Saucy Rossy BBQ
Snacks & Sides

Smoked Bison Jalapeño Poppers

Jalapeño halves stuffed with seasoned ground bison, cream cheese, and cheddar, smoked over a hickory-cherry-maple blend and finished with apple molasses BBQ sauce.

Time~1.5 hrs CategorySnacks & Sides Watch5:06
Smoked Bison Jalapeño Poppers — watch on YouTube

Watch the full cook on YouTube

Method

  1. 1Season the ground bison with South Shore Sea Salt BBQ spice rub and sauté it until cooked through.
  2. 2Combine the cooked bison with diced cherry tomatoes, red onion, garlic, cream cheese, and cheddar — measure the cheese with your heart.
  3. 3Halve and de-seed the jalapeños, fill them with the bison mixture, and top with more cheese.
  4. 4Smoke the poppers low and slow at 275°F for 1.5 hours on the pellet smoker with a hickory, cherry, and maple pellet blend.
  5. 5Brush twice with Earl's Signature Sauces Apple Molasses BBQ Sauce during the final 20 minutes.
  6. 6Serve hot as an appetizer or game-day snack.

Watch it on YouTube

Know your cook

More information, cause recipe back stories are stupid

No 500-word life story — just the good-to-know stuff on what’s actually in this cook. Here’s the rundown on every real ingredient, health and nutrition wise.

Bison
Bison is leaner than most beef but just as rich in protein, iron, zinc, and B12, with fewer calories gram-for-gram. Because it's lean it cooks fast and is best pulled a touch early to stay tender.
Cheese
Cheese is a good source of protein and calcium and pairs naturally with smoke, but it's also high in saturated fat and sodium — a little delivers big flavour, so treat it as a rich accent.
Chili peppers
Chili peppers are low in calories and high in vitamin C and antioxidants, and their heat comes from capsaicin, which may give metabolism a small nudge. Dial the amount to your spice tolerance.
Garlic
Garlic adds big flavour for almost no calories and contains sulphur compounds (like allicin) long studied for heart and immune benefits. It's one of the healthiest ways to season a cook.
Onion
Onions are low-calorie aromatics rich in fibre, vitamin C, and antioxidants such as quercetin. They add depth and gentle sweetness without much fat or salt.
Apple
Apples add natural sweetness, fibre, and vitamin C. In a brine or alongside pork they balance salt and smoke; on their own they're a low-calorie, gut-friendly fruit.
Salt
Salt is essential for seasoning and, in brines and cures, for texture and safety — but sodium adds up fast in BBQ. Season with intention and balance salty cooks with fresh sides.
Tomato
Tomatoes bring bright acidity plus vitamin C and lycopene, an antioxidant that becomes more available when cooked. They lighten and balance rich, fatty barbecue.

General nutrition info only, not medical or dietary advice — portions, brands and add-ons change the numbers.

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