We love great party foods just like these smokey atomic buffalo turds. If you are looking for more appetizers, these homemade Pretzel Bites are chewy and perfectly golden. But, if you make them you have to serve them with this ooey, gooey Beer Cheese Dip.
Atomic Buffalo Turds Recipe (ABTs)
Atomic buffalo turds, or A.B.Ts. to those accustomed to these bite-sized appetizers, are one of my absolute favorite appetizers out there. The jalapeños add the perfect amount of spicy and then there is the crispy bacon.
They are a conversation starter for sure, they make me giggle every time I say their name just like these duck fart shots. Not only are they hilarious to say, they also make truly tasty treats.
These atomic buffalo turds blow basic jalapeño poppers out of the water! I mean they are similar to those plain bacon wrapped jalapeño poppers but with an addition that makes them extra flavorful, little smokies.
If you bring these to a tailgating event as a party snack, make sure to make a lot because they will be super popular.
No one really knows why they are called buffalo turds, but I think that they look like little turds after they are cooked so the name totally makes sense.
I include instructions on how to make them in the oven just in case you don’t have a smoker.
Friends and family always rave over this one, and we’re sure you will too!
What are Atomic Buffalo Turds?
Atomic buffalo turds are like a jalapeño popper that has been elevated in flavor. Crisp jalapeño peppers get stuffed with freshly shredded cheese and cream cheese, topped with a cocktail weenie, and all of that goodness gets wrapped in up in a hug of bacon.
This is the ultimate party appetizer and perfect game day treat. They are an impressive snack wherever you decide to bring them, if you even want to share them at all.
What Kind of Smoker to Use?
Any type of smoker will work well for this recipe. A wood pellet smoker like a Traeger, electric smokers, or a charcoal wood smoker like the Big Green Egg.
Use a Good Melting Cheese
If you are wondering if there are cheese substitutes for the cheddar we used here, the answer is yes. Any good quality cheese that melts well, will be perfect for this jalapeño recipe. Some other great options would be smoked gouda, provolone, Monterey Jack, Colby, havarti, swiss, fontina, or muenster.
Jalapeños too Spicy?
If you don’t like jalapeños or you find them too spicy (or your kids do), it’s easy to swap them out with a less spicy version. I like to buy the miniature bell peppers that are very similar in shape to the jalapeños. The mini peppers (or mini sweet peppers) taste great as a substitute.
You may need to cut them into quarters so that there isn’t too much pepper. Then make them the same way, but you may also want to leave out the chipotle pepper powder.
Are Atomic Buffalo Turds Keto?
Everything about these ABT’s makes them the perfect recipe for a ketosis diet. The only thing I recommend is when you are buying the rub, make sure to check the label to make sure there is no added sugar. Or make your own homemade rub using this super simple recipe below.
How to Make Your Own Keto BBQ Rub
In a small bowl, mix all of the ingredients together. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in a cool dry place for about 6-12 months. Make this with real brown sugar if not on a Keto diet.
- 2 tablespoons Swerve sweetener (Brown Swerve)
- 2 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 2 teaspoons lemon pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
Can Atomic Buffalo Turds be made in an Oven?
I didn’t want anyone to miss out on these delicious appetizers, so I wanted to include a baking option in case you don’t have a smoker. Keep in mind that they will not taste the same as if you had smoked them, but will still taste great. The bacon also may not get as crisp.
Can Buffalo Turds be made on the Grill?
Technically, yes they can be cooked on a grill but, it makes it a little harder to control the temperature. The barbecue tends to cook at a much higher temp than the smoker. Therefore, it’s difficult to fully cook the jalapeño while keeping the bacon crisp without burning it.
Recipe Ingredients
- Jalapeno Peppers: I like to buy jalapenos that are about 3-4 inches long, you don’t want them to be too small or they’ll be hard to stuff. The jalapenos are sliced in half and the seeds and ribs get removed. Removing the seeds and ribs removes most of the heat from the peppers; if you like it spicier, leave some of the seeds and ribs in. The peppers are stuffed with a combination of cream cheese, cheddar cheese and spices.
- Cream Cheese: Make sure to pull the cream cheese out 2 hours before you want to start making this recipe. You will need a block of softened cream cheese.
- Cheese: I use cheddar cheese but you can use any type of melty cheese.
- Paprika: Smoked paprika add a slight smokey flavor.
- Ground Chipotle: Ground chipotle powder will adds another layer of spice.
- Salt and Pepper: Just a little used to season the jalapeños.
- Mini Sausages: These are the little cocktail smokies or cocktail weenies that come in a big package, there are like 36 so you will have more left over.
- Bacon: I find that regular streaky bacon slices work best here, it gets nice and crisp. You could try turkey bacon.
- Barbecue Rub: You can use your favorite rub or use the recipe above to make your own bbq rub.
How to Make Atomic Buffalo Turds
The construction of the atomic buffalo turds is really easier than it looks. Check out the recipe card below this blog post for full instructions.
- (May want to wear gloves) Cut whole peppers in half lengthwise. Use a spoon to scoop out any seeds and the ribs.
- In a medium bowl mix together the softened cream cheese, cheddar cheese, paprika, chipotle powder, salt and pepper.
- Fill the jalapeño halves with a generous portion of the cream cheese mixture.
- Place a little smokie on top of the cream cheese.
- Cut the slices of bacon in half crosswise. Wrap each pepper in half slice of bacon, if you need to you can secure the bacon in place with a toothpick.
- Sprinkle with barbecue rub.
- Smoke the jalapeños in the smoker that is set to 225 deg F and cook for 2-3 hours until bacon is brown.
How to Make Atomic Buffalo Turds in the Oven
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Follow all of the instructions to prepare the bacon wrapped jalapeños.
- Put the peppers on the baking sheet and bake for 20-25 minutes until bacon is crispy and browned. Serve hot.
Recipe Tips & Variations
- Thin bacon. Use regular bacon for best results instead of thick cut bacon.
- More spicy. Add some of the jalapeño seeds back in with the cream cheese and cheese mixture.
- Extra spicy. Are you feeling risky? If you want to make these jalapeños REALLY spicy, leave all of the seeds and ribs inside of them. Or use a spicier pepper like a habanero.
- Different flavor. Use cayenne pepper or chili pepper instead of the chipotle chile powder. It will add a hint of spice and a different flavor from the chipotle.
- Double recipe. Easily double the recipe to how every many you can fit in your smoker.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can non fat cream cheese be used instead of full fat? You can try making this recipe with low fat cream cheese, but I haven’t tried it before. Let me know if it worked well in the comments below.
Are these atomic buffalo turds gluten free? Atomic buffalo turds (extra stuffed jalapeño pepper) are gluten free. I do recommend checking any seasoning you use to make sure it is all gluten free.
Can atomic buffalo turds be made in advance? You can make these 24 hours in advance. Just store covered in the refrigerator.
Storage Instructions
How to refrigerate buffalo turds ? Let the bacon wrapped jalapeño bites cool and put in an airtight container. They should last about 3-4 days in the fridge.
How do you reheat buffalo turds? Pre-heat the air fryer to 350° F. Cook for 2-3 minutes. Cook a minute at a time if not heated through. Keep a close eye on it so that it doesn’t burn. Or pop them in the microwave for 30 seconds, then heat for 10 seconds at a time until heated through (they won’t be as crispy).
Try these other great recipes!
- Caprese Salad Skewers
- Stuffed Cheesy Garlic Bread
- Potato Skins in Air Fryer
- Strawberry Cheesecake Bites
- Egg Rolls in Air Fryer
- Bagel Bites in Air Fryer
- Mac and Cheese Bites in Air Fryer
If you’ve tried this atomic buffalo turd recipe, don’t forget to give me a star rating and leave me a comment below in the comment section. I love to hear from people who have made my recipes!
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Atomic Buffalo Turds
Ingredients
- 8 large jalapeno peppers
- 8 ounces cream cheese
- 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon chipotle chile powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 16 cocktail sausages, lil smokies
- 8 slices bacon, cut in half
- barbecue rub, sprinkle on, recipe in notes
Instructions
-
Cut whole peppers in half lengthwise (may want to wear gloves). Use a spoon to scoop out any seeds and the ribs.
-
In a medium bowl mix together the softened cream cheese, cheddar cheese, paprika, chipotle powder, salt and pepper.
-
Fill the jalapeño halves with a generous portion of the cream cheese mixture.
-
Place a little smokie on top of the cream cheese.
-
Wrap each pepper in half slice of bacon, if you need to you can secure the bacon in place with a toothpick. Sprinkle with barbecue rub.
-
Smoke the jalapeños in the smoker that is set to 225° F and cook for 2-3 hours until bacon is brown.
Recipe Notes
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Follow all of the instructions to prepare the bacon wrapped jalapeños.
- Put the peppers on the baking sheet and bake for 20-25 minutes until bacon is crispy and browned. Serve hot.
Tips and Variations
- Thin bacon. Use regular bacon for best results instead of thick cut bacon.
- More spicy. Add some of the jalapeño seeds back in with the cream cheese and cheese mixture.
- Extra spicy. Are you feeling risky? If you want to make these jalapeños REALLY spicy, leave all of the seeds and ribs inside of them. Or use a spicier pepper like a habanero.
- Different flavor. Use cayenne pepper or chili pepper instead of the chipotle chile powder. It will add a hint of spice and a different flavor from the chipotle.
- Double recipe. Easily double the recipe to how every many you can fit in your smoker.
- Homemade barbecue rub. Mix together 2 tablespoons Swerve sweetener (Brown Swerve) or brown sugar if not keto, 2 tablespoon smoked paprika, 2 teaspoons garlic powder, 2 teaspoons onion powder, 2 teaspoons lemon pepper, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, 1 teaspoon black pepper
* Please note that all nutrition information are just estimates. Values will vary among brands, so we encourage you to calculate these on your own for most accurate results.
Nutrition Information
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