Smoked Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers

Why this Recipe Works

People always talk about these smoked bacon wrapped jalapeño poppers after we make them! They tick all the boxes: sweet, salty, spicy, creamy, crispy, smoky, and perfectly seasoned.

These bacon wrapped poppers are the perfect appetizer to serve while you watch a football game, like the Super Bowl, at a barbecue, potluck, or even just family dinner.

They're pretty easy to assemble, and don't take too long on the smoker! Make these on your Traeger pellet smoker, or your Pit Boss egg smoker, either works for this recipe.  We've also included instructions on how you can make these on a grill, in the oven, or in an air fryer.

Ingredient Notes

• Jalapeños. You'll need 12 medium-large jalapeños, try to get them all about the same size, this will help with even cooking.
• Cream cheese. You can use full-fat or reduced fat cream cheese for this recipe.
• Cheddar Cheese. I usually use sharp cheddar cheese. You can use any kind you like, or even swap the cheese for something like a Mexican cheese blend or Colby jack cheese.
• Seasonings. You'll use garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, and salt to season the cream cheese filling.
• Bacon. Use regular, uncooked bacon for these smoked bacon wrapped jalapeño poppers. Thick cut bacon doesn't cook as well. Don't use pre-cooked bacon. 
• Barbecue Sauce. A little bit of barbecue sauce is brushed on

How to Make this Recipe

1. Slice and Prep Jalapeños. Heat your smoker to 250 degrees Fahrenheit while you prepare the smoked jalapeño poppers. Slice jalapeños lengthwise, through the stem, use a spoon to remove the seeds and membranes.
2. Make Filling. Make the filling by mixing together cream cheese, shredded cheese, and seasonings.

3. Fill Jalapeños. Use a spoon to fill each jalapeño with your cream cheese mixture
4. Wrap Poppers. Take a slice of bacon and wrap it around the jalapeño, slightly overlapping the bacon. If needed, use a toothpick to secure the bacon to the jalapeño popper.

5. Smoke. Place the poppers on a cooling rack before placing it on the smoker grate. You can also place the jalapeños  straight on the grate. The cooking time will vary based on your smoker and how crispy you want your bacon. Check on the poppers after 45 minutes, they can take up to 2 hours. Mine usually look good around 90 minutes Just make sure the cheese filling is hot and the bacon is thoroughly cooked.
6. Baste. Using a basting brush or a spoon, lightly spread a little barbecue sauce on the bacon wrapped poppers before eating and enjoying.

Using a Traeger vs. Ceramic Egg Smoker

Do you need to make any changes to the recipe if you are using a pellet smoker, like a Traeger, vs. a ceramic egg smoker, like a Big Green Egg, Kamado, or Pit Boss?

We have a Pit Boss Kamado smoker, however, you should not need to make any major changes to the recipe no matter what smoker you are using. My only recommendation is, if you are using a pellet smoker, like Traeger, use the Super Smoke setting! This allows you to impart extra smoke flavor at lower temperatures.

How to Make these in the Oven, Grill, or Air Fryer

If you don't have a smoker you can make these bacon wrapped jalapeño poppers in the oven, on a grill, or in the air fryer. They'll be missing that smoke flavor, but guaranteed to still be delicious.

Oven Instructions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with foil (for easy clean up! Skip if you want.) and grease it. Assemble the bacon wrapped poppers and arrange them on the baking sheet, leaving a little space between each one. Bake for 20-25 minutes.

Grill Instructions

Since the jalapeños must be flipped on the grill, you must wrap the bacon around the jalapeño so that all the cheese is enclosed, otherwise you'll end up with leakage, and a mess on your grill.

Heat your grill to a medium-high heat. After assembling your poppers, place the poppers cut side down for 5-10 minutes. The bacon should be crisping up. Use a metal spatula to loosen the bacon from the grate, it has a tendency to stick. Flip it over and reduce the grill heat to medium-low. Cook the poppers for an additional 10-15 minutes until the bacon is cooked and to your desired level of crispiness.

Air Fryer Instructions

To cook the poppers in the air fryer, assemble the poppers according to the instructions. Place in your air fryer and cook at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 15 minutes.

It's important to note, that air fryers can vary wildly based on brand, size, etc. So keep a close eye on them and adjust the time or temperature as needed. Don't worry, the poppers won't get ruined if you check on the poppers every few minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Expert Tips

• Take advantage of leftovers. If you have leftover meat (think: smoked pulled pork, brisket, rib meat, etc.), try finely chopping some up and adding some to the cream cheese mixture. You will not regret it!
• Use a cooling rack. I recommend placing the assembled poppers on a cooling rack, then placing the cooling rack on the smoker grates. It makes it easier to take on and off the smoker. Plus, if your bacon decides to stick, it's easier to get off the cooling rack than the smoker grate.
• Skip the thick cut bacon. I know it's tempting, we love some thick cut bacon. However, this is not the right recipe for thick cut bacon. Stick with the regular bacon. If you use thick cut, it takes longer to cook and never really crisps up on the jalapeño poppers, it mostly stays chewy.
• Use gloves. When cutting and preparing the jalapeños, help yourself out, wear gloves when handling the jalapeños. Nothing worse than having your skin burning from a particularly hot batch of jalapeños! If you do find yourself in a position where your skin is irritated and burning from the peppers, grab some yogurt, sour cream, or milk and soak your hands in it. This should help dissolve the capsaicin oil which causes the burning sensation.

What to Serve with Jalapeño Poppers

What pairs well with jalapeño poppers? Jalapeño poppers are a great snack, appetizer, or make them a main. They are a classic party food that you often see at football watch parties, potlucks, or barbecues.  Some of our favorite things to serve alongside these smoked bacon wrapped jalapeño poppers are:

• Hamburgers
• Buffalo Chicken Dip
• Homemade Pizza
• Mac and Cheese
• Jalapeño Popper Rolls
• San Antonio Chicken

How to Store this Recipe

These smoked bacon wrapped jalapeño poppers are best eaten fresh! However, they can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 5 days or even frozen!

To freeze, cool the poppers completely, then place in an airtight container or freezer bag in the freezer for up to 3 months.

The jalapeño poppers can be reheated in the oven or air fryer. If frozen, thaw before reheating. To reheat in the oven, place on a tray and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 15-20 minutes. If using the air fryer, heat them at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 10 minutes.

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