Smoked Jalapeno Poppers
On May 24, 2023 (Updated July 24, 2023)
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Looking for the absolutely perfect appetizer for game day or your upcoming backyard BBQ? These smoked jalapeno poppers are here to deliver with big flavor. They’re also the perfect size for finger food for just about any occasion.
Smoked Jalapeno Poppers
Classic jalapeño poppers have been a backyard BBQ staple for years and for good reason. They’re absolutely delicious! I’ve taken those simple flavors and added my own smoky BBQ twist to this smoked jalapeno poppers recipe.
Crumbled sausage, shredded cheddar, and cream cheese make the best version of a popper filling I’ve ever had. They also get a full covering of bacon and are seasoned with my Sweet Rub for a kiss of old-school smokehouse flavor.
The smoker is the perfect place to cook these poppers. The low heat renders the bacon to a perfect bite-through texture while leaving the jalapeños at that ideal tender-crisp consistency. You’ll never need another popper recipe. This one is the ultimate winner!
Ingredients for Smoked Jalapeno Poppers
These smoked jalapeno poppers aren’t too complicated, but you will need a few ingredients to give you all that amazing jalapeno popper flavor. Here’s what you need to make these poppers.
- 9 jalapenos
- 18 slices bacon (1 slice for each half of a jalapeno)
- 2 Tablespoons Hey Grill Hey Sweet Rub
- 1 pound pork sausage
- 8 ounces cream cheese
- 4 ounces shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 Tablespoon Hey Grill Hey Sweet Rub
My Hey Grill Hey Sweet Rub is the perfect seasoning for these jalapeno poppers. You can purchase a bottle of this amazing rub from the Hey Grill Hey Store, or you can make some from scratch using my recipe for Best Sweet Rub.
How to Smoke Jalapeno Poppers
Once you have all your ingredients purchased and assembled, you’re ready to get into this recipe! Here’s how to smoke jalapeno poppers.
- Preheat. Snag your favorite smoker and turn it on to 275 degrees F. Allow the smoker to preheat while you make your jalapeno poppers.
- Make the filling. Cook the sausage in a medium skillet. In a large mixing bowl, combine the cream cheese, shredded cheese, Sweet Rub, and add the sausage.
- Stuff the jalapenos. Cut your jalapenos in half and remove all the seeds and ribs. Scoop a large amount of the filling into each of the jalapeno halves.
- Wrap in bacon. Next, wrap each stuffed jalapeno in a slice of bacon. You can tuck the ends or use a toothpick to secure the bacon (just make sure it is secure so it doesn’t unravel on the smoker). You should now have 18 delicious jalapeno poppers ready to go on the smoker. Set them on a baking rack and season well with Sweet Rub.
- Smoke. Place the rack holding the jalapeno poppers on the grill grates of the smoker. Close the lid, and smoke for 45 minutes.
- Dig in! Once the bacon is fully cooked on the smoked jalapeno poppers, remove them from the smoker and serve. These make amazing appetizers or snacks during your backyard party.
How Long to Smoke Jalapeno Poppers
Plan on around 45 minutes to smoke these jalapeno poppers. This time may vary slightly each time you cook these depending on the size of your jalapenos, the thickness of the bacon, and the consistency of the head on your smoker. Keep an eye on the bacon, and remove them when the fat has rendered throughout.
Tips for Smoking Jalapeno Poppers
Hold tight for just a moment before diving into the recipe below! Here are some tips for smoking these amazing jalapeno poppers.
- Use regular bacon. No thin-cut or thick-cut types are necessary here. Too thin and it will fall apart. Too thick and it won’t cook through. Regular bacon is all you need.
- Get a flat baking rack. Once you’ve assembled your poppers, set them on a flat baking rack to cook. This makes moving them around so simple and saves loads of time.
- Prep in advance. Assembling poppers takes time. You can make these the day before, cover them with plastic wrap, and store them in the fridge until you’re ready to cook them.
More Jalapeno Popper Recipes
If you love jalapeno poppers, you’ll love these other scrumptious jalapeno popper recipes from Hey Grill Hey.
- Grilled Jalapeno Poppers
- Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Popper Chicken
- Raspberry Cream Cheese Jalapeno Poppers
Smoked Jalapeno Popper Recipe
Cooking dinner for your friends or family should be easy. If you’re looking for the ultimate way to help you make better BBQ, feed the people you love, and become a backyard BBQ hero, follow along on my social channels. You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube!
Smoked Jalapeno Poppers
Ingredients
- 9 jalapenos cut in half with seeds and ribs removed
- 18 slices bacon
- 2 Tablespoons Hey Grill Hey Sweet Rub recipe link in notes
Jalapeno Popper Filling
- 1 pound pork sausage
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- 4 ounces sharp cheddar cheese shredded
- 1 Tablespoon Hey Grill Hey Sweet Rub recipe link in notes
Instructions
- Preheat. Fire up the smoker and preheat it to 275 degrees F.
- Cook the sausage. In a medium skillet, brown and thoroughly cook the pork sausage, breaking it into small crumbles. Drain away the fat and set aside.
- Make the filling. In a large bowl, combine the cream cheese, cooked sausage, shredded cheese, and Sweet Rub.
- Stuff the jalapenos. Use a spoon to fill each jalapeno half with the filling mixture.
- Wrap and season. Wrap each popper in a slice of bacon, overlapping the ends of the bacon or using a toothpick to secure it. Set the filled and wrapped poppers on a flat baking rack. Season the top with the Sweet Rub.
- Smoke. Place the rack directly on the smoker grates, close the lid, and cook for 45 minutes to an hour, depending on the size of your jalapeno and the thickness of your bacon. You want the bacon to be well rendered and reddish in color with nice golden brown edges.
- Enjoy. Remove the poppers, let them cool for several minutes, and then serve.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Quick question, once made, can I freeze to smoke later??
Sure!
Made this recipe yesterday.. amazing ! I have extra filling- my question is can I freeze it ?
Absolutely!
Oh, my! Definitely making these again!!!
What do you mean by flat baking rack? A cookie sheet, baking tray, cooling rack?
The cooling rack style. Is what I use. Seen Susie use them on many videos too. Happy grilling.