Smoked Jalapeño Popper Meatballs

These Smoked Jalapeño Popper Meatballs are a spicy, cheesy, and smoky appetizer or main dish made with ground beef, cream cheese, cheddar cheese and jalapeños.

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Everyone’s favorite creamy, spicy appetizer has been taken up a notch with these stuffed meatballs. Two types of cheese ooze out of the center of a tender, smoked meatball with the perfect amount of heat from a slice of jalapeño, it doesn’t get much better. They are perfect to add to a meal or to serve as an appetizer on game day. With a short cook time, there is a lot of wiggle room to smoke any other items you want to serve, too.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Smoked jalapeño and cream cheese meatballs only take 20 minutes on the smoker so you’ll be enjoying them in no time at all.
• It is so easy to double up the batch and freeze some meatballs for another time.
• These cheese filled meatballs are a unique way to enjoy meatballs and jalapeño poppers in the same bite so you get the best of both worlds.

Ingredients for Smoked Jalapeño Popper Meatballs

• Ground beef – You can substitute ground pork, ground turkey or ground chicken if you prefer.
• Bread crumbs – Plain breadcrumbs are what we use for a binder. You can try Panko breadcrumbs, too.
• Milk – Milk provides meatballs with moisture so they don’t dry out.
• Worcestershire sauce – Offers a rich umami flavor.
• Seasoning – Kosher salt and ground black pepper perfectly season the meat.
• Cheddar cheese – Cubed cheddar offers the best flavor, we love a good sharp cheddar in our house.
• Cream cheese – Adds so much creaminess, you’ll definitely want to use full fat cream cheese.
• Jalapeño – Fresh jalapeño slices give these meatballs the perfect kick. Remember to remove the seeds and the membrane.

How To Make Smoked Jalapeño Popper Meatballs

1. Combine ground beef, bread crumbs, milk, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper until just combined.
2. Shape into 8 meatballs
3. Flatten each meatball and place a cube of cream cheese, cube of cheddar cheese and a slice of jalapeño in the center. Reform into a ball.
4. Place directly on grates in preheated smoker for 20 minutes.

Storage and Reheating

Fridge: Store leftover meatballs in the fridge in an airtight container for 3-4 days.

Freezer: If you have a lot of leftovers or you doubled up the batch to enjoy another time, freeze the meatballs on a baking sheet before transferring them to a freezer bag or airtight container. Thaw overnight in the fridge.

To reheat leftovers, you can use the microwave in 20 second increments until hot through. You can also reheat covered on the stovetop. Add a little water to the pan for moisture.

What Type Of Wood Chips Are Best For Meatballs?

A mild wood like apple, pecan or maple is a great choice for smoking meatballs. You can also use a competition blend to make a great tasting meatball.

Smoky jalapeño popper meatballs are going to wow everyone at the dinner table. They’re easy to assemble and quick to smoke so you’ll love cooking these all year long.

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5 from 3 votes

Jalapeno Popper Smoked Meatballs

Smoked Jalapeño Popper Meatballs are the perfect BBQ appetizer—spicy, cheesy, and loaded with smoky flavor, they’re easy to make and always a crowd favorite.

Prep:15 minutes mins

Cook:20 minutes mins

Total:35 minutes mins

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3

Equipment

• Smoker
• Food scale
• Mixing Bowl
• Sharp Knife
• Cutting Board
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Meat Thermometer

Ingredients

• ▢ 1 pound ground beef 85/15 recommended
• ▢ ¼ cup bread crumbs plain
• ▢ 2 Tablespoons milk
• ▢ 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• ▢ ½ teaspoon kosher salt
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
• ▢ 2 ounces sharp cheddar cheese cut into 8 cubes
• ▢ 4 ounces cream cheese cut into 8 cubes
• ▢ 1 jalapeño seeded and thinly sliced into 8 slices

Instructions

• Start smoker and set it to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
• In a medium sized bowl, combine ground beef, bread crumbs, milk, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper until just combined.
• Shape into 8 meatballs.
• Flatten each meatball and place a cube of cream cheese, cubed cheddar cheese and a slice of jalapeño in the center. Reform into a ball.
• Place on preheated smoker for 20 minutes or until cooked through.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 680kcal (34%), Carbohydrates: 18g (6%), Protein: 36g (72%), Fat: 51g (78%), Saturated Fat: 23g (144%), Cholesterol: 170mg (57%), Sodium: 932mg (41%), Potassium: 576mg (16%), Fiber: 1g (4%), Sugar: 4g (4%), Vitamin A: 747IU (15%), Vitamin C: 6mg (7%), Calcium: 254mg (25%), Iron: 4mg (22%)

© Gimme Some Grilling ®

We are not dietitians and recommend you seek a nutritionist for exact nutritional information. The information in the nutrition box is calculated through a program and there is room for error. If you need an accurate count, I recommend running the ingredients through your favorite nutrition calculator.

How To Serve Smoked Jalapeño Popper Meatballs

Jalapeño popper meatballs are great as the protein for your meal or as an appetizer. Smoked Baked Potatoes are a great smoky side and a simple tossed salad adds a touch of green to the table while the meatballs are still the star of the show.

Of course, no meal is complete without a sweet treat to finish it off. I recommend Smoked Crumb Apple Pie for a unique twist on a classic family favorite.

More Great Meatball Ideas

• Love a sticky, sweet and savory combination? Try our BBQ Smoked Meatballs that are ready in only one hour.
• You’re going to want to make Smoked Stuffed Meatballs for your next get together. Smoky meatballs with mozzarella and sweet, sticky sauce? Say no more!
• Cook juicy meatballs, crisp tater tots and veggies all together for a set and forget meal! Tater Tot Meatball Foil Packets are great for camping and over the fire cookouts.
• If you love a handheld, Grilled Meatball Subs should be on your meal plan for this week. Make it easy by using storebought meatballs or try out your own homemade, either way, this is a great meal!