Bacon Wrapped Armadillo Eggs combine jalapeno poppers with sausage and bacon! Filled with a creamy cheese mixture they are a must try.
Bacon Wrapped Armadillo Eggs Recipe
If you love Jalapeno Poppers and grilled sausage, you are going to love these Bacon Wrapped Armadillo Eggs! Hailing from Texas, they are a fun and inventive appetizer with a cute and creative name.
You don’t need to worry about the spicy levels of jalapenos. They are a relatively mild pepper and once the seeds and membrane is removed they are fairly mild, making these a perfect appetizer for a crowd!
The grilled version leaves the jalapeno much fresher with a noticeable crunch. The longer, slow heat of smoking will soften the pepper and create a smoother bite with mellow heat. I like to sear them first over the direct flame to precook the bacon and then place them away from the flame to let them finishing cooking through.
What are Bacon Wrapped Armadillo Eggs?
Armadillo Eggs are cheese stuffed jalapenos, wrapped in pork sausage, then wrapped in bacon and grilled or smoked to perfection. They are finished off with barbecue sauce. They are so addictive!
The name comes from the fact that they are oval shaped, like eggs, and the creamy cheese filling resembles an egg yolk. How fun!
More Amazing Jalapeno Recipes
If you LOVE jalapenos as much as I do try out some of my favorites:
- Jalapeno Cheddar Corn Bread – the perfect side dish to your summer BBQ. Not only is this recipe quick to put together, it is incredibly delicious and moist!
- Jalapeno Popper Egg Rolls – a combination of two classic and popular appetizers. This unique appetizer features a light and crispy egg roll wrapper stuffed jalapeno, cheese and bacon. A must try finger food!
- Jalapeno Popper Wonton Cups – a crispy and creamy finger food perfect for game day! The filling is loaded with cheese, bacon, jalapenos and garlic. Baked in crispy wonton cups for a grab and go snack.
What is in Bacon Wrapped Armadillo Eggs?
- Cream Cheese – the base of the filling for armadillo eggs and jalapeno poppers. It is the perfect creamy cheese that does not fully melt while cooking. Make sure the cheese is softened (or at room temperature) for easier mixing.
- Cheddar Cheese – I like cooking with old or medium cheddar as it adds so much extra flavor! For added spice try using pimento cheese or a spicy jalapeno Havarti. Colby jack is also amazing!
- Bacon – of course we have to have bacon… and they do say everything is better with bacon!
- Jalapenos – I like using medium sized jalapenos for the perfect sized appetizer but you can also use large jalapenos if serving as a main dish. Or you can make smaller appetizer bites and use a few more small jalapenos in this recipe.
- BBQ Sauce – use your favorite variety! A great smokey bbq sauce works perfect for this recipe.
- Pork Sausage – you can choose to use any of your favorite pork sausage (casing removed) or you can use ground pork. You could use a mild, spicy, breakfast, or honey garlic, etc.
- Garlic Powder, Salt, Pepper – spices for the filling.
How to Make Bacon Wrapped Armadillo Eggs
Full Printable Recipe at Bottom of Page
Prepare the Jalapeños
1 Preheat your barbecue until the temperature is approximately 350° degrees.
2 Slice off the stem ends off each jalapeño and hollow out the middles by removing the seeds and membranes using a small spoon or knife. Note: leave some of the seeds/membranes if you want them extra spicy.
Prepare the Filling
1 Prepare the filling. In a medium sized bowl, combine the cream cheese, cheddar cheese, garlic powder, salt and pepper until smooth.
Prepare the Armadillo Eggs
1 Fill each jalapeño with the cream cheese mixture.
2 Remove the casing from the sausage and divide the pork into 8 even portions.
3 Wrap the pork around the jalapeños, covering both ends and shaping into an oval egg shape.
Wrap in Bacon
1 Wrap each jalapeño with 2 slices of bacon.
2 Use a toothpick to secure the ends of the bacon.
3 Sear the armadillo eggs on the barbecue with direct heat for about 2 minutes on each side, then reduce the heat and move them to a spot with indirect heat and close the cover.
BBQ the Armadillo Eggs
1 Cook for approximately 20-25 minutes. Check each armadillo egg with a meat thermometer, by testing the sausage, not the center of the jalapeño. Cook until internal temperature of the pork reaches about 160°.
2 Brush each armadillo egg with barbecue sauce and continue to cook until sausage reaches 165° degrees.
3 Transfer the armadillo eggs from the barbecue to a serving platter and let rest about 10 minutes before serving. Enjoy!
FAQs Bacon Wrapped Armadillo Eggs
Store cooled Armadillo Eggs wrapped in plastic wrap or foil in the refrigerator up to 3 days. Reheat in a 350° oven for about 15 minutes or until heated through or in an air fryer at 350° for about 4- 5 minutes.
They are called armadillo eggs because the cheese filling looks like an egg yolk and they look like the shape of an egg when they are finished.
If you want to make these ahead of time: Unbaked Armadillo Eggs may be refrigerated up to 2 hours before baking or frozen up to 1 month. If frozen, add about 5 minutes to the baking time.
Working in batches, add the armadillo eggs to the air fryer basket. Bake for 15 minutes. Then, flip and cook for an additional 10 minutes. The appetizer is done when the internal temperature of the sausage is 165°F and the bacon is crispy.
Looking for More Easy BBQ Appetizers?
- Meatball Subs on a Stick – unique appetizer or main course the whole family will love! This twist on the classic meatball sub so is so easy and fun to make.
- Mediterranean Orzo Salad – a quick 20 minutes side dish or perfect meal prep lunch! Combining all your favorite Mediterranean flavors with a simple delicious Greek salad dressing.
- BEST Chili – is one of the easiest, tastiest budget friendly meals to make! My Mom’s secret recipe has got you covered for a cozy and hearty bowl of chili.
Enjoy!
– Sab
Disclosure: I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are my own. This post may contain affiliate links that at no additional cost to you, may earn me a small commission.
Bacon Wrapped Armadillo Eggs
Ingredients
- 8 jalapenos, medium sized
- 1 cup cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp ground black pepper
- ¼ tsp salt
- 2 lb pork sausage, breakfast sausage or ground pork
- 16 slices bacon
- ½ cup barbecue sauce, of choice
Instructions
- Preheat barbecue until the temperature is approximately 350° degrees.
- Slice off the stem ends off each jalapeño and hollow out the middles by removing the seeds and membranes using a small spoon or knife. Note: leave some of the seeds/membranes if you want them extra spicy.
- Prepare the filling. In a medium sized bowl, combine the cream cheese, cheddar cheese, garlic powder, salt and pepper until smooth.
- Fill each jalapeño with the cream cheese mixture.
- Remove the casing from the sausage and divide the pork into 8 even portions.
- Wrap the pork around the jalapeños, covering both ends and shaping into an oval egg shape.
- Wrap each jalapeño with 2 slices of bacon.
- Use a toothpick to secure the ends of the bacon.
- Sear the armadillo eggs on the barbecue with direct heat for about 2 minutes on each side, then reduce the heat and move them to a spot with indirect heat and close the cover.
- Cook for approximately 20-25 minutes. Check each armadillo egg with a meat thermometer, by testing the sausage, not the center of the jalapeño. Cook until internal temperature of the pork reaches about 160°.
- Brush each armadillo egg with barbecue sauce and continue to cook until sausage reaches 165° degrees.
- Transfer the armadillo eggs from the barbecue to a serving platter and let rest about 10 minutes before serving. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
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