Description
Texas Twinkies are a mouthwatering appetizer featuring jalapeños stuffed with a savory mixture of cream cheese, cheddar, and beef brisket, wrapped in crispy bacon and glazed with tangy BBQ sauce. Perfect for game day or any party, these spicy, cheesy bites deliver bold flavors and satisfying textures.
Ingredients
Scale
Jalapeños
- 12 large jalapeños
Filling
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 4 ounces cheddar cheese block, shredded
- 2 cups finely chopped leftover beef brisket
- ½ tablespoon chili powder
Wrap and Glaze
- 12 slices bacon
- ¼ cup BBQ sauce
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 400°F. Place a wire rack on top of a rimmed baking sheet and spray it with nonstick cooking spray to prevent sticking. Set this aside for later use.
- Prepare Jalapeños: Slice the tops off the jalapeños and carefully remove all the seeds and membranes using gloves to protect your hands from the heat.
- Make the Filling: In a bowl, thoroughly combine the softened cream cheese, shredded cheddar cheese, chopped leftover beef brisket, and chili powder until evenly mixed.
- Stuff Jalapeños: Transfer the cheese and brisket filling into a gallon-sized ziplock bag and cut off one corner to create a makeshift piping bag. Pipe the filling mixture into each hollowed jalapeño until fully stuffed.
- Wrap with Bacon: Wrap each filled jalapeño with one slice of bacon, ensuring it is secured around the pepper.
- Bake: Arrange the bacon-wrapped jalapeños on the prepared wire rack and bake in the center of the oven for 10 minutes. Then carefully flip each jalapeño and bake for an additional 10 minutes until the bacon is crispy and the filling is hot.
- Broil with BBQ Sauce: Remove the jalapeños from the oven and brush them evenly with BBQ sauce. Turn the oven broiler to low and place the jalapeños approximately 6 inches beneath the broiler for 2 minutes. Watch closely to avoid burning while the sauce caramelizes.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the jalapeños from the oven and allow them to cool slightly before serving to enjoy the perfect balance of spicy, smoky, and cheesy flavors.
Notes
- Use gloves when handling jalapeños to avoid skin irritation.
- Choose good-sized jalapeños to hold a generous amount of filling.
- If you don’t have leftover brisket, ground chorizo or pork butt are excellent substitutes.
- You can purchase cooked brisket from a local BBQ restaurant if preferred.
- Ensure the bacon strips are wrapped tightly to prevent unwrapping during cooking.
- Keep a close eye during broiling to prevent burning the BBQ sauce.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 twinkie
- Calories: 180 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 4 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 8 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg
