Bratwurst Popper Boats
Elevate your tailgate with these sausage popper boats featuring bold BBQ flavors and a creamy filling for crowd-pleasing results.
Bratwurst Popper Boats
Rated 5.0 stars by 1 users
Category
Appetizer
Cuisine
German-American
Author:
This recipe comes from Matt Pittman, CEO of Meat Church BBQ, YouTube personality, and friend of Montana Knife Company.
Servings
5
Prep Time
15 minutes
Cook Time
30 minutes
Calories
320
These sausage poppers make perfect game-day snacks. I’ve been serving them at tailgates for years, and they never last longer than a few minutes.
My secret is using a clean, sharp knife to cut the bratwursts lengthwise and create boats for cream cheese, jalapeños, and BBQ seasoning. Clean cuts won’t tear the casing; a dull blade almost certainly will.
Ingredients
For the sausage poppers:
- 5 fresh bratwurst
- 1 cup whipped cream cheese
- 1 cup sharp cheddar, freshly shredded
- 2 Tbsp. pickled jalapeños (substitute fresh if you want spicier sausage poppers)
- 1 Tbsp. your favorite honey BBQ seasoning (I use Meat Church’s Honey Bacon BBQ Rub)
For the garnish:
-
15 slices of fresh jalapeños (substitute pickled if you prefer milder sausage popper boats)
Tools you’ll need:
- Sharp kitchen knife (nonnegotiable for clean cuts through the bratwurst)
- Instant-read thermometer
Directions
Follow these simple steps to whip up some mouthwatering bratwurst popper boats:
Set your smoker or pellet grill to 300°F. Because the cook time is pretty short, any wood type works well for these sausage poppers. I use pecan, which adds a great flavor profile.
Combine cream cheese, shredded cheddar, pickled jalapeños, and honey BBQ seasoning in a medium bowl. Mix thoroughly and set aside.
Using a clean kitchen knife, pierce the casing and cut a slit lengthwise down each bratwurst. Your cut’s quality impacts your sausage popper boats’ presentation, so make sure your knife is sharp.
Using your fingers or a small spoon, gently open the bratwurst to form a boat shape. Fill each sausage boat with the cream cheese mixture and season the top with additional honey BBQ seasoning. For easier handling, place the prepared bratwurst popper boats on a wire rack.
Place the bratwurst boats in the smoker. Cook until the internal temperature reaches 165°F using an instant-read thermometer, approximately 30 minutes.
Remove the sausage poppers from the smoker and garnish with slices of fresh jalapeño. Allow the sausage poppers to cool slightly before serving.
Recipe Note
Expert Tips for Perfect Sausage Popper Boats
Follow these tips to make your sausage popper boats stand out:
- Always use a well-sharpened knife when cutting the bratwurst to avoid tearing the casing. The resulting sausage popper boats will look clean and taste great.
- Let the bratwurst come to room temperature before cutting. This way, you won’t burn your fingers while forming the boat shape.
- For a smokier flavor, place your sausage boats on a higher rack in the smoker.
- If you’re serving a crowd with varying spice preferences, prepare half the bratwurst boats with pickled jalapeños and half with fresh jalapeños.
These sausage poppers can be enjoyed on their own or customized with your preferred toppings. I like to add caramelized onions and mustard to the finished sausage boats for an extra kick. If your guests prefer different toppings, set up a bar with bacon bits, pickled cabbage, chives, hot sauce, and sauerkraut to let them customize their sausage poppers.
These bratwurst popper boats combine juicy sausage and creamy, spicy fillings in one kickass game-day package. Remember, high-quality ingredients and a sharp kitchen knife make all the difference between ordinary bratwurst and extraordinary sausage poppers.
