We often use jalapenos to make smoked stuffed peppers a.k.a ABT's but this recipe milds them down by using colorful sweet peppers instead.
Prep Time 25 minutesminutes
Cook Time 3 hourshours
Total Time 3 hourshours25 minutesminutes
Ingredients
Main
15-20(or more) mini sweet peppers
1.5lbsbaconthin cut is best
Stuffing
8ouncescream cheese
½cupsharp cheddargrated
½cupcooked ground sausagechorizo would also work well
2TBSJeff's original rubor your favorite low-salt barbecue rub
Instructions
Place about ¼ cup of ground sausage into a small to medium skillet and cook it over medium low heat until it is browned through. Place the cooked, crumbled sausage onto a double layer of paper towels to absorb any extra grease and set aside.
While the sausage is cooking, cut peppers in half lengthwise to make boats. Each pepper makes 2 boats. Use a spoon, grapefruit spoon, melon baller, etc. to scoop out the seeds and some of the white ribs on the inside. Set the peppers aside and let's make the mixture that we will stuff inside of the boats.
Place softened cream cheese, cheddar cheese, cooked sausage and Jeff's original rub or your favorite low salt barbecue rub into a mixing bowl and combine thoroughly. I usually just use my hands but a mixing spoon or even a fork works well if you prefer that.
Stuff the cream cheese mixture into each boat level with the top.
Wrap a half strip of bacon around each boat. Some people use a toothpick to secure the bacon but I have not found that to be necessary. I like to place the finished peppers on a pan with a rack for easy transport to and from the smoker.
Sprinkle Jeff's original rub onto the top of each one to add another layer of delicious flavor.. now they are ready to smoke!
Set up your smoker for cooking at about 225°F (107°C) using indirect heat. If your smoker uses a water pan, fill it up. I used pecan wood for smoke. Once the smoker is ready, place the stuffed, bacon wrapped peppers on the grate and let the smoke cook for about 3 hours. Note: if you used a pan with rack, you can place that on the smoker grate instead of laying them on the grate individually.
Keep an eye on the peppers and when the bacon starts to crisp up and the peppers are nice and soft, they are ready to eat. Eat a few before you bring them. in because they will vaporize FAST and you may not even get any if you're not careful!