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Jalapeño Popper Skillet Tacos

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Photograph by Elliott Jerome Brown Jr., Food Styling by Thu Buser, and Prop Styling by Christina Allen

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

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)

Preparation

  1. 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.

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