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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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Article written by:
Jackie Tran
More about JackieJackie Tran is a Tucson-based food writer, photographer, culinary educator, and owner-chef of the now-closed food truck Tran’s Fats. Although he is best known locally for his work for Tucson Foodie, his work has also appeared in publications such as Bon Appétit, National Geographic, and the New York Times.
An adventurous foodie, he enjoys culinary experiences ranging from seasonal omakase to sloppily devouring green chili patty melts in his car afterhours. His favorite foods include aguachile, garlic noodles, and leftover fried chicken illuminated by the fridge light. His favorite drinks include morning micheladas, fireside imperial stouts, candle-lit negroni, and grassy mezcales.
Outside of food, he also loves playing musical instruments, karaoke, Tetris, Super Smash Bros. Melee, and petting Addie’s dog Spaghetti.
If you’d like to stalk him, visit his Instagram @jackie_tran_ or jackietran.com.
