Bacon-Wrapped Stuffed Jalapenos

Total Time

Prep: 1 hour Grill: 40 min.

Makes

2 dozen

Updated: Aug. 22, 2023
Sunday is grill-out day for my husband, Cliff, and these bacon-wrapped jalapeno poppers are one of his specialties. We usually feature them at our annual Daytona 500 party. They disappear from the appetizer tray in no time.—Therese Pollard, Hurst, Texas
Bacon-Wrapped Stuffed Jalapenos Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Ingredients

  • 24 medium jalapeno peppers
  • 1 pound uncooked chorizo or bulk spicy pork sausage
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
  • 12 bacon strips, cut in half

Directions

  1. Make a lengthwise cut in each jalapeno, about 1/8 in. deep; remove seeds. Combine the sausage and cheese; stuff into jalapenos. Wrap each with a piece of bacon; secure with toothpicks.
  2. Grill, covered, over indirect medium heat for 35-40 minutes or until a thermometer reads 160°, turning once. Grill, covered, over direct heat for 1-2 minutes or until bacon is crisp.
Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers Tips

What else can you put inside bacon-wrapped jalapeno poppers?

If you're just learning how to cook with chorizo, know that it packs some heat. For a more mellow flavor, make these poppers with mild pork sausage, Italian sausage or ground beef. A lot of jalapeno popper-inspired recipes include cream cheese. If you're a cream cheese appetizer kind of person, cook just 1/2 pound meat and mix it with 8 ounces softened cream cheese and 1 cup shredded cheddar for the filling.

How else can you prepare bacon-wrapped jalapeno poppers?

It's really convenient to make grilled appetizer recipes like these jalapeno poppers if you're having a barbecue. But you might prefer to prepare them in the oven or air fryer. Preheat the oven to 375° and arrange the poppers in a 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Bake until the bacon is cooked through, 20 to 25 minutes. Or, preheat the air fryer to 400° and arrange the poppers in a single layer. Cook until the bacon is cooked through, 10 to 15 minutes. Warning: Air-fryer appetizers can be addicting!

Can you make bacon-wrapped jalapeno poppers ahead of time?

Yes, you can make bacon-wrapped jalapeno poppers head of time. Make-ahead appetizers are always convenient when having company! To make these jalapeno poppers ahead of time, stuff and wrap the peppers with bacon then cover and refrigerate them for up to 2 days.

—Peggy Woodward, Taste of Home Senior Food Editor
Peppers (Hot)
Wear disposable gloves when cutting hot peppers; the oils can burn skin. Avoid touching your face.

Nutrition Facts

1 stuffed jalapeno: 132 calories, 10g fat (4g saturated fat), 30mg cholesterol, 365mg sodium, 1g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 0 fiber), 8g protein.