Texas Twinkies | The Recipe Critic

Texas Twinkies are a major upgrade to your classic jalapeño poppers! They’re jalapeños filled with cream cheese, brisket, and shredded cheese, then wrapped in bacon and cooked to perfection. These are the hit of any party!

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!

1. Prep: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or foil.
2. Slice the Jalapeños: Prepare the jalapeños by cutting a slit down the length of one side and then another cut across the top, stopping before cutting all the way through. The two cuts should form a T on the jalapeño. Keep the stem, but remove the seeds and veins. Repeat with the remaining jalapenos.
3. Make the Filling: Combine the cream cheese, brisket, pepper jack, and seasonings in a large bowl. Spoon the brisket mixture into the jalapeños until they are filled but are still able to close all the way.
4. Wrap With Bacon: Wrap each jalapeño tightly with a slice of bacon. You can use toothpicks to hold the bacon on the peppers, but they are not necessary.
5. Bake: Line the jalapeños up on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 25-30 minutes, until the bacon is getting crispy and the jalapeños are tender. Brush each one generously with BBQ sauce and bake for an additional 5 minutes,
6. Cool and enjoy: Let them cool slightly before serving.

More Appetizers With Bacon

Bacon is a crowd favorite and has a way of making anything taste better! I especially love to serve appetizers wrapped in bacon because it’s always the first to go. Try these delicious bacon appetizers for your next party or gathering!