Bacon Wrapped, Sausage Stuffed, Jalapenos

Yep, you heard right, and the title says it all.  These little monsters can either be 80/20 paleo or the whole 9 yards, depending on one ingredient, but we’ll get to that in a minute.  These are great little snackers that will serve you well at your next party, BBQ, or whatever.  I wouldn’t exactly say they’re good for you, but just about all the ingredients fall into the paleo realm.

For this you’ll need:
8-12 large jalapenos (the bigger the better)
1 tbsp avocado oil
1 lb ground sausage (1 lb will fill 12 jalapenos with a little sausage left over)
1 handful of cheddar cheese (optional)
2 pieces of bacon per whole jalapeno
2 cloves minced garlic

 

Preheat oven to 375 deg.
Cut stems off jalapenos and then cut the pepper in half lengthwise.
Remove seeds and insides and discard (if you want to make these extra hot, keep the seed and insides and mix them into the sausage with the garlic).
Heat avocado oil in a pan, and then add sausage.
Brown sausage over med-high heat, stirring frequently to break up into small pieces.
Once sausage is brown, drain if necessary, and add to a medium sized bowl.
Add garlic, cheese (if you want), and any additional jalapeno seeds (if you’re brave enough). Mix well with a wooden spoon to continue to break into small chunks of meat.
Cut bacon strips in half.
Spoon mixture into a jalapeno half and roll with 2 bacon halves. Place on cookie sheet lined with foil or olive oil.
Bake for 30-45 min or until browned. Enjoy and try not to eat them all your self.