Texas Twinkies - Jalapeños Stuffed with Smoked Brisket Recipe

Texas is famous for its big, bold barbecue, and somewhere along the way folks dreamed up a snack called Texas Twinkies. These aren’t the yellow cake ones, but jalapeños stuffed with smoked brisket and cheese, wrapped in bacon. Each bite is kinda hot, kinda smoky, and totally mouthwatering.

The story of Texas Twinkies starts with people who love playing around with barbecue. They took the idea of jalapeño poppers and bumped it up by adding tender smoked brisket and creamy cheese, then they wrapped it all in bacon. It sounds simple, but the mix of spicy, smoky, and salty really makes your taste buds wake up. Now you see them at backyard cookouts, BBQ joints, and even food trucks all over Texas.

What Are Texas Twinkies?

Texas Twinkies are little jalapeños that folks slice open, clean out, and fill with a mix of chopped smoked brisket and soft cheeses. Then they wrap each pepper in a strip of bacon so it get crispy while it cooks. The jalapeño brings the heat, the brisket brings that smokey chew, and the cheese makes it rich. Together they pack a real flavor punch, no matter who’s eating.

People usually compare them to jalapeño poppers, but Texas Twinkies are way heartier because of the smoked meat. Poppers have just cheese and spices, but these add leftover or fresh-smoked brisket. Over time they became a must-have at BBQ feasts, tailgate parties, and family get-togethers across Texas.

They’ve gotten so popular that you’ll find them outside Texas too. Food fans love the combo of juicy meat, gooey cheese, and sizzling bacon. Whether you eat ’em as an appetizer, snack, or side, they’re gonna stand out on any menu.

Ingredients List

To make Texas Twinkies you need a few things:

• Jalapeños: Pick peppers that are firm and medium-sized. If they’re too small you can’t fill them, and too big they’re kinda scary hot.
• Smoked Brisket: Leftover brisket works perfect. If you don’t have any, buy some from a good BBQ place or smoke your own.
• Cream Cheese and Cheddar: Mix soft cream cheese with shredded cheddar. The cream cheese makes it smooth, the cheddar adds a sharp kick.
• Bacon: Use thick-cut bacon so it crisps well and holds everything together.
• Seasoning: Salt, pepper, garlic powder is enough. But you can try other spices if you like.
• Optional sides: Barbecue sauce, sour cream, coleslaw, or cornbread can go on the side.

Equipment Needed

You’ll wanna have the right stuff before you start:

• Smoker or Grill: A smoker gives that deep smoke taste, but a regular grill works fine too.
• Baking Sheet or Cast-Iron Skillet: To hold the peppers while they cook.
• Sharp Knife and Cutting Board: To cut open the jalapeños and chop brisket.
• Mixing Bowl: For mixing the cheese and brisket together.
• Disposable Gloves: Jalapeño oils can burn your skin, so gloves help a lot.

Detailed Recipe

Preparation of Ingredients

First, wash the jalapeños and slice them in half lengthwise. Scoop out seeds and membranes so they aren’t too crazy hot. In a bowl, mix the cream cheese and cheddar until it’s smooth. Chop or shred the brisket into small pieces and stir it into the cheese mix. Add salt, pepper, or garlic powder if you want more flavor.

Stuffing the Jalapeños

Use a spoon to fill each jalapeño half with the cheese-brisket mix. Don’t overfill or it’ll spill out when it cooks. Then wrap a slice of bacon around each one and secure it with a toothpick if it feels loose.

Cooking the Texas Twinkies

Preheat your smoker or grill to about 225°F, or heat your oven to 375°F if you’re baking. Put the peppers on the grates or on a baking sheet. Cook for 20–30 minutes until the bacon is crispy and the cheese is bubbling. Keep an eye on them so they don’t burn. When they look perfect, take them off and let them cool for a minute before eating.

Texas Twinkies - Jalapeños Stuffed with Smoked Brisket

Texas Twinkies are a mouthwatering appetizer featuring jalapeños stuffed with smoked brisket and cream cheese, wrapped in bacon and smoked to perfection. These savory bites are perfect for gatherings and will leave your guests wanting more.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr

Total Time 1 hour hr 20 minutes mins

Course Appetizer

Cuisine Texan

Servings 4 People

Calories 250 kcal

Equipment

• 1 smoker or grill
• 1 baking tray
• 1 aluminum foil
• 1 mixing bowl
• optional toothpicks

Ingredients

  

• 16 large jalapeño peppers
• 2 cups smoked brisket, chopped
• 1 cup cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 16 slices bacon
• to taste salt
• to taste pepper
• optional BBQ sauce for drizzling

Instructions

 

• Preheat your smoker or grill to 225°F (107°C).
• Prepare the jalapeños by slicing them in half lengthwise and removing the seeds and membranes (use gloves if desired to avoid spicy oils).
• In a mixing bowl, combine the smoked brisket, cream cheese, shredded cheddar cheese, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Mix well until all ingredients are combined.
• Stuff each jalapeño half generously with the brisket mixture.
• Wrap each stuffed jalapeño with a slice of bacon, securing it with a toothpick if necessary.
• Place the wrapped jalapeños on a baking tray lined with aluminum foil.
• Once the smoker or grill is preheated, place the baking tray with the jalapeños in it. Smoke for about 60 minutes, or until the bacon is crispy and the cheese is melted.
• Remove from the smoker or grill and let them cool for a few minutes before serving.
• Optional: Drizzle with BBQ sauce for extra flavor before serving.

Notes

For an extra kick, consider adding diced jalapeños or hot sauce to the cream cheese mixture.

These Texas Twinkies can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator; just smoke them when you're ready to serve.

Adjust the number of jalapeños based on the number of servings required.