Jalapeno Popper Potato Salad, made with cream cheese, bacon, and lots of jalapeno peppers, is a spicy and delicious twist on regular potato salad that is just what you need to heat up your next cookout or picnic.
I love a creamy potato salad. It’s one of my favorite picnic sides. But I like them best when they have lots of flavor like this Bacon Ranch Potato Salad.
Jalapeno Popper Potato Salad has all the flavor of Jalapeno Poppers mixed in with chunks of red potato.
Lots of rich cream cheese, salty crumbled bacon, and shredded Mexican blend cheese, plus plenty of chopped pickled jalapenos.
RECIPE TIPS:
I leave the skin on the potatoes, but you could peel them if you like. You could also use russet potatoes or Yukon Gold instead.
In addition to using pickled jalapenos, I like to slice a fresh jalapeno and scatter the slices over the top of the potato salad. Not only do you get more jalapeno flavor, but the fresh slices look so pretty and they are easy enough to avoid eating for people who don’t want too much heat in their potato salad.
It’s best to make this potato salad at least and hour in advance so the flavors have time to meld.
Try These Other Jalapeno Popper Recipes:
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Watch the short vido below to see how to make Jalapeno Popper Potato Salad
Jalapeno Popper Potato Salad
Ingredients
- 3 pounds red potatoes,, scrubbed and cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 (8-ounce) block cream cheese,, room temperature
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 1/4 cup chopped pickled jalapeno peppers
- 2 green onions, sliced
- 1 cup shredded Mexican 4-cheese blend
- 6 slices bacon,, cooked and crumbled
- 1 fresh jalapeno,, thinly sliced
Instructions
- Place potatoes in a medium saucepan and cover with water. Add 1 teaspoon salt and bring to a boil and then simmer until soft, about 10-15 minutes. Drain well. Let cool so that they are still warm, but not hot when adding to potato salad.
- In a large bowl, stir together cream cheese, mayonnaise, garlic powder, and pepper. Don't worry if the cream cheese doesn't get completely smooth.
- Stir potatoes into cream cheese mixture along with pickled jalapenos, green onions, shredded cheese, and crumbled bacon.
- Check for seasoning and add salt if desired.
- Sprinkle fresh jalapeno slices on top. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Originally published June 21, 2016.
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my new favor! I bought it at Walmart premade salad case…its advertised as a ‘special flavor…OMG! I thought I went to heaven…It lead me on a search to learn how to make it…I found yours to be the perfect match.Thank you! I will never eat another summer salad other than this !
Made this for a Labor Day Party it was a HUGE HIT!!! I added some additional Garlic powder and Cajun Two Step seasoning salt to give it just a pop of spice. I used the whole jalapeño and all of the pickled jalapeño as the recipe states and it was the perfect level if heat for our friends group!
Very very good!! Better the day after! If you need it less spicy, don’t use canned jalapeños. Use fresh only.
Best potato salad, delicious!
I don’t even like jalapeno poppers because the cream cheese is so bland. But I love this potato salad! I add a bit of greek seasoning and maybe a little lawrys to the mayo but that is all I do different. It is tasty, delicious and keeps for several days without losing it’s taste. Works really well with the small red potatoes. It’s my go to potato salad now.
I prefer reviews of recipes when made exactly as the recipe.
Although well written, you saying it tastes great “and I add this and than and so on” is not review of this recipe. The addition or subtraction of any ingredient can completely change the taste. I always make a recipe as written, test it, review it and only make changes afterwards.
I’ve made this recipe for family bbqs and it is now my go to whenever I need to make potato salad. I will eat the traditional one if someone makes it, but I no longer make it in my house. Haha LOVE this recipe so much!!
I made this for my family for a BBQ and it has become a new favorite salad
Made this today for a family get together. Added a few more jalapeños (!) and was fantastic! Will be making this again!
I love this but it needs at least a tsp of salt.
It was so good and easy to make. Will make again. We enjoyed it!. Some one mentioned cauliflower in place of potatoes bet that would be good. Might try that.