Jalapeno Peppers at Elliott's on Congress (Photo credit: Jackie Tran)

9 house-made jalapeño poppers to pop into your mouth


June 13, 2019
a man wearing a hat
By Jackie Tran
By Jackie Tran

Local house-made jalapeño poppers you won't want to stop eating.

If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers, how many jalapeño poppers can Peter Piper gorge on in one sitting?

Like the magnificent mozzarella stick and the glorious crab puff, the jalapeño popper is really an excuse to indulge in cheese. While the frozen-to-fryer version at a bowling alley is a guilty pleasure, local house-made versions put the rest to shame.

Here are our choices for the best jalapeño poppers in Tucson.

BZ’s Pizza & Italian Kitchen

7856 E. Wrightstown Rd.
Jalapeno Poppers at BZ’s Pizza (Credit: Jackie Tran)

These Jalapeño Poppers feature tender jalapeños stuffed with a house-made cheese filling, all wrapped in bacon. Their technique is a secret, but it results in a more evenly-cooked and delicate popper.

For more information, visit bzsitaliankitchen.com.

Canyon’s Crown Restaurant and Pub

6958 E. Tanque Verde Rd.
Pub Footballs at the Canyon's Crown (Credit: Jackie Tran)
Pub Footballs at the Canyon’s Crown (Credit: Jackie Tran)

At the Canyon’s Crown, the Pub Footballs are stuffed with a smoked shrimp cream cheese before being wrapped with bacon. The drizzle of honey soy sauce adds an addictive sticky sweetness.

For more information, visit canyonscrown.com.

Dante’s Fire

2526 E. Grant Rd.
Grilled Jalapeño Poppers at Dante's Fire (Credit: Jackie Tran)
Grilled Jalapeño Poppers at Dante’s Fire (Credit: Jackie Tran)

The Grilled Jalapeño Poppers are almost a fork-and-knife affair with crumbled candied bacon, Sriracha cream cheese, light Asiago foam, scallions, and red pepper for an extra kick.

For more information, visit dantesfireaz.com.

Elliott’s on Congress

135 E. Congress St.

Jalapeño Poppers at Elliott's on Congress (Credit: Jackie Tran)
Jalapeño Poppers at Elliott’s on Congress (Credit: Jackie Tran)

Also popular with the late-night crowd, Elliott’s features their Jalapeño Boats with a stuffing of cream cheese, cheddar, and shrimp. Bacon and sweet agave provide the smoky sweet-and-salty flair.

For more information, visit elliottsoncongress.com.

The Horseshoe Grill

7713 E. Broadway Blvd.
Half-Stuffed Jalapeños at The Horseshoe Grill (Credit: Jackie Tran)
Half-Stuffed Jalapeños at The Horseshoe Grill (Credit: Jackie Tran)

Horseshoe Grill fills their house-made Half-Stuffed Jalapeños with cheese, bacon, and scallions. Spice it up with a side of chipotle ranch.

For more information, visit thehorseshoetucson.com.

The Station Pub & Grill

8235 N. Silverbell Rd.
Photo courtesy of the Station Pub & Grill
Photo courtesy of the Station Pub & Grill

The Blistering Poppers feature Anaheim jalapeños filled with cream cheese, wrapped in applewood bacon, and served with a house-made raspberry chipotle sauce. You can even get them on a burger, the Popper Burger.

For more information, visit thestationtucson.com.

Honorable Mentions

Baggin’s Gourmet Sandwiches

Various locations

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bo5qTABjslZ/

Baggins keeps their Jalapeño Popper Grilled Cheese simple with cheddar, cream cheese, and chopped jalapeños on Italian white bread.

For more information, visit bagginsgourmet.com/menus.

No Anchovies

870 E. University Blvd.
Popper Loaded Tots at No Anchovies (Credit: Jackie Tran)
Popper Loaded Tots at No Anchovies (Credit: Jackie Tran)

No Anchovies makes the pub classic pubbier with the Popper Loaded Tots. Tater tots are topped with fried jalapeños, cheddar, and ranch.

For more information, visit noanchoviespizza.com.

Saguaro Corners

3750 S. Old Spanish Trl.
Poppito Dip at Saguaro Corners (Credit: Jackie Tran)
Poppito Dip at Saguaro Corners (Credit: Jackie Tran)

Saguaro Corners deviates with the popper formula in their Poppito Dip. The jalapeño, cream cheese, and bacon dip also features pulled pork. Tortilla and/or potato chips are the delivery vessel here.

Keep up with Saguaro Corners on Facebook.

Have a favorite place to gorge on poppers? Let us know in the comments.

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