Description
Armadillo Eggs are a flavorful American appetizer featuring jalapeño peppers stuffed with a creamy cheddar and cream cheese mixture, wrapped in seasoned ground sausage, and encased in crispy bacon. Baked to perfection, this spicy and savory snack is perfect for parties and game day gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Peppers and Cheese Filling
- 6 large jalapeño peppers, halved lengthwise and seeded
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
Sausage and Bacon Coating
- 1 pound ground sausage
- 8 slices bacon
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheet: Preheat the oven to 375°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup.
- Make Cheese Filling: In a medium bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, shredded sharp cheddar cheese, garlic powder, and onion powder. Mix until smooth and well blended.
- Stuff Jalapeños: Spoon the cheese mixture evenly into each jalapeño half and gently press the halves back together to create whole stuffed peppers.
- Form Sausage Patties: Divide the ground sausage into 6 equal portions. Flatten each portion into a thin patty large enough to wrap around each stuffed jalapeño.
- Wrap Peppers with Sausage: Carefully wrap each cheese-stuffed jalapeño with a flattened sausage patty, sealing the edges completely to prevent cheese leakage.
- Wrap with Bacon: Encase each sausage-covered pepper with a slice of bacon. Secure with toothpicks if necessary to hold everything in place.
- Season and Bake: Place the wrapped peppers seam side down on the prepared baking sheet. Lightly sprinkle smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper over them. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes until the sausage is thoroughly cooked and the bacon is crispy.
- Optional Broil for Crispiness: For extra crispy bacon, broil the armadillo eggs for 2 to 3 minutes at the end, watching carefully to avoid burning.
- Rest and Serve: Let the armadillo eggs rest for 5 minutes after baking before serving to allow flavors to settle and avoid burns.
Notes
- For a smoky flavor, cook the armadillo eggs on a grill or smoker at 375°F for about 30 to 40 minutes.
- Adjust spice level by leaving some jalapeño seeds in the peppers for extra heat.
- You can prepare the armadillo eggs ahead of time and refrigerate them for up to 24 hours before baking.
