Sausage Stuffed Jalapeños

Name: Sausage Stuffed Jalapeños
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 10 jalapeños, (halved lengthwise and seeded); 6 ounces cream cheese, (softened); ½ teaspoon kosher salt; 1¼ cups fresh grated Monterey jack cheese; 20 smoked cocktail sausages, (I used Lil’ Smokies); 10 slices smoked bacon, (cut in half)

These sausage-stuffed jalapeños load up spicy jalapeño peppers with plenty of cheese, topped with a cocktail sausage, and wrapped in crisp bacon, and are sure to tantalize your taste buds.

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Table of Contents

Sausage Stuffed Jalapeños Ingredients
Sausage Stuffed Jalapeno Peppers Substitutions and Additions
How To Make This Sausage Stuffed Jalapeños Recipe
How To Serve Jalapeno and Sausage Poppers
Storing Jalapeño Peppers Stuffed With Sausage
More Recipes You’ll Love
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These irresistible sausage-stuffed jalapeños are everything you want in a snack: they’re hot, cheesy, and crunchy all at the same time. The spicy peppers are stuffed with cream cheese and Monterey Jack, topped with a cocktail sausage, and wrapped with bacon to create an easy appetizer.

a close up shot of Sausage Stuffed Jalapeños

Sausage Stuffed Jalapeños Ingredients

Sausage Stuffed Jalapeños raw ingredients that are labeled

Sausage-stuffed jalapeños are just the right balance of texture and spice.

The juicy, flavorful sausage complements the smoky and spicy jalapeño peppers, while the velvety cream cheese brings it all together in one delicious bite.

The salty bacon wrapped around these little appetizers provides the perfect finish.

To make these irresistible bundles, you’ll need:

10 jalapeños, halved lengthwise and seeded
6 ounces of cream cheese, softened
½ teaspoon of kosher salt
1¼ cups of fresh grated Monterey jack cheese
20 smoked cocktail sausages (I used Lil’ Smokies)
10 slices of smoked bacon, cut in half

PRO TIP:

If possible, when picking the jalapeños, pick smaller and “plumper” peppers. This will make wrapping the jalapeños much easier.

Sausage Stuffed Jalapeno Peppers Substitutions and Additions

These sausage jalapeno poppers are so hearty they could almost be a main dish by themselves! Their small size makes them the perfect appetizer for snacking, especially on game day or for your next party.

SPICY: To make this recipe even spicier, sprinkle cayenne pepper or crushed red pepper flakes over the jalapeños before baking.

BACON: Do not use thick-cut bacon; getting a crisp bake with the thick cut is impossible.

BBQ SAUCE: Top the wrapped jalapeños with BBQ sauce before cooking for a smoky kick.

CHEESE: Get creative with these jalapeno poppers! You can try using parmesan cheese, cheddar cheese, goat cheese, or mozzarella cheese. Let your taste buds lead the way!

You could also skip the protein inside and use extra cheese mixture to make them just cheese.

SERVING ALTERNATIVES: If a jalapeno half feels too hot for you, you could experiment with using sweet peppers or bell pepper. The cheese mixture would be yummy on pork rinds or crackers as well!

ONIONS: Add green onion or red onion to the cream cheese mixture for a little kick. Fresh chives, finely chopped would also be great.

SEASONING: If you like even more flavor, add black or white pepper to taste to the cheese mix. You could also add garlic powder, onion powder, or seasoned salt.

MEAT: Try using another protein as an alternative to the party cocktails. Try ground sausage, ground beef, ground turkey, or ground pork. You could also use a sausage mixture, combining multiple meats.

If you want extra heat, try using a zesty pork sausage or Italian sausage.

Be sure to cook the meat fully before adding to the halved jalapenos.

How To Make This Sausage Stuffed Jalapeños Recipe

To make this tasty treat, you first need to slice the peppers in half and remove the seeds. Using a paring knife makes this task easy. The jalapeno seeds contain all the heat.

Using meal prep gloves is a great way to keep the oils off your skin. Be careful not to touch anything while getting the peppers ready!

Mix up the creamy, cheesy filling and spread into each jalapeño half. Top with a sausage and wrap with a piece of bacon. Pop in the oven on a baking sheet until warm and cooked through.

The following steps will help you put together this appetizer in no time.

OUR RECIPE DEVELOPER SAYS

You can also cook these jalapeños on a BBQ grill until the bacon is crisp.

STEP ONE: Preheat the oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray with nonstick cooking spray.

You could also use parchment paper. While we prefer using tin foil and a cookie sheet, you could also use a baking dish.

Place a cooling/baking rack on top of the prepared baking sheet. Set it aside.

PRO TIP:

The cooling/baking rack helps with the excess oil from the bacon. If you don’t have one, you can just bake on the prepared baking sheet and immediately transfer the cooked jalapenos to a waiting paper towel.

STEP TWO: Add the cream cheese and kosher salt to a medium bowl. Use a handheld mixer at medium speed.

Beat the cream cheese for 30 seconds to one minute until smooth.

PRO TIP:

Make sure the cream cheese is at room temperature, so you don’t have lumps in your cheesy mixture.

STEP THREE: Add the shredded cheese and mix until well combined.

shredded cheese and mix combined in a bowl

STEP FOUR: Fill the jalapeño halves with the cream cheese mixture.

PRO TIP:

Make sure that you wash your hands very well after handling the raw jalapeños. Do not touch your face or eyes.

You can use food prep gloves if your skin is very sensitive to the oils in the peppers that cause stinging/burning.

halved Jalapeños filled with cream cheese mixture

STEP FIVE: Place one sausage on top of the cream cheese layer.

sausage placed on top of the cream cheese

STEP SIX: Carefully wrap the stuffed jalapeño with the halved bacon slices and place it on the prepared baking sheet.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes on the second-highest oven rack. Keep a close eye on the bacon to ensure it does not burn. Remove from the oven.

Allow the stuffed jalapeños to rest for five minutes.

PRO TIP: Oven temperatures vary and may need to be recalibrated periodically to ensure they are accurate. Make sure to keep a close eye on your peppers as the suggested cooking time approaches.

Jalapeños wrapped with bacon and baked on a baking sheet

How To Serve Jalapeno and Sausage Poppers

These spicy treats are a delectable party snack sure to tantalize your tastebuds! Although these poppers stand independently, they’re even tastier when paired with something cool and creamy.

You can never go wrong serving them with delicious guacamole, sour cream-based French onion dip, blue cheese, or ranch dressing, which will bring out the complex, smoky, spicy notes.

Serve them alongside our fresh and crisp cucumber bites and classic pigs in a blanket to keep your guests happy.

For more of our favorite appetizers featuring jalapeños, our bacon-wrapped jalapeño poppers and jalapeno popper dip both have plenty of kick.

MORE SALAD RECIPES

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Jalapeño Popper Grilled Cheese

Casserole Ideas

Jalapeño Popper Chicken Pasta Casserole

Storing Jalapeño Peppers Stuffed With Sausage

We’ll walk you through the best ways to store these delectable treats, so they stay fresh and delicious.

IN THE FRIDGE: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days.

IN THE FREEZER: You can freeze the unbaked stuffed jalapeños for up to three months.

Preheat the oven to 425°F. Place the frozen jalapeños onto the prepared baking sheet and rack. Bake for 30 minutes or until the bacon is crisped.

overhead shot of Sausage Stuffed Jalapeños on a baking sheet with a bowl of sauce

If you are a fan of spicy foods, these sausage-stuffed jalapeño peppers will give you a cheesy and creamy way to bump up the heat level. Easy to make and full of flavor, these will be a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Which bacon is best for these stuffed peppers?

For this recipe, a thinner cut of bacon is best. Thick-cut bacon will take longer to get crispy, and you might not be able to taste the cheese and jalapeños as much due to there being more bacon per bite.

Can I substitute anything for the bacon for these sausage and cream cheese stuffed jalapeños?

You could substitute prosciutto for the bacon as it has a similar salty taste.

How do you remove the seeds from jalapeño peppers?

Cut the jalapeño in half lengthwise using a sharp knife, exposing the white membrane that holds the seeds in place. Then take a small spoon and scrape out the membrane, working from the bottom to the stem end of the pepper half.

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Sausage Stuffed Jalapeños

5 from 4 votes

These sausage-stuffed jalapeños load up spicy jalapeño peppers with plenty of cheese, topped with a cocktail sausage, and wrapped in crisp bacon, and are sure to tantalize your taste buds.

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 25

Total Time 45

Servings

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Ingredients

10 jalapeños, halved lengthwise and seeded
6 ounces cream cheese, softened
½ teaspoon kosher salt
1¼ cups fresh grated Monterey jack cheese
20 smoked cocktail sausages, I used Lil’ Smokies
10 slices smoked bacon, cut in half

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil, and spray with nonstick cooking spray. Place a cooling/baking rack on top of the prepared baking sheet. Set it aside.
Add the cream cheese and kosher salt to a medium-sized mixing bowl. Use a handheld mixer at medium speed. Beat the cream cheese for 30 seconds to 1 minute until smooth.
Add the shredded cheese and mix until well combined.
Fill the halved jalapeños with the cream cheese mixture.
Place 1 sausage on top of the cream cheese layer.
Carefully wrap the stuffed jalapeño with the halved bacon slices and place it on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes on the second-highest oven rack. Keep a close eye on the bacon to ensure it does not burn. Remove from the oven. Allow the stuffed jalapeños to rest for 5 minutes. Serve with your favorite dipping sauce, blue cheese, or ranch dressing.

Notes

If possible, when picking the jalapeños, pick smaller and “plumper” peppers. This will make wrapping the jalapeños much easier.
The cooling/baking rack helps with the excess oil from the bacon. If you don’t have one, you can just bake on the prepared baking sheet and immediately transfer the cooked jalapenos to a waiting paper towel.
Make sure the cream cheese is at room temperature, so you don’t have lumps in your cheesy mixture.
Make sure that you wash your hands very well after handling the raw jalapeños. Do not touch your face or eyes. You can use food prep gloves if your skin is very sensitive to the oils in the peppers that cause the stinging/burning.
Oven temperatures vary and may need to be recalibrated periodically to ensure they are accurate. Make sure to keep a close eye on your peppers as the suggested cooking time approaches.

Nutrition

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This recipe was developed, tested, cooked and photographed by the Spaceships Kitchen. From our dinner table to yours, we hope you think it's out of this world!

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Sausage Stuffed Jalapeños

Sausage Stuffed Jalapeños Ingredients

Sausage Stuffed Jalapeno Peppers Substitutions and Additions

How To Make This Sausage Stuffed Jalapeños Recipe

How To Serve Jalapeno and Sausage Poppers

Jalapeño Popper Grilled Cheese

Jalapeño Popper Chicken Pasta Casserole

Storing Jalapeño Peppers Stuffed With Sausage

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