Texas Twinkies are bacon-wrapped roasted jalapenos, stuffed with cream cheese and tender chunks of brisket. Brush them with BBQ sauce for a sticky sweet glaze and you have a mouthwatering snack, appetizer, or lunch.
If you want more delicious jalapeño recipes, try these Loaded Jalapeno Poppers, Chicken Jalapeño Popper Hot Pockets, and this Jalapeño Popper Grilled Cheese Sandwich next!
Jump to:
- Why You will Love This Texas Twinkies Recipe:
- What are Texas Twinkies?
- Ingredients you need:
- How to Make Texas Twinkies:
- Alternatives and Variations:
- Pro-Tips:
- Storing and Reheating:
- FAQ:
- More BBQ Recipes to Try
- 📖 Recipe
- Be sure to tag me on Instagram or Facebook when you make this Texas Twinkie recipe! I would love to see your creation, and give you a shoutout!
If you love stuffed jalapeños nhen you will definitely devour these Texas Twinkies! They are salty, savory, and tangy with a touch of heat.
Bite into a hot crispy bacon-wrapped jalapeño popper, and enjoy the blast of flavors from melt-in-your-mouth brisket, and creamy cheese. I can not wait to share this ultimate stuffed jalapeños recipe with you!
Why You will Love This Texas Twinkies Recipe:
Tasty Way to Use Leftovers! The day after Thanksgiving dinner or a barbecue, this is a delicious way to use up that leftover brisket.
Perfect Party Appetizer! Whether you are watching a football game or hosting a holiday party this is the top choice for any gathering. Set these on a platter and see how quickly they disappear!
Quick and Easy! With a premade ingredient, these Texas Twinkies are ready in just 20 minutes!
What are Texas Twinkies?
Texas Twinkies are roasted and deseeded jalapenos stuffed with cheese and brisket, wrapped in bacon. Bake or smoke them. This Texas bbq side dish recipe was popularized by Hutchins BBQ in McKinney, Texas.
Ingredients you need:
- Jalapeño peppers: Use medium-large peppers so they are big enough to fit the hearty filling.
- Bacon: Use your favorite brand of bacon. Thick-cut bacon is preferred.
- Cream cheese: Ensure it is at room temperature for easier mixing.
- Brisket: Cooked and chopped. Try my Texas Style Smoked Brisket recipe for perfectly juicy, tender beef brisket.
- Cheddar cheese: Shredded.
- Seasoning: I use garlic powder, paprika, and cayenne pepper (this is optional but recommended if you want a spicy kick).
- BBQ sauce: This is brushed over the stuffed jalapeño peppers once they are cooked.
How to Make Texas Twinkies:
Preheat Oven & Chop Brisket
Preheat your oven to 375°F. Place a piece of parchment paper onto a baking sheet, and put a wire cooling rack over the parchment paper. Your brisket should already be cooked. Chop it up (if it is not already diced) while the oven heats up.
Roast Jalapeños
Add the jalapeños to the rack in one even layer and place them in the oven to roast for 7 minutes. This softens them so they are easier to cut and deseed.
After 7 minutes, remove the jalapenos from the oven and let them cool off a bit so you can handle them. They will continue to steam and soften as they sit.
Slice & Deseed Jalapeños
Once the jalapenos are cool enough to touch, cut a “T” in them by cutting the stem of the jalapeno, but not completely removing it. Then slice them down the middle lengthwise. Remove the seeds and ribs if you prefer milder flavor.
Make Cheese & Brisket Mixture
In a mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, chopped brisket, shredded cheddar cheese, garlic powder, paprika, and cayenne pepper. Mix well until all the ingredients are thoroughly combined.
Assemble Texas Twinkies
Spoon the cheese mixture into each jalapeno half and press it down to evenly fill the cavity. Do not overfill in order to avoid leakage during cooking.
Wrap each stuffed pepper with a slice of bacon, securing it with toothpicks if necessary. Ensure the bacon completely covers the filling so it does not dry out.
Place the Texas Twinkies on the wire rack with the bacon seam side down. Add the baking sheet to the oven and cook them for 10 minutes.
Bake & Brush Texas Twinkies with BBQ Sauce
Remove the baking sheet from the oven and rotate the jalapeno peppers to ensure even cooking. Brush sweet barbecue sauce over the top of the Texas Twinkies, and then place them back into the oven and cook for an additional 7 minutes.
Remove them from the oven, and then brush them with more BBQ sauce if desired. Serve the Texas Twinkies as an appetizer or as a side dish alongside your favorite meal!
Alternatives and Variations:
- Protein: Instead of brisket, you can use ground beef, chorizo, think sliced tri-tip, or chunks of ribeye steak.
- Cheese: Swap the cheddar for gouda, if you prefer a tangier flavor, or Monterey jack cheese for extra spice.
- Peppers: For milder heat, use bell peppers.
- Smoked Texas Twinkies: For a deep smoky flavor, nothing beats the smoker. Add them directly to the wire rack and smoke them at 375°F for 45 minutes. Then apply the BBQ sauce and smoke for an additional 15 minutes.
Pro-Tips:
- Wear gloves when handling the jalapeños and avoid touching your face. Wash your hands immediately afterward.
- Stretch the bacon as much as possible before wrapping them around the jalapeños. If you need to use two strips to completely cover the pepper, that is fine. Use a toothpick to secure it if you need to.
- You will definitely want to use a wire rack. This prevents the grease from the bacon from pooling beneath the Texas Twinkies, making them soggy.
- Try to use the point of the brisket for this recipe. This is the fatty part of the meat. It holds more flavor and is less likely to dry out when baked.
Storing and Reheating:
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Air fry them at 375°F for about 7-10 minutes.
FAQ:
What is the difference between Texas Twinkies and Texas Torpedos?
Texas Twinkies are wrapped in bacon whereas Texas Torpedoes are encrusted with pork sausage.
How do you cut jalapeño peppers for stuffing?
Cut a “T” in the stem end of the jalapeño without completely removing it. Then slice them down the middle lengthwise.
How long does it take to smoke stuffed jalapeños at 225?
It will take about 1.5-2 hours to smoke stuffed jalapeños set to 225°F.
More BBQ Recipes to Try
- Chopped Beef Brisket Sandwich
- BBQ Pulled Pork Sliders
- Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork
- Tender Baby Back Ribs in the Oven
📖 Recipe
Ingredients
- 8 medium-large Jalapeno peppers
- 8 slices Bacon
- 8 oz Cream cheese room temperature
- 1 cup Brisket cooked and chopped
- 1 cup Cheddar cheese shredded
- 1 teaspoon Garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Paprika
- ½ teaspoon Cayenne pepper optional
- 1 cup BBQ sauce to brush over top
Instructions
- 1. Preheat your oven 375°F. Place a piece of parchment paper onto a baking sheet, and put a wire cooling rack over the parchment paper.
- 2. Place the jalapenos on the rack in one even layer and put them in the oven to roast for 7 minutes. This is to soften them up to make them easier to cut and deseeded.
- 3. After 7 minutes, remove the jalapenos from the oven and let them cool off a bit so you can handle them. They will continue to steam and soften as they sit.
- 4. Once the jalapenos are cool enough to touch, cut a “T” in them by cutting the stem of the jalapeno, but not completely removing it. Then slice them down the middle lengthwise. Remove the seeds and ribs if you prefer milder flavor.
- 3. In a mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, chopped brisket, shredded cheddar cheese, garlic powder, paprika, and cayenne pepper. Mix well until all the ingredients are thoroughly combined.
- 4. Spoon the cheese mixture into each jalapeno half and press it down to evenly fill the cavity. Do not overfill to avoid leakage during cooking.
- 5. Wrap each stuffed pepper with a slice of bacon, securing it with toothpicks if necessary. Make sure the filling is fully covered by the bacon.
- 6. Place the Texas Twinkies on the wire rack xfwith the bacon seam side down. Add the baking sheet in the oven and cook them for 10 minutes.
- 7. Remove the baking sheet from the oven and rotate the jalapeno peppers to ensure even cooking. Brush the BBQ sauce over the top of the Texas Twinkies, and place them back into the oven and cook for an additional 7 minutes.
- 8. Remove them from the oven, brush with more BBQ sauce if desired. Serve the Texas Twinkies as an appetizer, or as a side dish alongside your favorite meal!
Larry says
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