Cheesy Jalapeño Pepper Bites

Copycat “Rattlesnake Bites” are delectable cheese balls mixed with a generous amount of jalapeño peppers, delivering a perfect balance of heat and cheesy goodness in every bite.

Texas Roadhouse is famous for its rolls, but these rattlesnake bites are another crowd-pleaser on their menu. These round, bite-sized cheese balls are packed with diced jalapeños, giving a flavorful kick without being overwhelmingly spicy.

How to Seed and Dice a Jalapeño Pepper

Jalapeño peppers are spicy, so handle them with care! If you have cuts on your hands, consider wearing food-safe gloves to avoid discomfort. If you don’t have gloves, wash your hands thoroughly with white vinegar and cold water after handling jalapeños.

There are a couple of ways to seed and dice a jalapeño:

1. Method 1: Slice the jalapeño vertically down the middle and use a spoon to remove the seeds.
2. Method 2: Hold the jalapeño by the stem, slice along the sides, and discard the core and seeds.

Once seeded, stack the pepper strips and chop them into small pieces. Remember, capsaicin (the spicy component) can stay on your hands, so avoid touching your eyes or mouth until you’ve washed your hands.

How to Make Cheesy Jalapeño Bites

After seeding and dicing the jalapeños, shred the Monterey Jack and pepper jack cheeses. Freshly shredded cheese tends to melt better than pre-shredded varieties. Mince the garlic and combine it with the jalapeños and cheeses in a large bowl.

Scoop out about a tablespoon of the mixture and form it into a ball. Place the cheese balls on a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze for about 30 minutes to help them hold their shape during frying.

Coating the Cheesy Jalapeño Bites

Once the cheese balls are firm, set up a coating station with three deep plates or bowls:

1. Flour Mixture: Mix flour, salt, and pepper on the first plate.
2. Egg Mixture: Whisk eggs and water on the second plate.
3. Breading Mixture: Combine bread crumbs, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper on the third plate.

Coat each cheese ball in the flour mixture, followed by the egg mixture, and finally the bread crumbs. Ensure each ball is thoroughly coated.

Frying the Bites

Heat oil in a large skillet to about 1/4-inch depth. The oil should reach 350°F (177°C) for frying, which can be checked with a candy thermometer. If you don’t have a thermometer, you can test the oil using a few methods:

• Wooden Spoon Test: Place the handle of a wooden spoon in the oil. If the oil bubbles steadily, it’s ready. If it bubbles rapidly, it’s too hot.
• Bread Test: Drop a 1-inch square of bread into the oil. If it browns in 60 seconds, the oil is at the right temperature.
• Popcorn Test: Put a kernel of popcorn in the oil when you start heating it. When the kernel pops, the oil is ready.

Fry the cheese balls in batches for about 3 minutes each, until golden brown. Remove them from the oil and place them on a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil. Serve hot with ranch dressing or your favorite dipping sauce.

Ingredients

Filling:

• 1 cup Monterey Jack cheese, freshly shredded
• 1 cup pepper jack cheese, freshly shredded
• 3 medium jalapeños, seeded and finely diced
• 1 teaspoon garlic, minced

Flour Mixture:

• ½ cup flour
• ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
• ¼ teaspoon pepper

Egg Mixture:

• 2 large eggs, room temperature
• 2 teaspoons water

Breading Mixture:

• 1 cup plain bread crumbs
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper

Frying:

• Vegetable or canola oil

Instructions

Filling:

1. In a large bowl, combine the cheeses, jalapeños, and garlic.
2. Scoop out about 1 tablespoon of the mixture and form it into a tight ball. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
3. Repeat with the remaining cheese mixture.
4. Freeze the cheese balls for about 20-30 minutes.

Assembly:

1. Set out three deep plates.
2. On the first plate, whisk together the flour, salt, and pepper.
3. On the second plate, whisk together the eggs with water.
4. On the third plate, whisk together the bread crumbs, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper.
5. Dredge each cheese ball in the flour, then the egg mixture, and finally the bread crumb mixture, ensuring each ball is well coated.

Frying:

1. In a large skillet, heat a 1/4 inch of oil over medium heat (should register about 350°F / 177°C).
2. Working in batches, fry the cheese balls until golden brown on all sides (about 3 minutes).
3. Place on a paper towel-lined plate to soak up excess oil.
4. Serve hot. If bites cool, reheat before serving.