Smoked Jalapeno Cheddar Bacon Cups
Crispy bacon-wrapped sausage cups filled with creamy pepper jack and cream cheese, topped with jalapeno slices and smoked until tender. A savory, spicy appetizer combining sweet heat seasoning, BBQ sauce, and smoky flavors from the grill.
Ingredients
- Sweet Heat Seasoning
- Smoke Steakhouse Seasoning
- Dixie Red BBQ Sauce
- Southbound Sauce
- 2 Cream Cheese blocksMascarpone1:1texture_changeFull guide →
- ½ Cup Pepper Jack Cheese, shreddedMonterey Jack or Habanero Jack1:1dairy-freeFull guide →
- 1 lb Bacon, thick cutProsciutto1:1Full guide →
- 3 Jalapeno Cheddar Sausage Links
- 3 Jalapenos, thinly slicedSerrano peppers1:1
- 2 Tbsp Green Onion, minced
Instructions
- 1
Preheat grill or smoker to 275°F using indirect heat and charcoal, wood chunks, or pellets.
- 2
Slice sausage links about 1/2 inch thick. Cut bacon in half and wrap around sausage to form cup shape resembling a rose. Secure with toothpicks, leaving about 2 inches of space at top for filling. Season with Sweet Heat Seasoning.
- 3
Smoke cups at 275°F for 30 minutes.
- 4
While smoking, prepare filling by combining cream cheese, pepper jack cheese, Sweet Heat Seasoning, Smoke Steakhouse Seasoning, and Dixie Red BBQ Sauce in a mixing bowl. Transfer to piping bag or zip lock bag with corner cut.
- 5
Remove toothpicks from bacon cups once they have structure and color.
- 6
Pipe filling into cups and top with jalapeno slices.
- 7
Smoke for another 15 to 20 minutes until jalapeno is cooked.
- 8
Garnish with Southbound Sauce and minced green onion.
Tips
Wrap bacon tightly around sausage slice to form secure cup shape before smoking.
Keep 2-inch opening at top of bacon cup to accommodate filling.
Use piping bag for cleaner, easier filling application.
Monitor jalapeno doneness during final smoking phase as timing varies by thickness.
Good to Know
Refrigerate in airtight container up to 3 days. Reheat gently on smoker or in low oven.
Assemble bacon cups and fill through piping stage, refrigerate up to 4 hours, then smoke before serving.
Serve hot immediately after final smoking phase. Pair with cold beer or citrus cocktails.
Common Mistakes
Do not remove toothpicks before bacon cups develop structure to avoid cups collapsing or losing shape.
Do not overfill cups to avoid filling leaking during smoking.
Do not skip initial 30-minute smoke to ensure bacon renders properly.