Description
This Jalapeño Popper Pizza combines the creamy richness of cream cheese and Monterey Jack with the spicy kick of fresh jalapeños on a crispy homemade or store-bought pizza crust. Perfect as a flavorful appetizer or a fun twist on classic pizza, it’s easy to make and sure to impress your taste buds with its gooey, cheesy goodness and a hint of heat.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Dough
- 1 ball of pizza dough (homemade or store-bought)
Toppings
- 2 fresh jalapeños, sliced and seeds removed (leave seeds if you want it extra spicy)
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 6 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 1/2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese
- 1 cup shredded or sliced mozzarella cheese (about 4 slices)
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped chives (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Dough: Preheat your oven to 450°F (230°C). Lightly coat a pizza pan or baking sheet with olive oil. Stretch or roll out the pizza dough by hand to form a roughly 10-inch diameter circle. Place the dough onto a pan lined with parchment paper.
- Make the Cream Cheese Spread: In a small bowl, combine the softened cream cheese with garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. Mix thoroughly until smooth and well blended.
- Assemble the Pizza: Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly over the pizza dough, leaving about a 3/4 to 1 inch border around the edges. Arrange the mozzarella cheese slices evenly on top, then sprinkle the shredded Monterey Jack cheese over that. Finally, distribute the sliced jalapeños evenly across the surface.
- Bake the Pizza: Place the pizza in the preheated oven and bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until the crust is golden brown and the cheeses are melted and bubbly.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove the pizza from the oven and, if desired, sprinkle finely chopped chives on top for a fresh flavor and vibrant color. Let the pizza cool for a few minutes before slicing and serving.
Notes
- For extra spicy heat, leave the jalapeño seeds intact.
- Use fresh jalapeños for the best flavor and crunch.
- Feel free to substitute mozzarella with other mild melting cheeses like fontina or provolone.
- To add protein, consider topping with cooked bacon or chicken.
- This pizza is best enjoyed fresh but can be refrigerated and reheated within 1-2 days.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15-20 minutes
- Category: Pizza
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 pizza
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 480mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 45mg
Keywords: Jalapeño popper pizza, spicy pizza, cream cheese pizza, appetizer pizza, Monterey Jack pizza