These delicious Texas Twinkies are made with leftover beef brisket and are an easy oven-baked recipe. Incredibly delicious smoked brisket is mixed with cream cheese, shredded cheddar, seasoning, and stuffed in jalapenos and wrapped in bacon. They are baked to crispy perfection and brushed with barbecue sauce.
If you love jalapeño poppers, but you’re tired of the same old same old, then get ready for something that will knock your socks right off! These Texas Twinkies are an amazing appetizer that will have everyone coming back for more. I know because I make them all the time. I love to whip up batches of these when I have leftover brisket because the spicy kick of the poppers is perfect with the brisket and the bacon. It’s a spicy, cheesy, meaty snack that no one can put down.
Texas Twinkies
This delicious appetizer recipe starts with halved and hulled jalapenos stuffed with a cheesy mixture. They’re classic popper except that the cheese filling has an added kick of beefy flavor thanks to leftover brisket. From there, I wrap the brisket jalapeno poppers in bacon and bake them until hot and melty on the inside and crispy on the outside. When it’s all done, I have jalapeno poppers that are anything but ordinary with a beefy filling and crispy bacon exterior. They’re so good, and I rarely have leftovers.
Why You’ll Love This Texas Twinkie Recipe
- They’re delicious and are a unique twist on the classic appetizer. The combination of flavors is simply irresistible.
- They are easy to make and only require a few simple ingredients. The only challenge is removing the seeds from the jalapeno, which is simple to do.
- They make the perfect party appetizer. Texas Twinkies are great for game day, tailgating, family gatherings or a midday snack.
- They’re sure to be a hit with everyone that tries them, and it’s a great way to use up leftover brisket.
Texas Twinkie Ingredients
You’ll only need a few simple ingredients to make this recipe. You’ll find everything you need at your local grocery store in just minutes, and then you’ll be off!
- Jalapeno peppers
- Bacon
- Cream cheese
- Leftover beef brisket
- Sharp cheddar cheese
- Slap Ya Mama seasoning
- Black pepper
- Garlic powder
- Barbecue sauce
How to Make Texas Twinkies
Making this jalapeno popper variation is a snap. It’s basically a classic popper recipe with a couple of additions. The longest part of the recipe is baking the poppers!
Step 1: Prep
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees and line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Place a wire rack on top of the foil and set aside.
Step 2: Prep the Jalapenos
Rinse and dry the jalapenos. Then, cut them down the center but don’t go all the way through. Remove the seeds and membranes.
Step 3: Make the Filling
Beat the cream cheese in a medium bowl until fluffy. Then, add the seasonings, shredded cheese, and chopped brisket and stir to combine.
Step 4: Make the Poppers
Spoon the brisket cream cheese mixture into each jalapeno. Then, wrap the jalapenos in bacon and secure with toothpicks if needed.
Step 5: Bake
Place the poppers on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 50 to 60 minutes or until the bacon is crispy. Remove from the oven, brush with BBQ sauce, and bake for another 10 to 15 minutes. Enjoy!
Recipe Tips
- Cut the jalapeno peppers in half lengthwise on ONLY one side so you can fill them while keeping the peppers whole.
- If the peppers are too hard to hollow out, you can cut a ¼-inch strip out of the pepper to get your fingers inside.
- Wash your hands after handling hot peppers and NEVER touch your face.
- Fully soften the cream cheese for easy whipping and mixing.
Variations
- You can use crumbled bacon instead of brisket in the filling.
- For a mild “popper”, stuff mini bell peppers instead.
- Use your favorite brand of BBQ sauce and bacon for this recipe.
- Make Texas Torpedoes instead by molding pork sausage around the Jalapenos rather than wrapping them in bacon.
What to Serve with Texas Twinkies
Texas Twinkies are simply jalapeno poppers with added deliciousness, and as such, they’re perfect with everything that you love to serve with other jalapeno poppers. Pair them with:
- Sweet corn salad
- Guacamole
- Spinach artichoke dip
- Loaded nachos
- Refried beans
- Chipotle coleslaw
- Grilled pineapple
- Black bean salad
- Cheesy garlic bread
- Cucumber yogurt dip
- Salsa Fresca
- Carne asada
- Salsa
- Cheese dip
- Mexican rice
How to Smoke Texas Twinkies
Preheat your smoker to 250 degrees. Then, smoke the Texas Twinkies for 90 minutes over indirect heat until the bacon is dark, amber, and crispy. Brush with BBQ sauce in the last 10 minutes of cooking.
How to Air Fry Texas Twinkies
Preheat the air fryer to 370 degrees. Then, air fry the poppers for 12 to 15 minutes until the bacon is crispy. Brush with BBQ sauce and serve.
Recipe FAQ
Texas Torpedos are jalapeno poppers with brisket added to the cheese filling. Then, pork sausage is pressed around them before cooking.
Texas Twinkies get their name from Hutchins BBQ in McKinney and Frisco, Texas.
If you’re making traditional jalapeno poppers, cut them in half and then hollow them out. For Texas Twinkies or Texas Torpedos, cut one side of the jalapeno from top to bottom but not the other. This allows you to open the peppers and stuff them while keeping the peppers whole.
Yes, you can. Stuff the peppers with the filling, wrap them in bacon, and refrigerate them up to a day in advance.
Yes, you can. These will last for up to a month in the freezer.
How to Store and Reheat Leftovers
Refrigerate these poppers for up to 4 days in an airtight container. For longer storage, you an freeze these for up to a month in an airtight, freezer-safe container.
To reheat, bake them for 10 to 12 minutes at 350 degrees.
Try This Delicious Texas Twinkie Recipe Today
These Texas Twinkies are easy, delicious, and always a big hit with everyone. They’re full of spicy, beefy flavor; rich cream cheese; and a crispy bacon coating. Serve these at your next party, and I know they’ll be a permanent part of your appetizer collection.
More Delicious Appetizer Recipes You’ll Enjoy
These Deep Fried Crispy Jalapeños are always a delicious appetizer that gets devoured every time they are served. They are a family favorite jalapeno recipe and are great dipped in ranch dressing.
Texas Twinkies
Ingredients
- 10 jalapeno peppers
- 16 ounce bacon
- 8 ounce cream cheese
- 1 ½ cups leftover beef brisket, chopped
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 teaspoon Slap Ya Mama seasoning
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ cup barbecue sauce
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees and line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and place a wire rack on top of the foil. Set aside.
- Rinse and dry jalapenos. Cut down the center of the jalapenos but do not go all the way through. If needed, remove about ¼ inch all the way down so it’s easier to remove seeds and stuff with the brisket/cheese filling.
- In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese until fluffy.
- Add seasonings, shredded cheese and chopped brisket. Stir to combine.
- Spoon the brisket cream cheese mixture into each jalapeno.
- Wrap all the jalapenos with bacon and place on the prepared baking sheet. Use toothpicks to secure the bacon if needed.
- Bake for 50-60 minutes or until bacon is crispy.
- Remove from the oven, brush with BBQ sauce, and return to the oven for 10-15 additional minutes.
Notes
Nutrition
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These were amazing & easy to prepare. I used both jalapeño and poblano peppers on these and they were equally delicious. Next time I think I’ll try them outside on the pit.
Hi Charlotte,
I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe. Thank you so much for sharing and for the 5-star rating! :)