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Review RecipeSausage Boats
Sausage boats are a bold take on grilled sausages, packed with a creamy cheese filling, shredded cheddar cheese, and spicy jalapeno poppers, all wrapped in crispy bacon. Cooked over indirect heat for the perfect smoky flavor, this recipe is easy to make and great for everything from cookouts to game day favorites.
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Sausage boats are what happens when you take all the best parts of a jalapeno popper, wrap them in bacon, and throw them on the grill. They’re smoky, cheesy, and have just the right amount of heat to keep things interesting.
Sausage Boat Ingredients
With mild Italian sausage as the base, a rich cream cheese mixture, and pickled jalapenos, every bite is packed with bold, balanced flavor.
Customizations
🥩Mild Italian Sausage Substitutes: Swap for hot Italian sausage if you want more heat. If using pre-cooked sausages, reduce the grill time.
🧀Shredded Cheddar Cheese Substitutes: Pepper jack for extra spice or Monterey Jack if you want something milder with the same melt factor.
🌶️Pickled Jalapenos Substitutes: Mild banana peppers work for less heat, while fresh jalapenos bring a sharper spice without the vinegar bite.
Tips For Making The Best Sausage Boats
- When slicing the side of the sausage, use a sharp knife and be careful not to cut all the way through. You want to create a pocket, not separate the sausage in half. A small ridge on the bottom helps keep the filling from spilling out.
- The cold cream cheese mixture is easier to work with and holds its shape better as you stuff the sausages. If the cream cheese gets too soft, chill it.
- To keep the cheese inside the stuffed sausages, press the cream cheese mixture and shredded cheddar cheese firmly into the sausage cavity.
- After assembling, chill them in the fridge for at least 15 minutes. This helps them hold their shape while cooking and prevents the cheese from oozing out too quickly.
Grilling Tips for Perfect For Cheese Stuffed Sausage
Cook over indirect heat. Direct heat will burn the bottoms before the inside cooks through. If using a gas grill, turn off one side and place the sausage boats on the unlit side. For charcoal, push the coals to one side.
More Sausage Recipes To Try
How To Store Sausage Popper Boats
Fridge: Store in an airtight container for up to three days.
Freezer: Freeze for up to three months in a sealed bag or container.
To reheat: Thaw overnight, then warm in a 350°F oven until the cheese is bubbling (about 10–15 mins). Or microwave up to three mins.
Sausage Boats Frequently Asked Questions
What dipping sauces pair well with sausage boats?
Sausage boats go well with a variety of sauces. Try hot honey ranch for a sweet and spicy dip, or classic BBQ sauce for extra smokiness.
Sausage boats are a bold, cheesy, and smoky upgrade to classic grilled sausages, packed with layers of flavor in every bite. Whether you’re making them for a backyard cookout or for game day, this easy recipe delivers the perfect mix of heat, creaminess, and crispy bacon.
More BBQ Recipes
Grilled Corn on the Cob Recipe – a must-have BBQ side
Campfire Nachos Recipe – Easy to make on the grill or over the fire
Grilled Chicken Breast Recipe – Ready in minutes
Sausage Boats
Sausage boats are a bold take on grilled sausages, packed with a creamy cheese filling, shredded cheddar cheese, and spicy jalapeno poppers, all wrapped in crispy bacon. Cooked over indirect heat for the perfect smoky flavor, this recipe is easy to make and great for everything from cookouts to game day favorites.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Servings 5
Ingredients
- 19 ounces mild italian sausage links
- 5 ounces cold cream cheese, sliced into 1 ounce segments
- 2 ½ teaspoons mesquite bbq rub
- 20 sliced pickled jalapenos, nacho pickled jalapenos slices
- 1 ¼ cups freshly shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 10 slices smoked bacon, 2 slices per sausage or 4 to 5 slices smoked bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled (optional topping)
Garnish
- 1 teaspoon chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Place the sausages on the curved spine and lightly press down.
- Beginning about ¼ inch from the top of the sausage, use a sharp kitchen knife to split down the center of the sausage (be careful not to slice all the way through) to about ¼ inch from the bottom.
- Use your fingers to gently press the sausage meat to the bottom and the sides forming a canoe or boat shape. Repeat for the remaining sausages.
- Place the 1 ounce segments of cream cheese in the center of each sausage boat.
- Sprinkle ½ teaspoon of the mesquite bbq rub over the cream cheese.
- Lay 4 sliced pickled jalapenos in a line on top of each seasoned cream cheese segment.
- Next measure out ¼ cup freshly shredded sharp cheddar cheese for each sausage boat. Gently press the shredded cheese into the stuffed sausage boats.
- Tightly wrap 2 slices of bacon around each sausage boat, or you can sprinkle each sausage boat with the crispy bacon. Place the filled and / or wrapped sausage boats on the prepared rack.
- Place the sausage boats in the refrigerator for 15 minutes while you preheat the propane grill to 300°F, or start the charcoal in a traditional charcoal grill.
- If you are using a propane grill, turn 1 side of the grill off, to create indirect heat. If using a traditional charcoal grill, carefully move the charcoal to 1 side of the grill.
- Place the entire rack with the sausage boats on the grill, and close the lid. Cook for 15 minutes, rotate the sausage boats and close the lid. Repeat this process 2 more times for the unwrapped sausage boats. Once the cheese is melted, the outside of the sausage is nicely browned. Once the sausage reaches an internal temperature of 165°F and the cheese is melted, carefully remove them from the grill.
- If you have wrapped your sausage boats in bacon, you will need to cook them for an additional 15 minutes until the bacon is a crispy golden brown. Allow the sausage popper boats to rest for just a few minutes before garnishing with the chopped parsley and serving.
Notes
- If you prefer a spicier alternative, you can use hot italian sausage in place of the mild italian sausage.
- You can substitute mild cheddar, medium cheddar, colby jack or even pepper jack cheese for the sharp cheddar.
- Goats cheese or blue cheese can be substituted for the plain cream cheese.
Nutrition
Calories: 746kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 66g | Saturated Fat: 27g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Monounsaturated Fat: 25g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 163mg | Sodium: 2279mg | Potassium: 535mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1788IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 254mg | Iron: 3mg
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