Jalapeño Popper Skillet Tacos
With this recipe, the classic appetizer is reimagined as a spicy cheesy skillet—from which you can scoop your own taco filling. Roasted poblanos, jalapeños, and red onion make up the base, coated with a melty sauce made of pepper jack cheese and stabilizing cream cheese.
Ingredients · Servings 4
- 12 oz. pepper jack cheese, coarsely grated (about 3 cups), divided
- 4 tsp. all-purpose flour
- 1 medium red onion, cut into 1"-thick wedges, layers separated
- 4 medium poblano chiles, halved, ribs and seeds removed, cut into 1"-wide strips
- 3 jalapeños, thinly sliced into strips
- Extra-virgin olive oil (for drizzling)
- Kosher salt
- 8 oz. cream cheese, room temperature, cut into large pieces
- Freshly ground pepper
- Small flour tortillas, cilantro leaves with tender stems, and lime wedges (for serving)
Method · 45 min
- Place a rack in upper third of oven; preheat to 450°. Set 1 cup coarsely grated pepper jack cheese aside. Place remaining 2 cups coarsely grated pepper jack cheese in a large bowl, add 4 tsp. all-purpose flour, and toss until completely coated.
- Place 1 medium red onion, cut into 1"-thick wedges, layers separated, 4 medium poblano chiles, halved, ribs and seeds removed, cut into 1"-wide strips, and 3 jalapeños, thinly sliced into strips, in a medium ovenproof skillet. Drizzle lightly with extra-virgin olive oil and season with kosher salt; toss to coat. Roast in oven until tender and blistered in spots, 20–25 minutes. Remove from oven and heat broiler (on high if your oven has options).
- Meanwhile, heat ½ cup water in a medium saucepan over medium-high until starting to bubble at the edges. Reduce heat to medium, then add 8 oz. cream cheese, room temperature, cut into large pieces, and cook, whisking constantly, until smooth and combined, about 1 minute. Add coated pepper jack cheese and cook, whisking constantly and vigorously, until cheese is melted and sauce is smooth and homogeneous, about 3 minutes. (Sauce will thicken as it cools; reheat briefly, whisking, before the next step if needed.)
- Pour sauce over onion mixture. Sprinkle reserved pepper jack cheese on top. Broil until bubbling and blistered in spots, about 3 minutes. Season with freshly ground pepper.
- Serve cheesy onion mixture with small flour tortillas, cilantro leaves with tender stems, and lime wedges for building tacos.
