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    Delmarvalicious Dishes » Recipes

    Oven Baked Jalapeno Bacon Dove Poppers

    Published: Sep 11, 2023 · Modified: Feb 13, 2025 by Lynne Kenton · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

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    Oven Baked Jalapeno Bacon Dove Poppers are a delicious dove breast recipe. Try this wild game recipe baked in the oven for one of the best dove recipes!

    Tray of delicious Oven Baked Jalapeno Dove Poppers with extra jalapenos on the side

    I come from a family of hunters and a husband who lives to hunt. Dove are migratory birds and dove season officially kicks off hunting season where I live. My husband loves to host a large gathering for dove hunting every year. While I do not hunt, I respect the animals and don't want anything to go to waste. I created this recipe as a way to enjoy dove without having to turn on the grill. 

    If you are looking for another wild game recipe, try this Sweet and Spicy Venison Chili. If you come to my house at all during football season, you are guaranteed to have a big, ol' bowl of this! 

    Jump to:
    • Jalapeno Bacon Dove Popper Details
    • Ingredients
    • Marinade Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Variations
    • Equipment
    • Storage
    • Top tip
    • FAQ
    • Related
    • Pairing
    • 📖 Recipe

    Jalapeno Bacon Dove Popper Details

    Flavor: ​Sweet, spicy and salty! The sweet and salty flavor comes from the bacon and the spiciness comes from the jalapeno pepper. The dove breast is in the middle has a mild meaty taste.

    Time: ​An hour and 15 minutes. That includes 15 minutes of prep time to make the dove poppers and an hour of hands-off bake time. 

    Level of Difficulty: ​Medium. While these dove poppers are not difficult to make, they do require some effort with slicing the dove breast meat and assembling the poppers. 

    Ingredients

    ​Most ingredients for this easy recipe can be found at your local grocery store. Get in touch with some dove hunters for the meat! 

    Oven Baked Jalapeno Dove Popper Ingredients: Jalapenos, Bacon Slices, Cream Cheese and Dove Breast
    • Dove Breast: ​Removed from breast bone
    • Jalapenos: Seeds and ribs removed. Substitute mini bell peppers. 
    • Bacon: Use thin sliced bacon.
    • Cream Cheese

    Marinade Ingredients

    ​This marinade is a simple recipe using pantry staples. If you are looking for an easier solution, use store bought Italian dressing. Both marinades will make flavorful dove recipes! 

    Marinade ingredients for Oven Baked Jalapeno Dove Poppers: orange juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, salt, black pepper and garlic cloves
    • Orange Juice
    • Garlic Cloves: ​Alternatively, substitute garlic powder. 
    • Salt
    • Black Pepper
    • Brown Sugar 
    • Soy Sauce

    Instructions

    1. Begin by making the marinade. Add soy sauce, orange juice, garlic cloves and brown sugar to a large bowl. Stir to combine. Season doves with salt and black pepper. Place doves in bowl and stir to coat all breast with the sauce. Marinate for at least 2 hours or overnight.
    2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9x13 pan with cooking spray.
    3. Slice jalapenos in half and remove the seeds and the ribs.
    4. Using a butter knife, smear cream cheese on the inside of the jalapeno peppers.
    5. Place dove breasts on top of cream cheese. If the dove breast appear too large for the jalapenos, slice the breast in half. 
    6. Wrap entire jalapeno with bacon. Use a toothpick to secure the popper. 
    7. Place dover poppers in a single layer in the 9x13 pan. 
    8. Bake in a 350 degree oven for an hour to an hour and a half until bacon is crispy. 
    Jalapenos sliced in half to make Oven Baked Jalapeno Dove Poppers

    Slice jalapenos in half and remove seeds and ribs.

    Jalapenos filled with cream cheese to make Oven Baked Jalapeno Dove Poppers

    Smear cream cheese inside jalapeno halves.

    Jalapeno halves with cream cheese and dove breast to make Oven Baked Jalapeno Dove Poppers

    Place dove breast on top of cream cheese.

    Jalapeno dove poppers with cream cheese, dove breast and bacon ready to go into the oven and bake

    Add bacon on top of dove breast. Secure with a toothpick. Bake in oven.

    Variations

    ​There are so many delicious and tasty ways to enjoy these Bacon-Wrapped Dove Jalapeno Poppers! Here are a few fun variations. 

    • For a lighter Bacon Dove Popper, only use ¼ of a slice of bacon. Since the bacon slice will not be large enough to wrap around the dove popper, fold the bacon and place on top of the dove meat. Secure the bacon on top using a toothpick. Alternatively, you could slice the bacon into a small bite sized piece for less calories. 
    • For a sweeter Jalapeno Bacon Dove Popper, drizzle honey on top of bacon during the last 10 minutes of baking. This sweetness will help to balance out the spicy jalapeno. 
    • For something extra, place a banana pepper on top of the bacon and secure with a toothpick before baking. 
    • For a less spicy version, substitute the jalapeno peppers with a mini bell pepper. If you still want a little zing, add a slice of jalapeno on top of the bacon! 
    • Don't want to turn the oven on?! Try making these poppers on the grill! Grill over medium-high heat with the grill top open. Rotate the poppers often. Dove poppers are ready to enjoy when the bacon is crispy. 

    Equipment

    • Large Bowl or Large Ziplock Bag for marinading dove breast
    • Cutting Board to slice dove breast, jalapenos and, possibly, bacon
    • 9x13 Pan or other large baking dish to bake dove poppers
    • Toothpicks or small wooden skewers to secure dove poppers 

    Storage

    These Jalapeno Bacon Dove Poppers are best consumed hot out of the oven. Because the dove poppers are baked, the jalapeno softens and does not hold up well. You can refrigerate the dove poppers for up to two days. The poppers will become soft but still be tasty. If storing in the refrigerator, store in an airtight container. 

    Close up shot of an Oven Baked Jalapeno Dove Popper showing the layers of dove breast, cream cheese and crispy bacon on top of a jalapeno slice

    Top tip

    If the dove breast appears too large for the jalapeno, slice it in half. Keep in mind, the breast will shrink as they bake due to water and juices evaporating and leaking out. So, if you slice the dove breast in half, after baking the breast will be bite sized. This is a great way to serve these dove poppers to someone who may be leery of the taste of dove.

    If slicing the dove breast in half, cooking time will need to be reduced. I found that the smaller poppers take one hour in the oven. 

    FAQ

    How do I remove dove breast from the bone?

    Remove dove breast from the bone by pressing the knife down and away from the bone. The dove meat is tender. Here is a great YouTube video showing how to remove dove breast from the bone. 
    ​There are many other tutorials on YouTube for how to handle removing feathers and slicing the whole bird. 

    How should I serve Dove Poppers?

    Serve Jalapeno Bacon Dove Poppers as a handheld snack. These are a favorite recipe for a happy hour appetizer or to enjoy during a football game. If you want to make these dove poppers a main course, slice the poppers up and serve them over top of wild rice. Like red meat, the 'filet mignon of the sky' pairs well with red wine. 

    What temperature should I cook dove to?

    Dove is a red meat and is best served medium rare. To cook a dove breast to medium rare, cook until the internal temperature is 130 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit. This should allow the meat to remain juicy and pink. 

    Related

    Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

    • Three bowls of Sweet and Spicy Venison Chili (Crockpot Recipe). Bowls are topped with shredded cheese, sour cream and jalapenos.
      Award Winning Venison Chili (Easy Crockpot Recipe)
    • A plate full of Honey Old Bay Wings served with the homemade honey old bay sauce and ranch dressing.
      Crispy Honey Old Bay Wings (Oven Baked)
    • Close up shot of chickpeas, diced tomatoes and chorizo in a bowl over rice
      Frito Chickpeas with Chorizo Recipe (One Pot Meal)
    • Plate of roasted fish with garlic cherry tomatoes served over pasta with basil garnish
      One Pan Roasted Fish with Garlic Cherry Tomatoes

    Pairing

    These are my favorite dishes to serve with Oven Baked Jalapeno Dove Poppers:

    • Reaching for a bite of salty and tangy Dill Pickle Popcorn
      Easy Dill Pickle Popcorn with Homemade Seasoning
    • Mouthwatering Cauliflower Poppers covered in sauce with celery and ranch sauce
      Mouthwatering Cauliflower Poppers
    • Smokey Mexican Bean Dip with avocados, limes, onions, cilantro and chips
      Smoky Mexican Bean Dip (Skillet Dip)
    • Simple Veggie Charcuterie Board with all of the veggies and dips
      How To Build A Simple Veggie Charcuterie Board

    📖 Recipe

    Oven Baked Jalapeno Dove Poppers. The best dish to make during dove season!
    Print Recipe

    Oven Baked Jalapeno Bacon Dove Popper (Wild Game Recipe)

    Oven Baked Jalapeno Bacon Dove Poppers are a delicious dove breast recipe. Try this wild game recipe baked in the oven for one of the best dove recipes!
    Prep Time15 minutes mins
    Cook Time1 hour hr
    Total Time1 hour hr 15 minutes mins
    Course: Appetizer
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 747kcal
    Author: Lynne Kenton

    Equipment

    • Large Bowl for marinating
    • Toothpicks
    • 9x13 Baking Pan

    Ingredients

    • 10 Dove Breast Deboned
    • 8 Jalapenos
    • 4 oz Cream Cheese Softened
    • ½ lb Bacon Slices Sliced in Half or Quarters

    Marinade

    • ½ cup Orange Juice
    • ¼ cup Soy Sauce
    • 2 tablespoon Brown Sugar
    • 4 Garlic Cloves minced
    • 1 teaspoon Salt
    • ½ teaspoon Black Pepper

    Instructions

    Marinade

    • Add orange juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic cloves, salt and pepper to a large bowl or large ziplock bag. Add dove. Marinate for at least 2 hours or up to overnight.

    Oven Baked Jalapeno Bacon Dove Popper

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9x13 baking dish with cooking spray.
    • Slice jalapenos in half and remove the ribs and seeds.
    • Spread cream cheese on insides of jalapeno.
    • Place dove breast on top of cream cheese.
    • Wrap jalapeno and dove with bacon.
    • Bake for a total of 1 hour to 1 hour and 30 minutes until bacon is crispy.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 4g | Calories: 747kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 69g | Fat: 45g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 9g | Monounsaturated Fat: 14g | Cholesterol: 236mg | Sodium: 3.053mg | Potassium: 808mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 1.407IU | Vitamin C: 66mg | Calcium: 84mg | Iron: 11mg

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    Lynne Kenton of Delmarvalicious Dishes with ice cream cone

    Hi, I am Lynne and I am happy you are here! I love being in the kitchen welcoming friends and family. At Delmarvalicious Dishes, you will find simple meals, handheld snacks and a mix of coffee and cocktails!

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