Smoked Jalapeno Poppers
Spicy, smoky, and cheesy, these Smoked Jalapeno Poppers are the perfect appetizer for any occasion. Also known as Texas Twinkies, they're easy to prepare and can be smoked on a grill, or baked in the oven.
Prep Time10 minutes mins
Cook Time30 minutes mins
Total Time40 minutes mins
Course: Appetizers
Cuisine: American, American Southern
Servings: 8 appetizers
Calories: 340kcal
- 8 large jalapeno peppers get large as you can
- 12 tablespoon cream cheese room temperature
- 2 cup smoked brisket or pulled pork or shredded chicken
- 8 slices thick cut bacon
Preheat either your smoker or grill, or your conventional oven using the grill or oven cooking option below.
Trim the tops off the jalapenos. Make a cut the length of one side of the jalapeno, so you can spread the pepper open to fill.
8 large jalapeno peppers
Carefully remove the seed core, using a paring knife if needed. If you want spicy poppers, leave a few seeds. Rinse the cored jalapenos of any excess seeds you don't want with water.
Using a small spoon, or a paring knife, spread about 1 ½ tablespoons of cream cheese around the inside jalapeno interior.
12 tablespoon cream cheese
Once you have spread cream cheese into each jalapeno, stuff each pepper with some of the shredded brisket, pulled pork, or shredded chicken. Brisket is traditional, but any seasoned meat is great.
2 cup smoked brisket
Lay the bacon out on a cutting board of clean work surface. Roll each cream cheese brisket stuffed jalapeno up in a slice of bacon and secure with tooth picks. Lay the bacon wrapped jalapeno poppers out on a baking sheet.
8 slices thick cut bacon
Place the bacon wrapped jalapeno poppers right on the rack or grill of your preheated smoker at 275 F for 60 minutes. If really large, you may need to leave them for up to 90 minutes. You can also keep them on the backing sheet if you prefer.OVEN METHOD: Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the poppers on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the bacon is crisp and the cheese is melted.
- Be sure to wear gloves when handling the jalapenos, as they can be very spicy.
- Remove the seeds and ribs from the jalapeno peppers to reduce the heat.
- If you are using a smoker grill, be sure to keep an eye on the temperature so that the poppers do not overcook.
Calories: 340kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 0.05g | Cholesterol: 71mg | Sodium: 660mg | Potassium: 135mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 545IU | Vitamin C: 18mg | Calcium: 54mg | Iron: 1mg