A satisfying, mouthwatering appetizer is sure to get your party started off right! If you need some other ideas for your spread, try this awesome 7-layer dip, these crispy egg rolls, or these amazing stuffed pizza bites.
What are Texas Twinkies?
Texas Twinkies are bacon-wrapped jalapeño poppers stuffed with cream cheese, smoked brisket, shredded cheese, and seasonings and finished with BBQ sauce. They are unbelievably delicious and a major crowd-pleaser! While I’ve been stuffing peppers and wrapping them in bacon for years, this version made famous by Hutchins BBQ in McKinney, Texas, takes your classic poppers to the next level! They use extra large jalapeños and fill them with smoked brisket and cream cheese, then wrap them in a thick slice of bacon and smoke them until the bacon is crispy and the pepper is tender. So good, you won’t be able to stop with just one!
Ingredients You’ll Need
This Texas Twinkies recipe is made with easy-to-find ingredients. However, it does require pre-cooked brisket. You can buy smoked brisket from your favorite barbecue joint or make my tried and true slow cooker beef brisket.
Jalapeño peppers: Choose fresh, bright green jalapeños that are big enough to hold all of the stuffing. Cream Cheese: Adds creaminess and balances the heat from the peppers. Be sure to soften your cream cheese so it’s easy to mix with the other filling ingredients. Smoked Brisket: Gives the best savory, smoky, and meaty flavor. Cheese: For extra cheesiness! We really like shredded pepper jack cheese, but other cheeses will work. Seasonings: Mix in garlic powder and onion powder to bring just a hint of garlic and onion flavor. Bacon: Bacon makes everything better! Regular bacon will crisp up best. BBQ Sauce: Use my homemade BBQ sauce recipe or your favorite store-bought variety.
How to Make Texas Twinkies
Follow these few simple steps, then you’ll have a tasty appetizer your family and friends will love!
Use Different Cheese: I used pepper jack cheese in my Texas Twinkies, but other delicious choices would be sharp cheddar cheese, smoked gouda, or Monterey jack. You can do a combination of any hard cheese that you love. Using Thick-Cut Bacon: It may take a little bit longer to render the fat as much as you prefer, so add a few minutes at a time to the baking time and keep an eye on the doneness. Don’t Overstuff With Filling: Be careful not to overstuff these bad boys! If you add too much filling, it can leak out onto the baking sheet. Fill them just enough that the cavity inside the jalapeno is full, and the sides can touch when you close them. But fear not—even if they leak, they are still delicious! Using a Toothpick: You can use a toothpick at the top and bottom of each jalapeño to anchor the bacon to it. You don’t have to do this, but the bacon will sometimes curl and unwrap itself from the ends as it bakes. Size of Jalapeños: Jalapeños vary in size, and larger ones may need 1 ½ to 2 slices of bacon to be fully wrapped. If you need to use more than one slice, secure the bacon with a wooden toothpick. The bacon will fuse as it bakes, allowing you to remove the toothpick before serving. Smoking: Can you smoke Texas Twinkies? Yes!! Smoke these in your smoker at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for about 40-45 minutes.
In the Refrigerator: Place any leftover peppers in an airtight container and refrigerate them for up to 2 days. The bacon may lose some of its crispiness, but the overall flavor will still be enjoyable. To Reheat: To reheat, place on a baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 10-15 minutes or until the bacon is nice and crispy again. You can also reheat these in an air fryer.
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