These Cheeseburger Jalapeño Stuffed Poppers are a guaranteed crowd-pleaser and the kind of guilty-pleasure snack people ask for at every party. They’re easy to prepare, fun to serve, and always disappear fast. If you enjoy jalapeño poppers, add this cheeseburger version to your must-try list — it combines seasoned ground beef with creamy cheese, crispy bacon, and a touch of heat for the ultimate appetizer.
If you’re unfamiliar, a jalapeño popper is simply a jalapeño pepper that’s been hollowed and stuffed with a savory filling. Fillings vary widely: some use cream cheese alone, others add sausage, pulled pork, shredded brisket, or seasoned ground beef. Many poppers are wrapped in bacon before cooking, and they’re found on restaurant menus and backyard barbecue spreads alike because of how adaptable and tasty they are.
WHAT IS A JALAPEÑO POPPER?
Jalapeño poppers are jalapeño peppers cut open, seeds and membranes removed, and filled with a mixture of cheeses, seasonings, and often a protein like ground beef. The result is a spicy, cheesy bite with plenty of savory flavor. The cheeseburger-style popper in this recipe adds seasoned ground beef, cheddar and jack cheeses, cream cheese for creaminess, crispy bacon for texture, and a bright special sauce for serving.
HOW TO CUT A JALAPEÑO
Before you start, always wear gloves when working with jalapeños. The oils can irritate skin and eyes, and they transfer easily to anything you touch. To prepare each pepper:
- Slice the jalapeño lengthwise so each piece is roughly the same size.
- Use a spoon to scrape out all seeds and the white membrane. Removing the membrane reduces heat.
- Keep gloves on and scrape away from your face to avoid splashing pepper juice.
HOW TO MAKE CHEESEBURGER JALAPEÑO POPPERS
This recipe uses straightforward ingredients and simple steps. Here’s the process in short:
- Prepare the cheeseburger meat: Brown a pound of ground beef in a hot skillet, season with your preferred seasoning blend, drain excess grease, and set the meat aside.
- Make the creamy filling: Combine softened cream cheese, shredded jack and cheddar cheeses, diced white onion, crispy chopped bacon, a little hot sauce, garlic paste, the seasoned ground beef, and extra seasoning. Mix until smooth and evenly combined.
- Fill the peppers: Cut jalapeños in half lengthwise, remove seeds and membranes, then spoon the cheesy, meaty filling into each half. Arrange the filled poppers on a wire rack to make handling easier.
HOW TO SMOKE CHEESEBURGER JALAPEÑO POPPERS
Smoking adds a complementary smoky character that works wonderfully with the cheeseburger flavors. Follow these guidelines:
- Preheat the smoker to 275°F while you finish assembling the poppers.
- Use apple wood chunks or another mild fruit wood for a subtle sweetness.
- Place the filled poppers on a wire rack and put the rack in the smoker.
- Smoke for about 30 minutes before checking. The filling should be hot and golden brown on top when finished.
- Remove from the smoker and let the poppers rest for about 10 minutes before serving.
Cheeseburger Jalapeno Poppers
Stuffed with a creamy mixture of seasoned ground beef, cream cheese, crispy bacon, shredded jack cheese, onion, garlic, and hot sauce, these poppers make a flavorful appetizer for parties and gatherings.
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- The Go To Blend seasoning (or your preferred seasoning)
- 6–8 jalapeño peppers, halved
Cream Cheese Filling
- 1 block softened cream cheese
- 1/2 pound crispy bacon, chopped
- 1/4 white onion, diced
- 1–2 tablespoons hot sauce
- 8 ounces shredded jack cheese
- 1 pound seasoned cheeseburger ground beef (prepared)
- 1 tablespoon garlic paste
- 2 tablespoons The Go To seasoning
Homemade Special Sauce
- 1/4 cup mayo
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 1 tablespoon mustard
- 1 tablespoon hot sauce
- 1 tablespoon sweet relish
- 1/2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 teaspoons garlic paste
Instructions
- Heat a cast iron skillet over medium and add a small amount of oil. Brown the ground beef for 3–4 minutes, season with The Go To Blend, cook until browned, drain excess grease, and transfer to a bowl.
- In a large bowl, combine softened cream cheese, chopped bacon, diced onion, hot sauce, shredded jack cheese, the cooked cheeseburger meat, garlic paste, and additional seasoning. Mix until smooth and creamy.
- Cut jalapeños lengthwise and remove seeds and membranes. Spoon the cheesy-meat mixture into each jalapeño half and arrange them on a wire rack.
- Preheat a smoker to 275°F and add apple wood chunks. Place the rack of poppers in the smoker and smoke for about 30 minutes, or until the filling is nicely browned.
- While the poppers smoke, make the special sauce: whisk together mayo, ketchup, mustard, hot sauce, relish, Worcestershire sauce, and garlic paste until combined.
- Remove poppers from the smoker and let rest about 10 minutes. Serve warm with the homemade special sauce.
Nutrition
Calories: 587 kcal · Carbohydrates: 7 g · Protein: 31 g · Fat: 48 g · Saturated Fat: 19 g · Sodium: 650 mg · Fiber: 2 g · Sugar: 2 g
These cheeseburger jalapeño poppers are perfect for game day, backyard cookouts, or any gathering where bold flavors and shareable snacks are welcome. The combination of smoky meat, melty cheeses, and spicy jalapeño is hard to beat — give them a try and watch them disappear.
Items used in this recipe (suggested)
Heat resistant gloves, charcoal chimney, mixing bowls, nitrile gloves, cast iron skillet, meat thermometer