Armadillo eggs are popular delicacies at southern barbecues. These delicious appetizers are made using jalapenos filled with cheese and wrapped in ground pork and bacon. Then, the meat is drizzled with BBQ sauce before and while grilling.
The name of this snack comes from how it looks. The exterior is wrapped in bacon, which gives it the look of an armadillo’s shell. Additionally, they resemble Scotch eggs, hence the name “armadillo eggs”. These appetizers are always a showstopper at my cookouts, and my guests never seem to have enough.
I learned how to make these delicious snacks in culinary school and have refined my techniques over the years. In today’s article, I’ll show you all I’ve learned, so you’ll become an expert just like me!
Here’s what you’ll need to prepare these delicious bacon-wrapped eggs.
First, preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Then, get a wire rack and foil ready.
Grab your eight large jalapenos, cut off the tops, and hollow them out by removing the seeds and stems. You can pit a jalapeno with different utensils, but I’ve discovered that a traditional butter knife works the best.
Remember, when handling jalapeno, you should consider using gloves because it contains capsaicin, a compound that can cause irritation when it touches the skin.
Simply insert the knife into the center of the jalapeno and push it down to separate the core from the pepper’s skin. Push the knife in a circular motion, the core should pop out now. After that, prepare the cheese filling.
To make the cream cheese filling, add cream cheese, cheddar cheese, garlic, salt, and pepper to a bowl and mix thoroughly. Once you’re done mixing the ingredients, fill the prepared jalapenos with the creamy cheese mixture.
Next, take a handful of ground pork sausage and cover the stuffed jalapeno. Form the ground pork around the jalapeno; the result should look like an egg. Avoid adding too much ground meat because it’ll increase the cooking time.
Afterward, wrap two slices of bacon around the ground pork and jalapeno. The bacon slices should completely wrap the armadillo eggs. Use a toothpick to secure the ends of the pork eggs.
Arrange the armadillo eggs on a wire rack. Then, brush as much barbecue sauce as you’d like over each bacon-wrapped armadillo egg once the eggs are arranged on the wire rack.
Once all your bacon-wrapped armadillo eggs are covered in barbecue sauce, gently cover the wire rack with aluminum foil and bake the eggs for 20 minutes.
Remove the foil after 20 minutes, coat the armadillo eggs with more BBQ sauce, and bake them without the foil for around 20 minutes. Use your meat thermometer to monitor the temperature. The internal temperature should be around 160–165 degrees.
Once the armadillo eggs are done, allow them to rest for 10 minutes before serving. Lastly, serve these armadillo eggs alone or with a dipping sauce, and enjoy!
These delicious armadillo eggs can be prepared in the oven, in a smoker, or even in an air fryer. Don’t fret; they taste wonderful regardless of the cooking method you use.
Bacon-wrapped armadillo eggs can also be prepared in the air fryer, though you might need to cook them in batches depending on the size of your air fryer.
Even though the oven-baked recipe tastes excellent as is, you can add more smokey flavor by cooking them on a smoker. I use a pellet smoker whenever I’m smoking armadillo eggs, and I add some hickory wood chips to the loader for extra smokiness.
You can freeze these tasty armadillos before cooking them. This is great news for people who like to prepare meals beforehand. These tasty appetizers can be frozen for up to one month, but you must follow the right steps. Wrap each egg in plastic film, place them in a freezer-safe bag or container, and store them in the freezer.
When you’re ready to cook the eggs, remove them from the freezer and defrost them in the refrigerator overnight. Then, bake at 375 degrees F. Alternatively, you can bake them frozen by covering the baking dish with aluminum foil for the first 15 minutes.
Then, take off the foil and continue cooking for about 20 more minutes. Remember to check the temperature with a thermometer. The internal temperature should reach 160 degrees F before you turn off the oven.
Simply take out the leftovers from the fridge or freezer and allow them to completely thaw. Then, slather the meat with BBQ sauce for extra flavor. Bake the armadillo egg leftovers for 10 to 15 minutes at 350 degrees. They can also be cooked for around 5 minutes in an air fryer.
You can get that signature crispy exterior using either of these methods. However, if you microwave them, you may not get that crispy mouthfeel that makes these eggs more delicious.
I prefer cutting these crispy bacon-wrapped jalapenos in half before serving them. In my experience, cutting them makes them easier to eat alone or with side dishes.
Even though the tasty cream cheese filling offers enough flavor, you can enjoy smoked armadillo eggs with any dipping sauce of your choice. I found that blue cheese dipping sauce adds more cheesy goodness, while sweet chili sauce gives off a sweet heat. You can also enjoy this appetizer with coleslaw, potato salad, and baked beans.
Look for jalapeno peppers that are straight because they are easier to core and wrap meat around. Also, pick peppers that are neither too thick nor too long. Even though you can always cut longer peppers short, doing this will result in the cheese oozing from the bottom.
Although the origins of armadillo eggs are unknown, it is thought that they began in Texas in the 70s or 80s.
According to legend, they were first created by cowboys searching for a filling and tasty snack to eat on the route. The recipe changed over time and became a well-liked starter at BBQ restaurants and tailgating events. Today, foodies and BBQ fans worldwide enjoy armadillo eggs.
Spoiled armadillo eggs contain bacteria that can cause distressing food poisoning symptoms. These symptoms may be mild or severe and could range from headaches, stomach cramps, vomiting, fever, diarrhea, etc.
For this reason, it’s crucial to check if the eggs are still good before eating them. Avoid eating the armadillo eggs if you notice mold or discoloration on the meat. Moreover, pay attention to the smell and texture of the meat. If the meat smells sour and feels slimy, make sure you throw it out.
You can store your delicious armadillo eggs in a refrigerator or freezer, depending on when you want to eat them. These pork shots will keep for 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator and up to a month in the freezer.
Remember to wrap the armadillo eggs in plastic film to prevent moisture from seeping in. Then place them in an airtight container and label them before placing them in the fridge or freezer.
Armadillo eggs are a fantastic keto-friendly meal. They taste great, contain high fat, and have few carbs. So, if you’re on a keto diet, you can indulge in these cheese-filled snacks at the next cookout.
That’s all there is to this delicious armadillo egg recipe. Hopefully, you can now make armadillo eggs that your family and friends will love. Armadillo eggs are a fantastic appetizer that’s so much fun to eat and make.
Feel free to experiment with different meats, cheeses, spices, and dipping sauces. In time, you can have your own special recipe and become a master at making these delicious bacon-wrapped jalapenos.
