Bacon Jalapeno Cheesy Breadsticks
Topped with bacon, jalapenos and two types of cheese, these Bacon Jalapeno Cheesy Breadsticks are an easy and delicious gametime snack!
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I finally found it! After years of searching, I found it. Salami Piccante. If you’re not familiar with salami piccante, then you need to be! It’s a spicy variety of salami that’s hot, but doesn’t overwhelm your taste buds. It’s been loosely translated into pepperoni here in the States, but salami piccante is not pepperoni. Same general family, but so very different!
My wife and I first discovered salami piccante on our honeymoon trip to Italy several years back. It often appeared as a pizza topping, much like pepperoni appears on pizzas here in the States. But one bite and we were both addicted! Once we came back home, I was determined to find salami piccante to (1) relive our honeymoon memories and (2) because it’s delicious.
But finding this style of salami proved to be more difficult than I realized. This part of the country has a pretty heavy Italian influence, and there are a bunch of small authentic Italian markets. I drove around asking about salami piccante, but no dice. In fact, most folks hadn’t even heard of it. We tried higher-quality pepperoni and other varieties of salami that were supposedly similar. Delicious. Not salami piccante.
The other day, I stumbled across the salami section at our local Whole Foods. (How does one just “stumble” across the salami section?) And what to my wondering eyes should appear, but a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer salami piccante. I inspected that package thinking it was probably just pepperoni, but nope. It was the real deal Holyfield. We grabbed a package or six and headed off into the sunset…finally victorious! And in case you’re wondering, our Saturday night pizza was epic! (No offense to you, pepperoni. You are still delicious. But you are not salami piccante.)
So what does all this salami piccante talk have to do with these Bacon Jalapeno Cheesy Breadsticks? Well not too much honestly. I opted for bacon on these breadsticks because, well, bacon. These breadsticks couldn’t be any easier if they tried! Just roll out some pizza dough, brush it with an herbed olive oil and top with cheese, bacon and jalapenos. And try not to eat the entire batch in one sitting…or at least invite some friends over to help!
The jalapenos on these Bacon Jalapeno Cheesy Breadsticks pack some heat, so I do recommended spending the time to pop the seeds out. Of course, if spicy food is your thing, then leave the seeds in…but you’ve been warned! I also used a mixture of cheeses for these breadsticks. We usually go straight mozzarella for our pizzas, but I used a mix of mozzarella and Cabot pepperjack on these breadsticks. These breadsticks are loaded with flavor, and they were the perfect snack for playoff football games! Enjoy!
Have you ever had salami piccante?
What is your favorite breadstick topping?
Bacon Jalapeno Cheesy Breadsticks
Ingredients
- 8 oz. thick-cut bacon
- 1 batch pizza dough homemade or store-bought
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- ½ tsp Italian seasoning
- ¼ tsp kosher salt
- ¼ tsp garlic powder
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup shredded pepper jack cheese
- 2 jalapenos sliced (remove seeds for less heat)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F.
- Using a large skillet, cook bacon over medium-high heat. Pat dry with paper towels; set aside.
- Roll dough into a 10”x16” rectangle. Place on a large cutting board.
- In a small dish, combine the olive oil, Italian seasoning, kosher salt and garlic powder. Brush this mixture evenly across the top of the pizza dough.
- In a medium bowl, combine both cheeses until well mixed. Sprinkle cheese mixture evenly across top of dough.
- Using a pizza wheel, slice the dough widthwise into 16 (10”) pieces.
- Place breadsticks on a parchment-lined sheet pan. Press jalapeno slices and crumbled bacon into each breadstick.
- Bake breadsticks at 425°F for 15-17 minutes, or until edges are golden brown.
What? It’s hard to find this salami in your area, David? I’m shocked. You can buy it in any small grocery store here. Even in a Chinese one. Next time when you need it, buy a ticket to Canada. Just kid though – I’ve never heard of this salami either. But you can still buy a ticket and try finding it. Perhaps, that would be the most expensive salami in your life:) I see you’ve got another delicious finger food (Thank you, football season. Not being a football fan, I’m starting to appreciate you). Well done, David!
Haha! Canada here I come!! So we can find regular salami around here…everywhere. The challenge was finding salami piccante. See, you’re going to become a football fan yet, Ben! It starts with the delicious football appetizers…and the next thing you know, you’ll be watching the game! 🙂
Salami piccante, that sounds very delicious and I need to visit Whole Foods to check it out. But these breadsticks sound like a winning perfect snack for football games. I am sure everyone will get crazy over these bites. And bacon? Yum!
Salami piccante is SO good, Linda! It’s like a spicier version of pepperoni. Not necessary hot spicy, just different. Bacon makes everything better…even breadsticks! Thanks so much, and I hope you have an awesome week! 🙂
Dude – this is the first time I’m hearing about Salami Picante! Sounds like it’s pepperoni on ‘roids! Tastebud ‘roids that is! 🙂
BTW – speaking of steroids – looks like these breadsticks are not just any breadsticks – they are breadsticks on steroids! Wow – so digging that spicy+cheesy+bacon combo!
Hope y’all have a wonderful weekend my friend!
Hahaha…pepperoni on ‘roids! That’s actually a pretty good way of describing salami piccante, Shashi! It’s definitely one of our favorites…and it’s so darned hard to find. But these breadsticks? Oh yeah! These bad boys were made with the Super Bowl in mind. Too bad there’s still another week to go before I can make another batch of ’em! Happy Monday, Shashi!!
Omg it does sound so good David !! I myself might have gone to the same extent to find something that is that good!! Looks so good & perfect for weekend snacking!
We looked for that darned salami piccante for years, Ami…and then I randomly stumbled across it right when I was about to give up on the search. Crazy! Hope you had a great weekend, and Happy Monday!
David! You are gameday central! I admire you for that. But are you making all of this delicious stuff for the Superbowl? Because if you are, A) I’m coming over, invited or not, and B) no one is likely to see the second half of the game – they’ll all be in food coma heaven.
Haha! I don’t know if I can handle making ALL of these appetizers for the Super Bowl again. Plus, we’re heading across the street to the neighbors house for the game…and I’m not sure how they would feel about me pretty much bringing my entire kitchen with me! But there will definitely be plenty of apps to go around…even for those uninvited people who show up anyways. 🙂
I know that these are bread sticks and not cookies, but I don’t why I think I want to have them with big glass of cold milk. They look delicious 🙂
Hahaha…you are totally allowed to chow down on these breadsticks with a big glass of cold milk, Muna. I’m not stopping you! Hope you had an awesome weekend! 🙂
Oh yum! My husband would love all the jalapenos. I love spicy, but I tend to pick off the jalapenos after eating just one!
I hear ya, Kathy! I love jalapenos, too…they have a great flavor. I like to remove all of the seeds and ribs so that I end up with the flavor without the crazy amount of heat. Granted, sometimes they’re still really spicy, but what can you do. Either way, these breadsticks were a hit around here, and I think we’ll need another batch for the Super Bowl!
In trying to keep my site’s new direction on the healthier side it has come to my attention that I can’t be making the delicious and let’s face it, not so healthy goodness I have been known to do these past 18 months. I will occasionally, but for now I can drool over these. Stay tuned though, I have a few oldies but goodies coming up…
Hmmm never heard of this salami piccante that you speak of my friend. Sound good though! I first thought for sure you’d be able to find it easily living on the East coast. Love the line, “We grabbed a package or six and headed off into the sunset…finally victorious! ” Ha! Funny guy. 🙂 These breadsticks are perfect for Game Day grubbing and like you said, well bacon.
Yeah, I hear ya there, Kevin. It’s good of you to switch up your site for Dave’s sake. And you are always free to come over and drool here. Haha! We try to keep it balanced around here as much as possible. And when I do make decadent, over-the-top stuff, I’ll usually take it to the curling club so that we don’t end up eating all of it ourselves.
If you get a chance to try salami piccante, you should totally go for it! I’ve looked for it around here for at least 5 years (ever since we went to Italy on our honeymoon), and no luck. But then it showed up in Whole Foods…and the search was complete! Anyways, hope you have an epic week, Kevin! 🙂
This salami piccante sounds amazing. Your bread sticks look really amazing too. I love the jalapenos and bacon combination.
Salami piccante is indeed amazing, Dawn…keep an eye out for it! (And if you find it, get it!) In the meantime, these breadsticks are super yummy, and they’re great finger food for the Super Bowl! 🙂
I love how these breadsticks look. Oh my word they would be totally bad for me cause I woudln´t be able to stop after 1 🙂 I love salami, not sure if I tried the picante version yet… I need to see if I can find it here…
That is totally the problem with these breadsticks, Johlene! You definitely can’t stop at just one. Maybe 2…or 3…or…well, yeah. 🙂 I’m sure you can find salami piccante over there in your area. We found it in Italy and then again in Amsterdam on another trip. I’m surprised it took so long to find it here in the States, but it was worth the wait! Happy Monday, and thank you for the comment!
You are all about the game day food, aren’t you! I would have to give the bacon a miss, but cheese and jalapeno are just a match made in heaven, right?!
Hey, I warned you, Dannii! I told you I was totally on board the gameday appetizer train. Haha! But that train is coming to a stop now. But how can you turn away cheesy breadsticks? I mean c’mon! It’s cheese! 🙂
That is too funny…none of the Italian delis or stores had it but damn Whole Foods did.
Salami and pepperoni are totally not comparable, but I’m so keen to try this version you speak of- I love hot salami but damn it does something on the taste buds. Well, anyway I’m glad you enjoyed it and NOT with these breadsticks- Bacon and jalapeno and cheese = a trio of perfection.
Tell me about it, mate! I went to almost every little hole-in-the-wall Italian deli around here. Half of ’em barely spoke English. But no salami piccante. Then I was wandering through Whole Foods, and there it was. Oh well, I found it! Now let’s go eat some breadsticks and celebrate the fact that salami piccante is available in the States!