Armadillo Eggs

Smoked Armadillo Eggs are the ultimate jalapeño popper upgrade—stuffed with cheese, wrapped in sausage and bacon, then smoked to perfection for a spicy, savory appetizer that’s loaded with bold flavor.

One of my favorite recipes to make when we are entertaining is these Armadillo Eggs that are quick and easy to make then hands off as they cook on my smoker. Plus, they are a little “special” and something I find most people haven’t tried yet. Serve as a game day appetizer and everyone will forget there is game to watch because they will be crowded around the table trying to get their hands on another one of these!

What Are Armadillo Eggs?

These Smoked Armadillo Eggs are a classic Texas BBQ staple and are essentially your favorite jalapeño popper wrapped in ground pork sausage which is then wrapped in bacon then smoked on your Traeger.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• You can prepare these about a day in advance. Just keep them in an airtight container in the fridge until you are ready to smoke them.
• This armadillo eggs recipe is easy to prepare and then you leave all of the hard work for the smoker.
• These are versatile, you can use whatever type of ground sausage you like best and they will taste delicious.

Ingredients for Smoked Armadillo Eggs

• Jalapeño peppers – I prefer larger ones so I can stuff them with more cream cheese. If you do use smaller ones you might have some leftover cream cheese and the layer of sausage meat will be thicker. You can always grab a few extra jalapeños and make more if they are smaller.
• Ground sausage – I used a breakfast sausage but the options are endless. You could use mild, spicy, breakfast, honey garlic etc. If you do love a good kick, try chorizo!
• Cream cheese – Make sure this is softened so you can cream it together. Just leave it at room temperature for about 30 minutes.
• Cheddar cheese – Grab the block of cheddar cheese and grate it yourself. This will give you a better melt since the pre-shredded cheese have an anti-caking agent on them to prevent them from sticking together.
• Bacon – We like a thick sliced bacon so it doesn’t tear while wrapping the egg.
• Garlic powder – Adds a little extra flavor.

What flavor Wood Pellets do I use?

We used our go-to competition blend of wood pellets for this recipe. It’s a blend of maple, hickory and cherry which we find a nice blend to smoke anything with. If you have any of these pellets on their own, or even oak, they will work well, too.

This blend also works great for smoked chicken!

How to Prepare Armadillo Eggs

1. Wash and cut the tops off the jalapeños. Core the peppers and remove seeds and membranes.
2. In a small mixing bowl, cream together cream cheese, shredded cheese and garlic powder.
3. Spoon cream cheese filling into the jalapeños, making sure to press it down.
4. Take 1/6 of ground sausage and wrap it around the jalapeño evenly making sure none of the stuffed jalapeño is showing. Wrap two slices of bacon around sausage.

Smoking Armadillo Eggs

1. Place the armadillo eggs on preheated smoker grate and shut lid. Smoke for 2 hours or until internal temperature of the sausage is 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. If you like crispy bacon, crank the smoker up to about 400 degrees Fahrenheit for a few minutes at the end or place the armadillo eggs on a baking sheet and broil a few minutes in the oven before serving.

Storage and Reheating

Fridge: If you have leftovers store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days.

Freezer: You can freeze leftover armadillo eggs in a freezer bag or freezer storage container for up to a month. Thaw overnight in the fridge.

To reheat, place leftovers on a baking sheet in the oven for 10-15 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit or until warmed through.

You can also place them in the air fryer for about 5 minutes. The microwave is an option, however you will have softer bacon.

Can I Freeze Armadillo Eggs Before Smoking?

You can definitely prepare armadillo eggs and freeze them without smoking them. Flash freeze them in a single layer on a baking pan before you store them in a freezer safe bag for up to a month. Thaw in the fridge overnight before you want to cook them and then follow the rest of the directions.

Can I Make Armadillo Eggs in the Oven?

Yes! If you would like to switch it up simply place them on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil and bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 25-30 minutes. Cook time will vary on the size of your jalapeño, so be sure to check the internal temperature.

Can I Make Armadillo Eggs in the Air Fryer?

You can also make armadillo eggs in the air fryer to save time. Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and cook for about 20 minutes, flipping halfway through. You can brush with BBQ sauce and cook a few more minutes if you like.

Can I brush Armadillo Eggs with BBQ Sauce?

Yes, you can! We recommend brushing it at the end of smoking. If you want a crispier bacon after you brush the BBQ sauce on (about 1 cup) turn the smoker temperature to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and place them back on the smoker for 2-3 minutes.

Elevated jalapeño poppers are bound to be a family favorite! Savory and creamy with the right amount of heat, armadillo eggs will be a top request from now on.

How To Serve Armadillo Eggs

Armadillo eggs are a great appetizer to serve just about any time or even as an easy supper item. Add Taco Smoked Pretzel Bites and Smoked Snack Mix to the table for guests to snack on and they’ll be happy! Raw veggies and Ranch Dip always go a long way or serve a classic Queso alongside your favorite tortilla chips.

If you love to serve a good dip on the side, Garlic Parmesan Sauce really enhances the flavors of armadillo eggs and is really easy to put together.

More Family Friendly Smoker Appetizers

• Smoked Spinach Artichoke Dip is always a favorite for game day. Super rich and creamy plus you can dip anything you like into it – crackers, pretzels, bread or veggies.
• If you love jalapeño poppers and getting creative, Smoked Jalapeño Poppers are definitely an appetizer you need to try. Beef, cheddar cheese, cream cheese and jalapeños are the best combination!
• Crispy potatoes loaded with bacon, cheddar, sour cream and of course, green onions make for the best Smoked Potato Skins.
• It’s not a game day get together without wings! Our Smoked Chicken Wings start with a dry rub and are finished with sticky BBQ sauce. They’re finger lickin’ good!