, leaving about ½ fresh or 2 tbs jarred for topping. Dice the turkey bacon and add to bowl, leaving one diced strip topping. Using a whisk or fork, mix thoroughly to combine. If you find that the cheese is still too difficult to mix, place bowl of ingredients into the microwave for 20 seconds and then stir to combine. Top with sharp cheddar cheese and additional jalapeño.
2. Spread the dip mix into an 8 inch oven safe dish and bake for 15 minutes or until the cheddar cheese has fully melted. Serve with snack of choice and enjoy!

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Is Jalapeño Popper Dip Spicy?

Jalepeño popper dip, just like jalepeño poppers, is not a naturally spicy recipe. This is especially true if you are using jarred jalapeños in this recipe. If you do wish for this dip to have a slightly spicy kick however, then be sure to use fresh jalapeño poppers with all of their seeds. You can even take it a step further and add in some crushed red pepper flakes (so daring!)

Can the Jalapeño Popper Dip be Reheated?

This Jalapeño popper dip can be easily reheated (although it never usually lasts long enough in my household!)

Microwave - 30 seconds -1 minute, depending on amount left and microwave power.

Oven - 375 degrees for 10 minutes

Or you could always eat it cold! We've done this a couple times and it's still just as addictive!

What to Eat with this Dip

Now, this is the fun part because the possibilities are truly endless. I have served up this jalapeño popper dip with anything from Ritz crackers, to oven baked fries (so good!). It all depends what your preferences are but here are some ideas:

Low Calorie Options:

• Reduced Fat Wheat Thins (16 for 140 calories)
• Bell pepper slices
• Veggie chips (1 snack sized bag for 130 calories)
• Good Thins
  • Sea Salt (38 pieces for 120 calories)
  • Simply Salt (18 pieces for 130 calories)
  • Three Cheese (18 pieces for 130 calories)
  • Garden Veggie (16 pieces for 130 calories)
  • Jalapeno and Lime - SO GOOD (38 pieces for 120 calories)

Also, if you have any extra calories in your budget, you could top your jalapeño popper dip with 2 tbs Panko breadcrumbs!

Low Carb/Keto Options:

• Parmesan crisps (0g net carbs)
• Bell pepper slices
• Cauliflower
• Fat Snax Almond Flour Crackers (2-3g net carbs)
• Quest Protein Chips (4g net carbs)

You could also throw some pork rinds or parmesan crisps in the food processor to give your jalapeño popper dip a delicious, crispy topping!

For other Healthy Dip Ideas, check out:

• Fat Free Cream Cheese Fruit Dip
• Lemon Beet Hummus
• Pumpkin Cookie Dough Dip

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