If you saw the name Texas Twinkies and imagined a riff on a sponge cake with a cream filling, you’re not the only one. Despite the name, this southern recipe is far from a dessert. Savory food lovers will be happy to hear this food is actually a cream cheese and brisket filled jalapeno pepper that’s wrapped in bacon and baked to crispy perfection.
This appetizer is similar to jalapeno poppers, but the recipe calls for meat and barbecue sauce, making the dish a bit more hearty. While there are lots of ways to stuff a pepper, this might be our new favorite method when it comes to jalapenos. Texas Twinkies are a delicious tailgate snack, cookout appetizer or even a side dish if you like to add heat to your weeknight dinners.
Texas Twinkie Ingredients
- Jalapeno peppers
- Cream cheese
- Shredded or chopped smoked beef brisket
- Shredded pepper jack cheese
- Garlic salt
- Bacon strips
- Barbecue sauce
Directions
Step 1: Partially cook bacon
In a small skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until partially cooked but not crisp. Remove to paper towels to drain; keep warm.
Step 2: Prep the peppers
Cut a lengthwise slit in each pepper, exposing the center but not cutting all the way through. Make a crosswise slit just below the stem, leaving the stem intact. Use a small spoon to remove the seeds and membranes.
Step 3: Fill the peppers
In a large bowl, beat cream cheese until light and fluffy. Mix in the brisket, pepper jack and salt. Spoon into peppers. Wrap a bacon piece around each pepper; secure with a toothpick.
Step 4: Bake
Place peppers on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake until peppers are tender and bacon is cooked through, 30 to 35 minutes. Brush with barbecue sauce. Broil 4 inches from the heat until bacon is crispy, two to three minutes.
Texas Twinkies Tips
How do you make Texas Twinkies your own?
You can make a few changes to this recipe that will yield flavors you might enjoy even more. If you’re not a huge fan of cream cheese or want a cheesier flavor, pack your Texas Twinkies with pimiento cheese. To bring down the heat in this appetizer, you can sub the pepper jack cheese for cheddar or any of your favorite cheeses.
As for the outer wrap, you can add a hint of sweetness with maple bacon or opt for a peppered bacon for more texture and spice.
Can you make Texas Twinkies ahead of time?
For meal prep fans you’ll be happy to know that you can assemble some of the parts of Texas Twinkies early to save time on a busy day. Although the prep time is only 25 minutes, you can do a few things in advance to shorten that prep time.
Luckily, the recipe already calls for smoked brisket, so that part needs to be done in advance. The jalapenos can be cut and stored in an airtight container before cooking, and the cheeses and garlic salt can also be combined and stored in an airtight container.
On the day of cooking, all you’ll need to do is form an assembly line of your prepped ingredients, stuff the peppers, cook the bacon and bake the assembled jalapenos.
