Texas Twinkies (Brisket-Stuffed Jalapenos)

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit.

Step 2

Cut the jalapeños in the following manner. First, make a straight vertical line from top to bottom. Then, add a crosscut under the stem. (Together, both cuts should look like an uppercase ‘T.’) Make the cuts only halfway through. Finally, remove the seeds and membranes with a spoon and discard them.

Step 3

Place the jalapenos on a baking sheet and bake them for 10 minutes. Immediately transfer the warm jalapenos to a bowl of ice water. This will stop them from cooking further and extract the oil from the seeds. Use a paper towel to blot them dry.

Step 4

Increase the oven temperature to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Step 5

Spread 1 tablespoon of cream cheese inside each jalapeño, then add 2 ounces of brisket. Wrap each pepper with a slice of bacon. Transfer the poppers to a baking sheet. Season generously with salt and pepper.

Step 6

Bake them at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Step 7

Remove the poppers from the oven and brush their tops with BBQ sauce. Return them to the oven and bake them for 5 more minutes.

Step 8

Remove the poppers from the oven for the final time. Serve them while warm, and enjoy!