Friday, December 9, 2011

Sausage Stuffed Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers

Oh yes.  Yes, yes, yes. 

Whoever came up with jalapeno peppers deserves a big kiss and maybe even a little butt pinch.  I've seen sausage stuffed and I've seen bacon wrapped.  I'm sure they exist, but I'm not googling because I would like to go on believing that I made them up the never before seen sausage stuffed, bacon wrapped jalapenos.  Yup.  That's right.   Hold on to your pants - cause these little torpedoes of love are about to blow. you. up.


Look.  You can even spruce them up for your holiday party and serve them on a fancy plate with homemade dill ranch dipping sauce (will post recipe tomorrow) to cool you down.  Unpretentious food can still look fabulous and impress your guests.  Plus, they'll probably like it more.  Hell they'll probably even like you more.  

Collect these yummy ingredients:

Jalapenos 
Bacon
Cheddar Cheese
Jimmy Dean Reduced Fat Sausage
Cream Cheese
Garlic Powder 

Grab your jalapenos.  Pick ones that don't look like they have been through a wood chipper.  You should have seen the selection I was working with.  Yikes. 

I like to remove the stems and the tough flesh at the base because it's better when guests don't have to hang on to something while they're mingling or worse, decorate your floor and end tables with half gnawed on stems.

Scoop out the seeds with a spoon.  See that vein running down?  That, along with the seeds, contain the punch of spice.  So if you don't want a lot of spice, scoop out as much of that as possible.  Or, if you really wanted, you could take the seeds and vein out and then boil them for 2-3 minutes to reduce the spice even more. 


Brown the sausage up. Remember the rule of cooking with sausage.  If your recipe calls for 1 pound, make two.  Or handcuff yourself/husband to somewhere far away from the kitchen, like the street pole outside.

Pour the sausage hot off the skillet onto the block of cream cheese and let it rest for a moment.  The heat will soften the cream cheese and make mixing much easier.  I love Jimmy Dean's reduce fat sausage because the flavor is delish and there isn't excess oil.  You don't have to drain it on paper towels before throwing it right into the bowl.

Ok, now give it a good stir.

Then add your garlic powder.

And then your cheddar.

And mix.

Assemble your ingredients on a clean working surface.

Cut your bacon in half.  Use the fattier pieces to wrap the larger peppers.  They will stretch and form around them much easier.


Yippee.  Half way there. 

If you have a hard time getting the bacon to stay I would recommend you use toothpicks.  I don't because I'm lazy and don't really care if a couple become unraveled.  Plus, the chef has to eat the ugly ones.  It's a rule.

Line them all up and pop them in a 375 degree oven for 30 - 45 minutes.  Play around with the temp.  If they look done, but you want the bacon a little crispier, crank the oven up to 400-425 to brown the bacon for a few.  Keep an eye on them though.


Mmmmm hhhhmmmmmm. That's what I'm talkin' bout.


Make a small plate for yourself.


Then pick up the best looking one...
...and do this.


Watch out for hungry pooches and stay hungry!!


Sausage Stuffed Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers
12 Jalapenos
12 Slices of Bacon, halved
1 Block of Cream Cheese
1 lb Jimmy Dean Reduced Fat Sausage, cooked
1 Cup Shredded Cheddar
1/4 Teaspoon of Garlic Powder 

Halve the jalapenos and remove stem and tough flesh attached to stem.  Remove seeds.  Add hot cooked sausage on top of cream cheese to facilitate mixing.  Mix in cheddar and garlic powder.  Stuff jalapenos with mixture.  Cut bacon in half and wrap each slice around the peppers.  Secure with toothpicks if desired.  Cook at 375 degrees for 30-45 minutes or until golden brown.  Eat them alone in a dark room so no one can see you and enjoy!

26 comments:

  1. These look amazing! I just might have to make them tomorrow for our holiday party, I was having recipe block :) Thanks Jaisa!
    -Amy J

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  2. I'm so glad you think so! I'll be posting more holiday party recipes in the coming weeks so stay tuned for more ideas!

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  3. These look mighty tasty! Next time my wife takes the truck to get cleaned I might try to make them without her knowing. She doesnt deserve them anyway. Roll Tide!

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  4. Absolutly delicious big hit with our guests.
    Rubbed my eyes after removing the seeds.BIG mistake.
    Love ya jaisa

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  5. These were awesome! I made them New Years Eve since we were having friends over. They were a hit everyone loved them! Can't wait to make them again.

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  6. Friend made these and I just had to have the recipe. They are so delicious.

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  7. Delicious made them for dinner and everyone loved them

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    Replies
    1. so glad everyone enjoyed them!

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    2. Can these be made and frozen? Planted just for this and with all my huge ones would love to prepare for some TIDE FOOTBALL TAILGATING! HURRY with reply! These are GREAT.

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  8. You should learn to make print buttons!

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  9. Whoa - you should mention to wear gloves when you make these - for the rookies like me out there - my hands have been burning for hours..lol

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  10. Just a quick question where can you buy the big jalapenos from have looked everywhere for them so want to try this as I looks lush

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    1. I get mine at Jewel Osco but Whole Foods usually has a beautiful selection as well. If you only have tiny ones, chop off the tip and fill up the whole pepper then wrap in bacon. That might even be better!

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  11. To me in the pic it looked as a sausage dog is on the cream cheese and then wrapped with bacon.Instead of cook sausage in the cream cheese??

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  12. Sorry That was A FB Photo I saw with this link...My Bad :(

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    Replies
    1. No problem! Just curious...what facebook page did you see this on?

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  13. Magyar leírás nincsen nincs?

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  14. These little buggers start fights if you run out. My Mom absolutely loved them. Not one complaint from anyone..........well only one MORE PLEASE!! I LOVE THIS RECIPE!!!

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  15. Can you make the mixture a head of time and refrigerate it? Then before your party, stuff the jalapeño peppers and wrap in bacon.

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    Replies
    1. Absolutely. You could even stuff and wrap them ahead of time.

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  16. For safety reasons I put on wide lens glasses to protect my eyes from any flying pepper juice when I am cleaning them. but I have made several of these on different occasions and everyone loves, loves, loves them!!!

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  17. Made these last night. Used Johnsonville Brats (2 spicy italian and 2 sweet italian) instead of sausage. Tasted awesome!! 2 problems though- they stuck to the aluminum foil like crazy, and were swimming in grease. Any suggestions?- Kristin

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    Replies
    1. Next time try using the non stick foil or parchment paper. Not sure why they were so greasy - did you drain the sausage first before adding to the cream cheese? You can always pat it with paper towels too to get any extra grease out.

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    2. definitely trying the parchment paper tonight. I drained the sausage- even smothered it with paper towel to soak up as much as I could. Going to try the reduced-fat sausage tonight- that may be the difference. Thanks!!- Kristin

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  18. I took your advice made a dozen then quietly snook into my mancave dimmed the lights and enjoyed them ALL in peace and harmony..lifes back good.

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Thank you so much for taking the time to comment!