During the summer, especially at our lake house, we love to grill and we grill a lot! Summer is almost over but I wanted to blog this recipe just in case you want to get one more grilling session in prior to winter. Here in Texas, our grilling season is pretty much year round, or at least Gary and I do it year round! Now that I think about it, perhaps it is just us! After all, when we lived in Alaska years ago, we literally dug our BBQ pit out of the snow to grill steaks! True story, here’s the picture to prove it! (Thanks Mom for digging this pic up for me on short notice!) That’s my dad, he makes great steaks and was on grilling duty that night! I guess this is what happens when you transplant Texans to Alaska!
I digress, back to the original purpose of this blog.
This summer, we had the pleasure of hosting my dear friend, Anne and her husband, Tom at the lake house. They flew in from Virginia for a wonderful fun-filled weekend. I just love weekends like this, catching up with good friends, enjoying food and wine! Anne recently mentioned the bacon wrapped jalapeno poppers my husband, Gary, grilled that weekend and suggested I blog the recipe. I adore Anne and I thought it was a great idea so here’s the recipe and a second adaptation for that recipe. Thanks Anne!
Today’s blog will feature two recipes, Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers and Jalapeno Popper Chicken as well.
First, for the Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers, these can be done two ways. You can grill them or do them in the oven. When I do them in the oven, I prefer to use turkey bacon because I like my bacon crispy and I don’t think the bacon crisps well enough for these poppers in the oven. Not that the turkey bacon crisps any better but I will eat soggy turkey, just not soggy pig. It’s this whole aversion to fatty meats I have going. When grilled, regular bacon is the only way to go. However, be sure to use indirect heat on the grill. Heat grill or build fire to one side of the grill and place poppers towards the other side. You do not want your poppers over the direct fire or the grease from the bacon will flare up and burn your poppers! I can not stress this enough! Trust me, we have burned a lot of peppers by trying to speed the process up, don’t do it. You have been warned!
Jalapeno Poppers
Ingredients
- 4 jalapeno peppers
- 1 8 oz cream cheese
- 6-12 slices bacon*
Instructions
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Wash jalapeno peppers, slice in half and scoop out seeds and veins with a spoon. Using a knife, score the cream cheese block into 12 equal parts so you can fill each pepper with equal portions. Fill each half pepper with a scored section of the cream cheese. Wrap a 1/2 to one slice of bacon around the jalapeno and secure with a toothpick.
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Heat grill to approximately 350-400 degrees. Place jalapeno poppers over indirect heat on your grill (not directly over the fire or the bacon grease will flare your fire). Keep grill closed and allow to cook about 30-45 minutes. Checking them every 15 minutes.
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If using oven, heat oven to 400 degrees and bake on sheet pan fitted with a rack (perferably) for about 30 minutes.
*You can use turkey bacon for the oven version of poppers.
*A half slice bacon works well too especially if peppers are small.
Now to take this recipe a bit further. I decided one day when we were grilling poppers and chicken and vegetables and running out of room on the grill, that I would combine the chicken and jalapeno poppers. Here’s the process.
Butterfly your chicken breasts but cut completely through. So technically it’s not a butterfly. It’s a half butterfly. How gruesome! Next, pound the breasts to about 1/2 inch thick so they cook evenly. Season with whatever seasonings you like. We use either BBQ seasonings, fajita seasonings or seasoned salt. It’s really your preference!
Fill the halved jalapeno with cream cheese and place on each halved chicken breast.
Roll up the chicken breasts and wrap a slice or two of bacon around each breast. Secure with a toothpick or two. Grill over indirect heat, you know the drill! Bacon grease flares up so indirect heat when grilling with bacon. It’s a must!
Here’s the printable recipe.
Jalapeno Popper Chicken
Ingredients
- 2 chicken breasts
- 2 tsp seasoned salt or bbq/fajita seasonings
- 2 jalapeno peppers
- 4 oz cream cheese
- 4-8 slices bacon
Instructions
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Butterfly chicken breasts but cut completely through to make four pieces. Pound the breasts evenly to about 1/2 inch thickness. Season with seasonings.
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Cut jalapeno peppers in half lengthwise and scoop out seeds and veins. Fill peppers with a tablespoon or two of cream cheese.
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Roll up the chicken and wrap with a slice or two of bacon. Secure with a toothpick.
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Heat grill to about 375 degrees. Grill over indirect heat about 45 minutes depending on temperature of the grill. Could take more time or less.
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Alternately, this can also be baked in a 375 degrees preheated oven at for 30-45 minutes.
shout out to Anne!!
What is really important and I learned at Jeanette’s feet that you must do one step at a time. It saves so much time and do it in the order she tells you. That cut my jalepeno popper time in half.
I have not tried the add the chicken but I will.
Thanks for another great story and pics and recipe.
Jamie, you know I am always looking for a more efficient way to do things!
Louie is the master griller. And be forewarned, Louie Chicken will be happening one day on this blog! And his pig shots! I need to quit talking before we are grilling in the rain tonight!
I need to make these soon… so yummy
Let me know how they turn out!
These look amazing! Yummo!
A fam fav for sure!
The Alaska picture with your father grilling is hilarious!! And, having lived in Texas at one time, I can tell you that behavior is VERY Texan!! However, I could see my Ohio-born husband trying that, but then again, he did attend Texas A&M! Thanks for the nice shout-out, Jeanette!!! And, yes, those poppers were exquisite!
It’s also a great “conversation food”. A caterer once told me that one needs a slightly out-of-the-ordinary food to chat about at parties because people who don’t know each other have a great conversation starter! This is an exceptional conversation food!!
You know I had to add that pic! And very good point, never thought of that but so true about the conversation starter.