BBQ Jalapeno Poppers

Pin It

Have you heard of Pioneer Woman?  If you haven't you must go to her cooking blog at www.thepioneerwoman.com/cooking and check out her huge collection of amazing recipes and hilarious commentary. She is my inspiration! Her blog is a huge success and she has now been on many tv shows, magazines, and has her own cookbook.  They're even making a movie about her!  I was so excited to make these bacon-wrapped jalapenos.  I totally forgot to brush them with BBQ sauce the first time I made them (as seen above) but I now know it is a must!  These are great because it makes 36 and freezes well.  You can make a whole batch, freeze them, then take as many out as needed at the time.  Let them thaw completely, though, before cooking them.  I've now made them in the oven and on the grill and I like them both ways.  When grilling just keep them over low heat for about 30 minutes.  I hope you enjoy these as much as we did!

BBQ JALAPENO POPPERS
www.thepioneerwoman.com/cooking

Ingredients:
18 whole Fresh Jalapenos, 2-3 Inches In Size
One 8-ounce package cream cheese
1/2 C grated cheddar cheese
1 green onion, sliced
18 slices thin bacon (regular), cut into halves
1 C BBQ sauce
Toothpicks
Preparation Instructions:

Preheat oven to 275 degrees F.

If you have them, slip on some latex gloves for the pepper prep. Cut jalapenos in half, length-wise. With a spoon, remove the seeds and white membrane (the source of the heat; leave a little if you like things HOT). In a bowl, combine cream cheese, cheddar cheese, and chopped green onion.

Stuff cheese mixture into each jalapeno half. Wrap jalapeno with bacon pieces (1/2 slice). Secure by sticking toothpick through the middle. Be careful not to stretch the bacon too tightly around the jalapeno, as the bacon will contract as it cooks.  (At this point, you can freeze them, uncooked, in a Ziploc bag for later use).
Brush the surface of the bacon with your favorite barbeque sauce. Chutney or apricot jelly work well too!

Bake on a sheet pan for 1 hour, or until the bacon is sizzling. 

Serve immediately, or they’re also great at room temperature.

Poppers can be assembled up to a day ahead of time and kept in the fridge before cooking.