Here’s a fiery and cheesy favorite: Jalapeño and Cheddar Smoked Sausage 🌶️🧀🔥. This sausage blends the heat of fresh jalapeños with the richness of sharp cheddar, all wrapped in a smoky, savory casing. Perfect for grilling, smoking, or slicing into your favorite dishes.
🧄 Ingredients
2 lbs ground pork
5 medium jalapeños, seeded and finely diced
½ cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
½ tbsp kosher salt
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp granulated garlic
1 tsp onion powder
Hog casings (soaked and rinsed)
🔥 Instructions
Prep the Casings Soak hog casings in warm water according to package directions.
Mix the Sausage In a large bowl, combine ground pork, jalapeños, cheddar, and seasonings. Mix until the meat becomes tacky and well combined.
Stuff the Sausage Using a sausage stuffer, fill the casings with the meat mixture. Twist into 6-inch links and prick any air bubbles.
Dry & Smoke Hang sausages to air dry for 1 hour at room temp, then refrigerate overnight. Smoke at 180°F for 2–3 hours until internal temp reaches 155°F.
Cool & Bloom Submerge in ice water to stop cooking, then let bloom at room temp for 1–2 hours.