Smoky, spicy, savory, and finished with a touch of sweetness, these Chorizo Jalapeño Poppers deserve a spot in your Game Day lineup.
For Episode 1 of Home Field Advantage, we’re teaming up with Justin from @GrillVaultBBQ to make a crowd-pleasing appetizer on the Huntsman®. The grill’s dual-zone setup lets the bacon render slowly over indirect heat, while the Venom® Controller maintains a steady cooking temperature—giving you more time to watch the game and less time tending the fire.
These aren’t your average jalapeño poppers. Each pepper is loaded with creamy cheese and savory chorizo, wrapped in bacon, and finished with hot honey for the perfect balance of heat, smoke, and sweetness.
Recipe Details
- Prep time: 20 minutes
- Cook time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Grill temperature: 350°F
- Servings: 12 poppers
- Cooking method: Dual-zone indirect grilling
Ingredients
- 12 fresh jalapeños
- 1 lb chorizo
- 1 lb bacon
- 1 block cream cheese, softened
- 2 cups shredded cheese
- 2 tbsp BBQ rub
- Hot honey, for drizzling
Instructions
1. Fire Up the Huntsman
Light your Huntsman® Grill and bring it to 350°F. Set the grill up for dual-zone cooking, arranging the charcoal on one side and leaving the opposite side open for indirect heat.
2. Cook the Chorizo
Brown the chorizo over the hot side of the grill until it is fully cooked. Remove it from the heat and set it aside.
3. Prepare the Jalapeños
Cut an opening along the top of each jalapeño. Carefully remove the seeds and core to create a boat for the filling.
For milder poppers, be thorough when removing the seeds and inner membrane. Leave a little behind if you want more heat.
4. Make the Filling
Combine the softened cream cheese, shredded cheese, cooked chorizo, and BBQ rub in a bowl. Mix until everything is evenly incorporated.
5. Stuff and Wrap
Fill each jalapeño with the chorizo and cheese mixture. Wrap each stuffed pepper with bacon, keeping the filling tucked securely inside.
6. Grill Over Indirect Heat
Place the poppers on the indirect side of the grill, opposite the charcoal. Close the lid and cook at 350°F for 45 minutes to one hour, or until the bacon is rendered, crispy, and cooked through.
7. Finish with Hot Honey
Drizzle the poppers with hot honey and continue cooking for another 10 minutes. This gives the honey time to tack up and lightly caramelize over the bacon.
8. Serve
Remove the poppers from the grill and let them cool for a few minutes before serving. Just don’t expect them to last long once they hit the table.
Justin’s Tip
Don’t rush the bacon. Give the poppers enough time over indirect heat to render the fat and become crispy without burning the exterior. The final drizzle of hot honey brings the spicy, smoky, and savory flavors together.
Your Home Field Advantage
Game Day cooking shouldn’t mean missing the game. The Huntsman® combines real charcoal flavor with precise temperature control, helping you spend less time managing the grill and more time with your crew.
Follow the Home Field Advantage series for more Game Day recipes from Spider Grills and @GrillVaultBBQ.
