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. Serve tortillas, cilantro, and lime wedges on the side to make it a hands-on meal.
Recipe information
Total Time
45 minutes
Yield
4 servings
Ingredients
Preparation
Step 1
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.
Step 2
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).
Step 3
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.)
Step 4
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.
Step 5
Serve cheesy onion mixture with small flour tortillas, cilantro leaves with tender stems, and lime wedges for building tacos.