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Watch Me Make It!
Why You'll Love This Pickle Poppers Recipe
First off, these pickle poppers hit every note-salty, tangy, smoky, spicy, and creamy.
They’re wrapped in bacon (obviously), filled with melted cheese, and have the perfect little heat thanks to the seasoning. Plus, pickle poppers super simple recipe that only takes a handful of basic ingredients, but looks like something you’d find at your favorite BBQ joint.
Ingredients / Tools You’ll Need
- 4 whole dill pickles, halved
- 8 oz cream cheese, sliced to fit inside each pickle half
- 4 oz cheddar cheese, freshly shredded
- 8 slices of bacon (regular or thin cut)
- Blazing Star Scorpion Seasoning (or your favorite spicy blend)
- Small measuring spoon
- Wire rack
- Rimmed baking sheet
- Pellet grill or smoker
- Paper towel
Instructions
Preparation:
Start by preheating your smoker to 350 degrees F. Grab your whole dill pickles and cut the ends off, then slice them lengthwise into halves. Use a small measuring spoon to gently scoop out the insides, turning each one into a little pickle canoe.
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Lay a slice of cream cheese inside each hollowed-out pickle half. Sprinkle cheddar cheese on top-I go heavy here because I love that melted cheesy goodness.
Now take a slice of bacon and wrap it around each pickle popper. I like to tuck the ends of the bacon underneath so they stay put during smoking.
Cooking:
Place each bacon-wrapped pickle popper on a wire rack that’s sitting over a rimmed baking sheet.
Hit them with a generous amount of your seasoning-don’t be shy if you want that little heat to shine.
Pop them in the smoker and let them go for about 45 minutes. I usually check at the 30-minute mark to make sure the bacon is browning just right.
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You're looking for crispy bacon with a rich smoky flavor-not burnt, just that deep amber bacon crisp.
Once they’re done, take them out and let them rest for about 10 minutes. That bacon firms up a bit as it cools and gives the best results for bite and texture.
Serving Suggestions
I love serving these spicy pickle poppers with a quick dipping sauce.
A bowl of ranch dressing or some homemade ranch always hits the spot, especially with the spicy kick from the seasoning. These spicy pickle poppers make a perfect appetizer or finger food for game day, tailgates, or honestly… just because you want a great snack.
Recipe Notes & Pro Tips
You want to use cream cheese that’s firm enough to slice, not the whipped kind of cream cheese mixture.
Freshly shredded cheddar cheese melts way better than pre-bagged. If you’re using thick cut bacon, you may want to bump up the cook time a little for that perfect crisp.
I use a pellet grill to add that smoke flavor, but you could totally adapt this for the air fryer if you're in a rush. Don’t skip letting them rest. Trust me, letting them cool a bit on a paper towel will keep everything from falling apart when you grab one.
Variations
You could mix it up by adding a little sour cream into your cream cheese for extra tang. Or toss in some cooked ground beef and cheddar for bacon cheeseburger pickle poppers that are absolutely wild.
Want even more kick? Drizzle with your favorite BBQ sauce or hot sauce before serving.
If you’ve got leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the fridge. They reheat surprisingly well in a cast iron skillet or even in the air fryer. These are also killer when served alongside other pickle recipes like jalapeno poppers or bacon wrapped dill pickle spears-just stack them up for the ultimate platter.
These would also be fantastic with pulled pork or brisket inside. Also if you want you could add a little salt, black pepper or garlic powder to combine cream cheese flavors even more in the stuffed pickles.
Final Thoughts
These bacon-wrapped pickle poppers are hands down one of my go-to snacks for the big game or when I need a perfect side dish that feels like a showstopper.
The combo of crispy bacon, tangy pickles, smoky bacon flavor, and creamy cheese is addictive in the best way. Since the base is just a few basic ingredients, it’s the kind of snack you can whip up without much planning.
Whether you're firing up the smoker or going for the air fryer version, this is one simple recipe that delivers huge flavor. Grab your pickles, wrap ‘em in bacon, and let the magic happen.
Other Recipes You'll Love:
- Bacon Wrapped Pickles Recipe: Bacon Cheeseburger Pickle Shots
- Spicy Bacon Wrapped Pickles - The best easy recipe
- Easy Pickles Recipe - Spicy Maple Bourbon Pickles
- Best Pickles in a Blanket Recipe (Viral Recipe)
- Smoked Bacon Wrapped Crackers with Pickles (Viral Recipe!)
Smoked Pickle Poppers
Ingredients
- 4 Whole Dill Pickles halved and prepared as shown
- 8 oz Cream Cheese Cut into slices to fit in pickle
- 4 oz Cheddar Cheese shredded, fresh if possible
- 8 slices Bacon thin, or regular cut
- Blazing Star Scorpion Seasoning
Instructions
- Preheat smoker to 350F
- Prepare pickles by cutting off ends, and slicing in half. Using a small spoon or measuring spoon, carefully scrape the seeds and inside of pickle to make the pickle into a canoe shape.
- Fill the pickle canoe with a slice of cream cheese, add shredded cheddar cheese on top, and wrap in 1-2 slices of bacon. Making sure the bacon ends are on the bottom to hold together while cooking. Season liberally with Blazing Star Scorpion Seasoning
- Place in smoker and cook for 45 minutes - check at 30 mins. You want the bacon to be a dark amber color, but not charred. The bacon will crisp more when cooling.
- Remove and let cool for 10 minutes. Serve hot with ranch dressing, or the dipping sauce of your choosing
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