This armadillo eggs recipe takes cheese stuffed jalapeno peppers, wraps them in hot Italian sausage and bacon, then grills them up. Watch them disappear!

Armadillo Eggs are a fun and inventive appetizer with a creative name. I imagine they were invented years ago when someone like me, a crazy jalapeno popper lover, decided that jalapeno poppers stuffed with cream cheese just weren't enough.

They probably stood there, contemplating the wonderfully oozing popper and thought, "You know? I'll bet this would taste even BETTER if I wrapped it in meat!"

BOOM! The birth of the Armadillo Egg.

There may be a different origin story out there, but this one works for me.

Bacon Wrapped Armadillo Eggs made at home

It isn't hard to imagine how these appetizers got their name. They sort of look like Armadillo Eggs, don't they? Regardless of what they're called, they're quite tasty and, fair warning, a little bit addictive, particularly for meat lovers.

They're not difficult to make. All you need are your typical jalapeno popper ingredients, some Italian sausage and bacon.

Some of my very favorite ingredients. #LifeisGood.

Let's talk about how we make armadillo eggs, shall we?

Bacon Wrapped Armadillo Eggs ready to serve

Armadillo Eggs Ingredients

Jalapeno Peppers.
Cream Cheese.
Seasonings. I'm using chili powder, garlic, and salt and pepper. Use your favorites.
Ground Italian Sausage. I'm using a hot blend.
Bacon.

How to Make Armadillo Eggs - the Recipe Method

Core the Jalapeno Peppers. First, cut the tops from the jalapenos peppers, then core them out. Use a spoon or a knife to remove the seeds and membranes, or use a jalapeno corer.

Make the Cheese Filling and Stuff the Jalapenos. Next, mix together the cream cheese, garlic, chili powder, and salt and pepper in a small bowl. Stuff each jalapeno with the cream cheese mixture.

Wrap in Sausage. Form 1/4 of the Italian sausage around the entire outside of each of the stuffed jalapeños to completely cover them. They will be egg shaped. I use hot Italian sausage, but mild works as well.

Wrap in Bacon. Next, wrap each of the sausage wrapped armadillo eggs with 3 slices of bacon. Be sure to get the bacon wrapped all the way around. You can use toothpicks to affix them, if needed.

Get Cooking! Heat your grill to medium heat (about 400 degrees F.) and lightly oil the grates. Grill the armadillo eggs for 25-30 minutes, or until the bacon is crispy and the sausage is cooked through. The internal temperature of the sausage should measure 165 degrees F.

Boom! Done! Time to enjoy your armadillo eggs, my friends. They look great, don't they? Time to dig in.

Armadillo Eggs on a cutting board looking incredible

Recipe Tips & Notes

Popper Filling. You can use other jalapeno popper fillings of your choice, including other cheeses, like pepper jack or cheddar cheese.
Yield. I made 5 armadillo eggs with about 1 pound of Italian sausage, though these were fairly large and could even be served as a small meal. If you'd like to stretch these into smaller bites, use smaller jalapeno peppers and you can make 8 smaller armadillo eggs.
Heat Factor. If you're a spicy food lover like me, the hot sausage is a nice touch. For even more heat, save the cored out jalapeno innards and mix it into your cream cheese mixture before stuffing the peppers. You can also incorporate spicy chili flakes or chili powder to get a bit more of that heat we crave.
Other Ground Meats. This recipe works with other ground meats. Try it with ground beef, ground pork, turkey or chicken. Or, use a mixture of different meats. I've made this with a blend of ground beef and chorizo. It's one of my favorite combinations.
Baked Armadillo Eggs. You don't need a grill to make armadillo eggs. You can use your oven. Simply preheat your oven to 400 degrees F, then baked the armadillo eggs on a baking sheet or aluminum foil until they are cooked through and the bacon is nice and crispy. Or, use your smoker in the same way to add a nice smoky flavor. Smoked armadillo eggs rock! Finally, bake them up! Get ready for eating!

An armadillo egg, sliced open to reveal the jalapeno popper within

I hope you enjoy the armadillo eggs recipe. Let me know how yours turn out! Check out our Jalapeno Popper Recipes.

Storage & Leftovers

Storing your Bacon Wrapped Armadillo Eggs in an airtight container in the fridge may allow you to store the leftovers for up to 3-4 days. To maximize the storage life, make sure to refrigerate them promptly.

Try Some of My Other Popular Appetizer Recipes

An armadillo egg, sliced open, looking delicious

Got any questions? Ask away! I’m happy to help. If you enjoy this recipe, I hope you’ll leave a comment with some STARS. Also, please share it on social media. Don’t forget to tag us at #ChiliPepperMadness. I’ll be sure to share! Thanks! — Mike H.

Bacon Wrapped Armadillo Eggs Recipe

This armadillo eggs recipe takes cheese stuffed jalapeno peppers, wraps them in hot Italian sausage and bacon, then grills them up. Watch them disappear!

Save Recipe

Course: Appetizer, Main Course, Snack

Cuisine: American

Keyword: bacon, jalapeno, recipe, sausage

Prep Time: 10

Cook Time: 25

Total Time: 35

Calories: 434kcal

Author: Mike Hultquist

Servings:

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5 from 5 votes

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Ingredients

4 large jalapeno peppers (or more as needed)
8 ounces cream cheese
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon garlic
Salt and pepper to taste
1 pound ground Italian sausage (I used hot Italian sausage)
12 slices bacon

Instructions

Remove the stem from the jalapeno peppers, then core them out.
Mix together the cream cheese, chili powder, garlic, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Stuff each jalapeno with the cream cheese mixture.
Form 1/4 of the Italian sausage around the entire outside of the stuffed jalapeno pepper. It will resemble an egg.
Next, wrap each with 3 slices of bacon. Be sure to get the bacon wrapped all the way around. You can use toothpicks to affix them, if needed.
Heat your grill to medium heat (about 400 degrees F.) and lightly oil the grates.
Grill the armadillo eggs for 25-30 minutes, or until the bacon is crispy and the armadillo eggs are cooked through.
Serve them up!

Video

Notes

Makes 4 large armadillo eggs.

Slice them in half to serve, or enjoy one on your own.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 434kcal Carbohydrates: 2g Protein: 14g Fat: 40g Saturated Fat: 16g Cholesterol: 96mg Sodium: 728mg Potassium: 270mg Sugar: 1g Vitamin A: 545IU Vitamin C: 9.6mg Calcium: 40mg Iron: 1mg

Did You Enjoy This Recipe?I love hearing how you like it and how you made it your own. Leave a comment below and tag @ChiliPepperMadness on social media.

This recipe was updated on 8/2/19 to include new photos and information. It was originally published on 6/19/17.