Description
Spicy cheese-stuffed jalapeño poppers called Rattlesnake Bites deliver explosive southwestern flavor straight from Texas Roadhouse kitchens. Crispy golden breading and creamy pepper jack interior promise a zesty appetizer that kicks game night into high gear for you.
Ingredients
Scale
Cheese:
- 2 cups pepper jack cheese, shredded
- 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
Peppers and Spices:
- 2 jalapenos, seeds removed, sauteed until soft
- 2 teaspoons Slap Ya Mama seasoning
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Breading and Liquid Ingredients:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 1/2 cups Panko breadcrumbs
- 2 cups vegetable oil for frying
Instructions
- Craft the cheese mixture by thoroughly blending pepper jack and sharp cheddar with finely chopped jalapeños, ensuring uniform distribution of spicy peppers throughout the creamy base.
- Create a precise dredging assembly with three distinct stations: seasoned flour for initial coating, whisked buttermilk and egg mixture for moisture, and a zesty breadcrumb blend incorporating Slap Ya Mama seasoning, garlic powder, paprika, black pepper, and red pepper flakes.
- Shape the cheese mixture into compact, uniform spheres approximately one inch in diameter, carefully compressing to prevent crumbling during subsequent coating processes.
- Freeze the cheese balls on a parchment-lined tray for approximately 40 minutes, which stabilizes their structure and prevents disintegration during frying.
- Meticulously coat each frozen cheese sphere by first rolling in flour, then thoroughly dredging through egg mixture, and finally encasing in the seasoned breadcrumb mixture for maximum flavor and crunch.
- For enhanced texture, repeat the egg and breadcrumb coating, ensuring complete coverage and creating a robust, crispy exterior.
- Heat vegetable oil to 350°F in a deep skillet, maintaining consistent temperature for even cooking and golden-brown coloration.
- Carefully lower cheese balls into hot oil in small batches, avoiding overcrowding, and fry until achieving a rich, golden-brown exterior, approximately 2-3 minutes.
- Extract fried bites using a slotted spoon, allowing excess oil to drain on paper towel-lined plate, which preserves their delicate crispness.
Notes
- Chill the cheese balls thoroughly before breading to prevent melting during frying and ensure a crisp exterior.
- Create uniform bite-sized balls for consistent cooking and even crispiness across all pieces.
- Double dredging provides an extra crunchy coating that mimics Texas Roadhouse’s signature texture.
- Adjust spice levels by modifying the Slap Ya Mama seasoning or reducing red pepper flakes for sensitive palates.
- Prep Time: 50 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 370
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 620 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 29 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 14 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg