J is for: Jalapeño Popper Buffalo Chicken Bundles Wrapped in Bacon

Jalapeno poppers are one of my all-time favorite appetizers. Simple, spicy, perfect. I also happen to love anything with wing sauce. My Buffalo chicken dip is just one example that comes to mind. I decided to combine the two things for a fiery dish that can be made either as an entree or an appetizer. If jalapeno poppers and boneless buffalo wings had a love child, this is what it would look like.

There are different versions of this that have been making the rounds on Pinterest, like bacon-wrapped jalapeno chicken bites or jalapenos stuffed with Buffalo chicken. But to my knowledge, this is the first to combine them in this fashion.

It has all the basics: roasted jalapenos, cream cheese, chicken, wing sauce, *bacon*, and a blue cheese dressing, perfect for dipping. As my friend Tricia would say: “BEST. BITE.”

Start by pounding the chicken very thin. (A large plastic bag works well for this). If making appetizers, cut each piece in small strips. If using as an entree, you can leave them whole. Season with salt and pepper and lay a roasted jalapeno pepper (more if leaving whole) and some cream cheese over the top. (I used some roasted peppers my friend Devon brought back from Texas, but you can easily roast your own using this method shown here).

Roll each one into a little bundle and coat in Buffalo wing sauce. (Note: I buy the Franks *Wing* Sauce as opposed to the hot sauce. If using hot sauce, you’ll want to mix with some melted butter). You can marinate the bundles in the sauce, but it’s not completely necessary. Wrap in bacon and secure with a toothpick. I sort of took a criss-cross approach, but don’t worry too much. Essentially, people will just see that there is bacon on it and not really care about much else.

Spray a baking dish with non-stick cooking spray and pour a little of the wing sauce in the bottom. Place bundles in the dish without crowding. Bake at 450 degrees for about 30 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through and bacon is starting to get crispy. (You can turn over halfway through if you want). I wouldn’t recommend cute cocktail toothpicks for cooking, but that’s all I had.

Serve with a side of blue cheese dressing (or ranch if you’re not fond of blue cheese). Swirl with a little wing sauce to give it some color. I realize these aren’t the healthiest things in the world, but boy are they tasty. Smoky, spicy, cheesey and tangy all in one bite! (P.S. These would be *perfect* for Father’s Day!)