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Packed with melted cheese, bacon, and ground beef, this hamburger jalapeno popper recipe is ridiculously good. You get the classic cheeseburger flavors with the beef and cheddar, but then the fiery jalapeño peppers and smoky, crispy bacon take it way, way over the top. Serve them with homemade Big Mac sauce for that perfect burger flavor and you'll fall in love from the first bite!
I love jalapeno poppers in all their many forms, and often enjoy tweaking the flavor with different fillings and seasonings.
One day, it hit me that you could make a stuffed version with your favorite cheeseburger fillings instead of making regular burger patties. You've got the jalapenos with the cheese and ground beef inside, plus that bacon-wrapped exterior.
As they smoke, the beefy cheese mixture melts together for the most dynamite burger flavor ever. They've got just the right amount of spice and that bacon fats infuse crazy flavor into every bite. We cannot get enough of them and I'm sure you'll feel the same way!
Want to try more stuffed poppers? I've got a bunch to play around with, like these Chicken Bacon Ranch Pickle Poppers or the ultimate stuffed treat - Texas Twinkies. There's no better way to use leftover brisket ever!
Why you’ve got to try these Cheeseburger Jalapeño Poppers
- They soak up that smoky flavor on the smoker and are a mostly hands-off app for easy party prep
- Easy appetizer for grilling season
- Uses just a handful of simple ingredients
- Naturally low carb and a good fit for a wide range of eaters
- Fun twist on an classic app
- Perfect combination of flavors - smoky, meaty, cheesy, and spicy
- After smoking, the heat from the fresh jalapeños mellows out and isn't overly spicy
Want to try this recipe? Print out the recipe card for later!
Ingredients
- Fresh jalapenos - Try to use jalapenos that are in consistent in size and shape to help everything cook in the same amount of time. I like to remove the seeds and veins to reduce the heat a bit.
- Cooked ground beef - To save some prep, you can cook the ground beef the night before and let it sit in the fridge. Use taco seasoning (like chili powder, cumin, and more) for a Tex Mex flavor.
- Sliced bacon - You'll need two strips of bacon per jalapeno to wrap it together and add lots of flavor. I recommend using regular cut bacon to help it cook evenly.
- Cheddar cheese - Use whichever type of cheese you like. Sharp cheddar cheese has an extra bite that works really well here. I recommend using a block of cheese cut into cubes or strips instead of shredded cheese.
- BBQ rub - Pack extra flavor by sprinkling your favorite dry BBQ rub onto the poppers before smoky. If you like spicy food, use a hot rub for a spicy kick.
- Big Mac Sauce - You'll want to make your own sauce from scratch with mayo, sweet relish, white vinegar, yellow mustard, onion and garlic powder, and paprika. It tastes so much fresher and only takes a few minutes to assemble.
How to Make Bacon Hamburger Jalapeno Poppers
- Cut the tops off the jalapeños, halve them lengthwise, and remove the core, seeds, and veins.
- Stuff each jalapeno half with cooked ground beef seasoned with taco seasoning.
- Layer shredded cheddar cheese on top of the ground beef.
- Wrap each stuffed jalapeno half with a slice of bacon.
- Season the bacon-wrapped jalapenos with your favorite seasoning if desired.
- Place the jalapeno poppers in a smoker preheated to 250°F.
- Smoke for 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until the bacon starts to darken.
- Increase the smoker temperature to 350°F and continue cooking for an additional 10 minutes, or until the bacon is crispy and cooked to your liking.
- In a small bowl, mix together the mayonnaise, sweet relish, white vinegar, yellow mustard, onion powder, garlic powder, and paprika.
- Stir until well combined and smooth.
- Serve the bacon-wrapped jalapeno poppers hot, with a side of Big Mac sauce for dipping.
NOTE: if you want to cook this in an oven, instead of a smoker cook at 400F in your oven until the bacon is crisp to your liking, then glaze at the end.
Storing Suggestions
Store any leftover hamburger-stuffed jalapeno peppers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. To reheat, warm in an oven or air fryer at 375 until heated all the way through.
Tips & Variations
- Wrap the bacon properly. Make sure the ends of the bacon meet under the jalapeno to help hold them in place. Otherwise, the bacon can fall off while the hamburger poppers are in the smoker.
- Use cubed cheese. When you're stuffing peppers, you don't have a ton of room to add your fillings. Cubed cheese is already condensed and will get you way more cheesy goodness than slices of cheese or the shredded stuff.
- Get creative. If you like things extra spicy, try adding some hot sauce to the ground beef before stuffing the jalapenos. Or, switch up the cheese; pepper jack or smoked Gouda would both be fantastic alternatives to cheddar.
How to Serve
Since these stuffed jalapeno poppers have a classic burger flavor profile, I often like to serve them with sauces that fit that vibe. The Big Mac sauce in the recipe card is a perfect match.
You can also try classic ranch or blue cheese dressing or try my go-to burger sauce. A little campfire sauce (mayo and BBQ sauce) or hot sauce would work, too!
Want to go a little wild? Serve them on hamburger or brioche buns for a fun twist on jalapeño popper burgers. You can even add all your favorite toppings, like lettuce, tomato, and sliced onion.
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Bacon Cheeseburger Stuffed Jalapeno Poppers
Ingredients
Jalapeno Poppers
- 6 Jalapeños Large
- ½ lb Cooked Ground Beef seasoned with taco seasoning
- 1 C Cheddar Cheese shredded
- 12 slices Bacon
- Queen Bee BBQ Seasoning
Big Mac Sauce
- ½ cup Mayonnaise
- ¼ cup Sweet Relish
- 1 tablespoon White Vinegar
- 2 tablespoons Yellow Mustard
- 1 teaspoon Onion Powder
- 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1 teaspoon Paprika
Instructions
- Cut the tops off the jalapeños, halve them lengthwise, and remove the core, seeds, and veins.
- Stuff each jalapeno half with cooked ground beef seasoned with taco seasoning.
- Layer shredded cheddar cheese on top of the ground beef.
- Wrap each stuffed jalapeno half with a slice of bacon.
- Season the bacon-wrapped jalapenos with your favorite seasoning if desired.
- Place the jalapeno poppers in a smoker preheated to 250°F.
- Smoke for 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until the bacon starts to darken.
- Increase the smoker temperature to 350°F and continue cooking for an additional 10 minutes, or until the bacon is crispy and cooked to your liking.
- In a bowl, mix together the mayonnaise, sweet relish, white vinegar, yellow mustard, onion powder, garlic powder, and paprika.
- Stir until well combined and smooth.
- Serve the bacon-wrapped jalapeno poppers hot, with a side of Big Mac sauce for dipping.
Nutrition
Seasoning for this recipe: Queen Bee BBQ Seasoning (discount link)
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