If you're looking for a delicious way to use wild game, these Venison Jalapeño Poppers are a must-try. Tender strips of marinated venison are layered over creamy, cheesy jalapeño peppers and wrapped in bacon before being smoked until the bacon is perfectly rendered and the filling is hot and melty.
The secret to the flavor is the marinade. A simple combination of soy sauce and The Bearded Butcher Hollywood Blend gives the venison a savory, slightly sweet flavor that balances beautifully with the heat of the jalapeños.
These poppers are perfect for game day, backyard gatherings, hunting camp, or anytime you're looking for a creative way to serve wild game. They can also be assembled ahead of time and refrigerated before cooking.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- A delicious way to use venison or other wild game
- Slightly sweet, smoky, spicy, and savory
- Perfect for parties and gatherings
- Can be assembled ahead of time
- Can be refrigerated or frozen before cooking
- Works with venison, elk, or other wild game
Recipe at a Glance
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Marinating Time: 30–45 minutes
Cook Time: Approximately 20 minutes
Total Time: About 1 hour 15 minutes
Yield: 24 jalapeño poppers
Venison Marinade
- ½ cup soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons The Bearded Butcher Hollywood Blend
Ingredients
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 12 jalapeño peppers
- 1 lb venison filet
- 12 slices regular-cut bacon
- Bearded Butcher BBQ Sauce
- Fresh chives, for garnish
- Extra The Bearded Butcher Hollywood Blend, for dusting
How to Make Venison Jalapeño Poppers
1. Slice and Marinate the Venison
Start by slicing the venison filet into thin strips. You want at least 24 pieces of venison, with enough to place two pieces over each jalapeño half.
Place the sliced venison into a bowl or resealable bag and add ½ cup soy sauce and 2 tablespoons of The Bearded Butcher Hollywood Blend. Mix well, making sure all of the venison is coated.
The Hollywood Blend is perfect for this recipe because it combines the original Bearded Butcher base with cane sugar. The slight sweetness helps balance the saltiness of the soy sauce and the heat from the jalapeños.
Allow the venison to marinate while you prepare the remaining ingredients.
Chef Note: Don't marinate the venison for more than an hour. Because soy sauce is naturally salty, marinating too long can result in venison that is overly salty. We recommend 30–45 minutes for the best flavor.
2. Prepare the Jalapeños
While the venison is marinating, prepare your jalapeños.
Cut each jalapeño in half lengthwise. Using a spoon, carefully scoop out the seeds and inner membranes.
Chef Note: We highly recommend wearing gloves when working with jalapeños. The oils from the peppers can remain on your skin and cause a burning sensation, especially if you touch your eyes or face afterward.
3. Make the Cheese Filling
In a large bowl, combine the softened cream cheese and shredded cheddar cheese. Mix until well combined.
For the best results, use a block of cheddar cheese and shred it yourself. Freshly shredded cheese tends to melt better than pre-shredded cheese.
Make sure your cream cheese is softened before mixing. This will make combining the ingredients much easier.
4. Fill the Jalapeños
Fill each jalapeño half with the cream cheese and cheddar mixture.
You can spoon the filling into each pepper, but our favorite method is to use a piping bag. Piping bags are inexpensive, easy to use, and can save a surprising amount of time when you're making a large batch of poppers.
Fill each pepper evenly, being careful not to overfill them.
5. Add the Venison
Once the jalapeños are filled, place the marinated venison strips over the top of each popper.
Use enough venison to cover the cheese filling without making the poppers too difficult to wrap.
6. Wrap with Bacon
Cut each bacon slice in half. Wrap one half-slice of bacon around each jalapeño popper, securing the venison and cheese filling.
Chef Note: Use regular-cut bacon for this recipe. Thick-cut bacon doesn't render as easily and can be more difficult to wrap around the poppers. Regular-cut bacon gives you the best balance of coverage and rendering.
Short on time? You can partially render the bacon in the oven on a sheet pan before wrapping the poppers. This can help speed up the cooking process and ensure the bacon gets perfectly rendered.
7. Preheat the Smoker
Preheat your smoker or grill to 375°F.
Once the smoker is hot, place the assembled jalapeño poppers directly onto the cooking grate.
8. Smoke and Cook
Cook the poppers for approximately 20 minutes total, flipping them halfway through.
Allow the bacon to render and the jalapeños and cheese filling to heat completely through.
After flipping, lightly dust the second side with additional The Bearded Butcher Hollywood Blend.
The poppers are ready when the bacon is fully rendered and the filling is hot throughout.
For an additional layer of flavor, brush the poppers with Bearded Butcher BBQ Sauce during the final few minutes of cooking.
Chef Note: Cooking times can vary depending on your smoker, grill, and the size of your poppers. Use the bacon and the temperature of the filling as your guide rather than relying solely on the clock.
9. Garnish and Serve
Carefully remove the poppers from the smoker and allow them to cool for a few minutes.
Garnish with freshly chopped chives and serve warm.
Make-Ahead Instructions
These Venison Jalapeño Poppers are an excellent make-ahead appetizer.
Assemble the poppers completely, then place them in the refrigerator until you're ready to cook them. This makes them especially convenient when you're preparing food for a gathering.
You can also freeze the assembled poppers before cooking. Place them in a freezer-safe container or on a tray until frozen, then transfer them to an airtight container or freezer bag.
When you're ready to cook, allow frozen poppers to thaw safely in the refrigerator before placing them on the smoker.
Wild Game Variations
Don't have venison? No problem!
This recipe works beautifully with a variety of wild game. Try using:
- Venison
- Elk
- Other lean wild-game steaks or filets
The combination of creamy cheese, spicy jalapeños, bacon, and the slightly sweet and savory Hollywood Blend makes this a versatile recipe for your wild-game freezer.
Serving Ideas
These poppers make an excellent appetizer for:
- Game-day parties
- Backyard cookouts
- Hunting camp
- Holiday gatherings
- Tailgating
- Family dinners
- Wild-game get-togethers
Serve them fresh off the smoker alongside your favorite Bearded Butcher BBQ Sauce for dipping.
Final Thoughts
These Venison Jalapeño Poppers are absolutely delicious and are a great way to use wild game in a completely different way.
The tender, savory venison pairs perfectly with the creamy cheese, spicy jalapeño, smoky bacon, and slightly sweet flavor of The Bearded Butcher Hollywood Blend. Whether you're cooking for your family or putting together a spread for a crowd, these poppers are sure to disappear quickly.
If you try this recipe, let us know how it turned out! We'd love to see how you're putting your wild game to use.
