Texas Twinkies
Texas Twinkies are jalapeno poppers with a barbeque twist! These easy-to-make smoked appetizers are bound to be your new favorite.
A couple of weeks ago, after a trip to the grocery store, I was trying to stuff some ice cream in our stand-up freezer. It was beyond full. Embarrassingly so.
To the point that I threatened Kevy that I would stop cooking because it’s crammed with leftovers. I decided to do some sorting and came out with a handful of bags with vacuum-sealed smoked brisket point.
It was time I got creative!
This Texas Twinkies recipe is dedicated to cleaning out that freezer.
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Tips + Tricks
No. 1 –> If your barbecue sauce is too thick, thin it down with a bit of water so it’s easy to brush on.
No. 2 –> Use thin-cut bacon for this. Homemade bacon works excellent if it’s not sliced too thick!
No. 3 –> Use your preferred slicing method. Jalapeno poppers are generally served in halved jalapenos sliced right down the middle, but for this recipe, I wanted something a little more hearty to keep in that all that leftover brisket yum. This is totally up to your discretion, you can make them in halves or wholes.
Key ingredients
Cheese: This recipe owes a lot of it’s deliciousness to the cream cheese and Monterey Jack cheese. They combine together to make an irresistible cream filling.
Jalapenos: Can’t have a spicy popper without a jalapeno pepper! When choosing your peppers, pick large, bright and firm jalapenos. Avoid any wrinkled, or soft peppers.
Brisket: Use pulled smoked brisket point for this recipe. It’s just the right mix of succulent, moist flavor for your enjoyment!
Barbecue sauce: While the addition of smoked brisket sets this recipe apart from a regular jalapeno popper, so does the sweet barbecue sauce. Brushing these spicy bits with BBQ sauce near the end of the cook gives them a sweet caramelized glaze that you just can’t beat!
How to make Texas Twinkies
- Preheat smoker or pellet grill to 225f.
- In the bowl of your stand mixer or food processor, combine the cream cheese, shredded Monterey Jack, barbecue sauce, and chopped brisket. Pulse until completely combined.
- Wash and dry the peppers, then carefully slice a small wedge out of the top. Leaving the bottom of the pepper and the stem intact.
- Use the back of a spoon to remove the membrane and seeds from the inside of the jalapeno.
- Use a spoon or knife to carefully stuff the jalapeno with the brisket filling. Replace the cut-out wedge once filled.
- Working 1 strip at a time, wrap each jalapeno up to seal the opening. Secure the bacon with toothpicks.
- Place the Texas Twinkies directly on the grill grates and smoke at 225f for 90 minutes.
- Brush with thin BBQ sauce, then increase smoker temperature to 350f and smoke for another 15-20 minutes, or until the sauce begins to caramelize. Using the sauce is optional, but the higher cooking temperature is not! Make sure to smoke them at 350f for 15-20 minutes even if not using the sauce.
- Remove from smoker and allow to cool for a few minutes before serving.
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Batch + Storage Information
Batch:
This recipe as written will make 15-20 3-4″ stuffed jalapenos. It can be scaled up quite easily! All ratios remain the same and the smoke time is the same as well.
Storage:
Once smoked, they can be stored in the fridge for 2-3 days, or frozen for 2-3 months. Reheat them in your oven, air fryer, or toss them on the Traeger next time you’re rolling smoke.
Variations + substitutions
- Don’t like it hot? Sub the jalapeno peppers out with mini sweet peppers. My kids love these but don’t love the jalapenos so I use mini sweet peppers for them!
- Swap out the Monterey Jack cheese for smoked cheese!
- No brisket? Use leftover smoked pulled pork, leftover smoked turkey, or even fried ground beef.
Make ahead
The beauty with these Texas Twinkies aside from how incredibly yummy they are is the ability to batch cook for future snack attacks!
To make ahead, follow the recipe for making the mix. At this point, you can refrigerate the filling for up to 2 days before slicing, stuffing, and smoking the jalapenos, or place assembled Texas Twinkies in a tin foil tray and freeze them for later!
To use frozen Twinkies remove the entire tray from the freezer and thaw at room temperature for approximately 2 hours or in the fridge overnight. Then follow baking directions as per the recipe.
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📖 Printable Recipe
Texas Twinkies
Ingredients
- 8 oz block Philadelphia cream cheese room temperature
- 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
- 2 cups shredded smoked brisket point
- 10 slices bacon
- ½ cup sweet barbecue sauce divided
Instructions
- Preheat smoker or pellet grill to 225f.
- In the bowl of your stand mixer or food processor, combine an 8 oz block Philadelphia cream cheese, 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese, 2 tablespoons ½ cup sweet barbecue sauce, and 2 cups shredded smoked brisket point. Pulse until completely combined, but avoid over-mixing. Set aside.
- Wash and dry the peppers, then carefully slice a small wedge out of the top. Leaving the bottom of the pepper and the stem intact. Carefully scrape out the seeds and membranes.
- Use a small spoon or knife to fill each jalapeno with the filling. Replace the wedge on the jalapenos.
- Working 1 strip of bacon at a time, wrap each jalapeno up to seal the opening. Secure the bacon with toothpicks.
- Place the Texas Twinkies directly on the grill grates and smoke at 225f for 90 minutes.
- Bush with remaining barbecue sauce, then increase smoker temperature to 350f and smoke for another 15-20 minutes, or until the sauce begins to caramelize.
- Remove from smoker and allow to cool for a few minutes before serving.
Notes
Batch:
This recipe as written will make 15-20 3-4" stuffed jalapenos. It can be scaled up quite easily! All ratios remain the same and the smoke time is the same as wellStorage:
Once smoked, they can be stored in the fridge for 2-3 days, or frozen for 2-3 months. Reheat them in your oven, air fryer, or toss them on the Traeger next time you’re rolling smoke.variations + substitutions
- Don’t like it hot? Sub the jalapeno peppers out with mini sweet peppers. My kids love these but don’t love the jalapenos so I use mini sweet peppers for them!
- Swap out the Monterey Jack cheese for SMOKED CHEESE!
- No brisket? Use leftover SMOKED PULLED PORK, LEFTOVER SMOKED TURKEY, or even fried ground beef.