This delicious Irresistible Crispy Beef Bacon Mozzarella Poppers with Sweet Glaze comes together in about 30 minutes, offering a fun frying or baking option for a appetizer or snack that your family will love! Seriously, they’re a crowd-pleaser, making them perfect for game nights, parties, or even just a cozy evening at home. You can switch up the ingredients to suit your taste or use them as a ‘clean out the fridge’ meal to get rid of those last odds and ends!
Ingredients Breakdown
What You’ll Need:
- 8 oz Thick-Cut Beef Bacon: Finely diced, because who doesn’t love crispy bacon?
- 8 oz Block Mozzarella Cheese: Shredded or cubed, mozzarella brings the cheesy goodness!
- 1/4 cup Cream Cheese: Soften it up for that lovely creamy texture.
- 2 cloves Garlic: Minced, garlic lovers rejoice!
- 1/4 cup Fresh Chives: Chopped for fresh flavor and color, make it pretty!
- 1/4 tsp Black Pepper: Just a couple pinches for seasoning.
- Pinch Red Pepper Flakes (optional): If you want a little kick!
- 1 (13.2 oz) package Puff Pastry Dough: Two sheets, thawed, flakiness is key here!
- 1 Large Egg: Beaten for that golden hue on top.
- 1 tbsp Water: For the egg wash, that shine, though!
- Vegetable Oil: (Canola or Peanut Oil) around 4-6 cups for deep frying OR Non-stick Cooking Spray if you prefer baking.
- 1/4 cup Pure Maple Syrup: Sweetness alert!
- 2 tbsp Soy Sauce: Low sodium preferred to keep it healthy.
- 1 tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar: Just a hint of tang.
- 1 tbsp Brown Sugar: Because sweet and savory is where it’s at!
- 1/2 tsp Garlic Powder: Can’t have too much garlic, right?
- 1/4 tsp Ground Ginger: This will add a subtle warmth to your glaze.
- Pinch Red Pepper Flakes (optional, for glaze): If you really want to spice it up.
- 1 tsp Cornstarch mixed with 1 tbsp cold water (slurry): This will help thicken your glaze nicely.
Let’s Get Cooking!
Step-by-Step Instructions
Prepare Bacon & Filling
First things first, grab your trusty skillet! Chop up that beef bacon into small bits and cook it over medium heat until it’s crispy, oh, the smell is divine! About 5-7 minutes should do it. Drain the fat, then let it cool for a bit. Next, in a big bowl, combine the cooled crispy beef bacon, mozzarella, softened cream cheese, minced garlic, chopped chives, black pepper, and those optional red pepper flakes. Make sure to mix everything well! You want that delicious cheesy filling to be uniformly amazing.
Prepare Puff Pastry
Now on to the puff pastry. Sprinkle a little flour on your work surface and roll out the thawed sheets slightly, this will make it easier to handle. Cut each sheet into 9 equal squares (about 3-3.5 inches each), giving you a total of 18 pastry squares. This is where it gets fun!
Assemble Poppers
Time to fill those squares! Place about 1 heaping tablespoon of your filling in the center of each pastry square. Don’t worry if it spills over a bit; that’s where the magic happens. Now, whisk your egg and water together for the egg wash, then brush the edges of each pastry with it. Fold one corner over to meet the opposite corner to form a triangle or gather all four corners to the center. Crimp the edges with a fork to seal them up securely, those flavors are precious!
Chill Poppers
Transfer your assembled poppers onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. Cover them lightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. This step is super important, as it helps your pastry stay nice and flaky during cooking.
Cook Poppers (Frying Option)
Ready to fry? Heat 3-4 inches of oil in a heavy pot to 350-375°F (175-190°C). Fry about 3-4 chilled poppers at a time for 2-4 minutes per side until they’re golden brown and puffy, oh man, does it smell good! Drain them on paper towels to soak up that excess grease.
Cook Poppers (Baking Option)
Prefer baking? Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Arrange those chilled poppers on a parchment-lined baking sheet, brush them lightly with your egg wash, and bake for 15-20 minutes until golden brown and puffed up.
Prepare Glaze
While your poppers are cooking, let’s whip up that amazing glaze! In a small saucepan, combine maple syrup, soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, garlic powder, ground ginger, and optional red pepper flakes. Bring it to a simmer, then reduce the heat and whisk in your cornstarch slurry. Simmer for another 1-2 minutes until it thickens up beautifully. Trust me, your taste buds will be thanking you!
Serve
Once your poppers are hot and fragrant, transfer them to a lovely serving platter. Drizzle generously with that warm, luscious glaze and sprinkle with some extra chopped chives, because why not? Serve up these poppers immediately for the best enjoyment!

Why I Love This Recipe
This is my go-to recipe for when I’m hosting a get-together or simply craving something comforting! Seriously, you’ll find me whipping up these Irresistible Crispy Beef Bacon Mozzarella Poppers with Sweet Glaze whenever I need a pick-me-up or have unexpected guests. The best part is how customizable they are! If I have other cheeses or cooked veggies hanging around, I toss them right in! You know, whatever’s in the fridge or pantry gets a chance in my kitchen.
I’m a real sucker for anything that combines crispy and cheesy. These poppers have that perfect crunch on the outside, and they’re loaded with gooey cheese and savory beef on the inside. And honestly, my kids can’t get enough of them!
Serving Suggestions
If you loved this Crispy Beef Bacon Mozzarella Poppers with Sweet Glaze, be sure to check out my Cheesy Tortilla Garlic Bread, my Taco Bell Nacho Fries, or my Viral Dumpling Bake! Each one has that same flavor-packed vibe your family will adore!
Why This Recipe Works
Quick & Easy
This beauty comes together in under 30 minutes. Seriously, it’s super friendly for busy weeknights or surprise movie nights, who doesn’t love that? Just pop those ingredients together and voilà!
Crowd-Pleaser
You can confidently serve these at gatherings, the whole family will love them! Even picky eaters seem to love these poppers; I mean, what’s not to love about crispy bacon and melty cheese?
Customizable
One of the best things about this recipe is how incredibly customizable it is! Want to swap in other cheeses or spices? Go for it! Use whatever ingredients you have on hand, and they’ll still be a hit.
Comfort Food
This dish is definitely comfort food, it’s loaded with flavor and nostalgia. Just one bite takes me back to cozy evenings spent sharing snacks with family.
Perfect for Meal Prep
If you want to avoid that evening rush, prepare these poppers ahead of time! Just assemble them and pop them in the fridge, then all you have to do is cook when you’re ready.
Storage and Reheating
How to Store: These poppers will stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to 3 days! Just keep them in an airtight container.
Reheating Instructions: For the best results, reheat them in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for about 10 minutes. This will help them stay crispy!
Freezer Friendly: Yes! You can freeze the assembled poppers before cooking them. Just make sure they’re well-sealed. When you’re ready to enjoy, fry or bake them straight from the freezer, just add a few extra minutes for cooking time.
And there you have it, Irresistible Crispy Beef Bacon Mozzarella Poppers with Sweet Glaze that are both quick and easy, perfect for busy families and gatherings alike! I can’t wait for you to try this recipe and for it to become YOUR go-to too! Trust me, you won’t be disappointed. For more Recipes Follow Us in our Pinterest.
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Irresistible Crispy Beef Bacon Mozzarella Poppers with Sweet Glaze
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 18 poppers 1x
- Diet: Omnivore
Description
A quick and easy appetizer featuring crispy beef bacon and gooey mozzarella, perfect for gatherings or cozy nights in.
Ingredients
- 8 oz Thick-Cut Beef Bacon, finely diced
- 8 oz Block Mozzarella Cheese, shredded or cubed
- 1/4 cup Cream Cheese, softened
- 2 cloves Garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup Fresh Chives, chopped
- 1/4 tsp Black Pepper
- Pinch Red Pepper Flakes (optional)
- 1 (13.2 oz) package Puff Pastry Dough, thawed
- 1 Large Egg, beaten
- 1 tbsp Water
- Vegetable Oil (around 4-6 cups for frying or non-stick cooking spray for baking)
- 1/4 cup Pure Maple Syrup
- 2 tbsp Soy Sauce
- 1 tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar
- 1 tbsp Brown Sugar
- 1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1/4 tsp Ground Ginger
- Pinch Red Pepper Flakes (optional, for glaze)
- 1 tsp Cornstarch mixed with 1 tbsp cold water (slurry)
Instructions
- In a skillet, cook beef bacon over medium heat until crispy, about 5-7 minutes. Drain fat and let cool.
- In a bowl, mix the cooled bacon, mozzarella, cream cheese, garlic, chives, black pepper, and red pepper flakes.
- Roll out the thawed puff pastry and cut into 18 squares.
- Place a heaping tablespoon of filling in the center of each pastry square. Brush edges with egg wash, fold, and seal.
- Refrigerate the assembled poppers for at least 30 minutes.
- For frying, heat oil to 350-375°F (175-190°C) and fry poppers for 2-4 minutes per side until golden brown.
- For baking, preheat oven to 400°F (200°C), arrange poppers on a baking sheet, brush with egg wash, and bake for 15-20 minutes until golden.
- For the glaze, combine maple syrup, soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, garlic powder, ground ginger, and optional flakes in a saucepan. Simmer, then whisk in cornstarch slurry to thicken.
- Serve poppers drizzled with glaze and sprinkle with extra chives.
Notes
These poppers can be made ahead and stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or frozen before cooking.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Frying or Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 popper
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 500mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 10g
- Cholesterol: 40mg



