I’ve always made this Traeger duck popper recipe for parties and cookouts! They’re one of those appetizers that have always impressed my jalapeno-loving friends because this recipe has a twist: I’ve added duck and bacon.
Who wouldn’t love peppers stuffed with duck and cheese and wrapped with crispy bacon? Then you add the delicious smoke! No wonder these are one of the first appetizers to always run out at my parties! They can be tricky to make the first time, so make sure you follow my instructions below.
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Table of contents
Easy Traeger Duck Jalapeño Poppers
You’ll love this duck jalapeno popper recipe because it’s so different from the basic smoked jalapeno poppers that are just filled with cheese. Plus, they are by far one of the easiest smoked sides to make and work well with mains, or as part of other sides/ appetizers.
What You’ll Need
- Duck breast
- Whole Jalapeno Peppers/bell peppers
- Cream Cheese
- Bacon Slices
- Black Pepper
- Olive Oil
How to Make Traeger Duck Jalapeño Poppers
Step 1: Preparing the Jalapeños
Slice the peppers lengthwise and remove the seeds. Don’t cut the tops off because the jalapeño shape creates the boat in which the cream cheese will melt in.
Make sure you wear gloves to avoid burning your hands.
Step 2: Preparing the Duck
Slice the duck breast into short strips, ensuring they’re the right size to cover the pepper. Season both sides with your BBQ rub, marinate, or your choice of seasoning.
You want them so they stack nicely on top. They should be about 1.5 – 2 cm thick.
Note: Some people like to add a marinade to the duck breast at this point, before smoking them. I don’t see the need because I think the poppers taste great as they are.
Step 3: Making the Filling
If you want to add a few different types of cheese to your mixture, you can! Grab a mixing bowl and throw in your cream cheese, then add the cheese if you want to add extra flavor.
Step 4: Assembling the Peppers
Place a tablespoon of cream cheese mixture into the jalapeños using a spoon. Place a seasoned duck slice on top, then wrap it with bacon and secure it with a toothpick.
Step 5: Cooking the Poppers
Arrange the peppers onto a wire tray. Using a wire tray helps prevent any bits from falling through the grill gaps on your Traeger and also makes it easier to transport them.
Position the peppers on a wire tray to help prevent any bits from falling through the grill gaps on your Traeger and to make it easier to transport them. Set the tray onto your Traeger smoker at 300°F for 45 minutes to 1 hour until the bacon becomes crispy. About halfway through, rotate the tray for uniform cooking.
Allow the poppers to cool on a tray before serving.
How Long to Smoke Duck Poppers on Your Traeger
You want to smoke the duck poppers for 45 minutes to an hour at 300F°. The bacon should be crispy, and the duck should be dark brown if you’re cooking them in the oven, 25 to 30 minutes at 425°F or until the bacon is crispy.
The internal temperature of cooked duck meat (as with all poultry) needs to be at 165F°
How to Store Leftover Duck Poppers
To store your leftover duck poppers, cool them to room temperature, then place them into an airtight container. They can be stored in the fridge for up to three days.
My Favorite Wood Chips to Use for Duck
For smoking dark meat like duck meat, I recommend using fruity flavored would chips like maple, hickory, apple, cherry, or pecan.
I like to combine hickory and cherry. I find they add a sweet flavor to the meat.
Experiment With Different Cheeses
You can customize your duck poppers with various cheeses to suit your taste.
Cheese Options:
- Ricotta and bocconcini — add nice texture
- Cheddar — brings extra flavor
- Cream cheese — my go-to filling; acts as an excellent binder and stays put in the smoker without melting outside the jalapeño
Be cautious with stringy cheeses like mozzarella, as they can melt out of the pepper if you’re not careful. The key is not to overstuff. If you do use mozzarella or other melty cheeses, secure the filling firmly inside the jalapeño and wrap the bacon tightly around it to keep everything contained.
For even more flavor, mix grated cheeses directly into the cream cheese or sprinkle them on top of the filling.
Cheese Tips:
- Experiment until you find your perfect combination—poppers are forgiving!
- Don’t overstuff—cheese can melt out if there’s too much filling
- Wrap bacon tightly to keep melty cheese contained inside
What Are the Best Jalapeños to Use?
In my experience, the best jalapenos to use for duck poppers are large poppers with medium heat or go for what’s in season. That means I usually go for goliath or jalora jalapeños. If you wanted something hotter, go for the jalafeugo jalapeños. For something low heat, you can go for the TAM jalapeño.
Bite-sized extra spicy jalapeños for your poppers are also a thing. If you’re looking for something like that, I’d recommend a yellow jalapeño or a pumpkin spice jalapeño
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More Appetizers to Serve with Duck Poppers 🦆🔥
🧀 Smoked Queso
🥓 Smoked Shotgun Shells
🍢 Game Day Crunchy Meatballs
🧄 Traeger Smoked Onion Bombs
🧀 Baked Queso Dip
🍗 Traeger Buffalo Chicken Dip
🧀 Smoked Cream Cheese
🥔 Leftover Mashed Potato Cakes
See what to serve with duck recipes here
Traeger Duck Jalepeño Poppers
Equipment
- Pellet smoker
Ingredients
- 1 lb Duck breast
- 10 whole Jalapenos / bell peppers
- 250 grams Cream cheese
- 20 slices Bacon slices
Instructions
- Slice the peppers lengthwise and remove the seeds. Don’t cut the tops off because the jalapeño shape creates the boat in which the cream cheese will melt in.
- You can wear gloves to avoid spicy hands.
- Prepare the duck breast by slicing it into short strips, big enough to cover the pepper. Season both sides with your bbq rub, marinate, or choice of seasoning.
- If you want to add different cheeses into your mixture, add these to a bowl and mix the cream cheese and cheese so they combine firmly. If you’re using plain old cream cheese, go to step 3!
- Spoon out a tablespoon of cream cheese mixture into the jalapeño. Add the slice of seasoned duck. Wrap with a slice of bacon and secure it with a toothpick.
- Arrange the peppers onto a wire tray. Using a wire tray helps prevent any bits falling through the grill gaps on your Traeger and also makes it easier to transport them.
- Place the tray directly onto your Traeger smoker at 300F for 45min to 1 hour until the bacon crisps up. Turn your tray about halfway through to ensure even cooking.
- Cool the poppers on a tray before serving.
Smoke On!
Charlie
Hi, I’m Charlie, I have been meat-smoking and grilling for the past 15 years. I have an array of different smokers, thermometers, and have a love for finding the right wood and charcoal combo My favourite recipes are my EXTRA CRISPY smoked pork belly, juicy pulled pork, smoked brisket, duck poppers, and ANY SEAFOOD I grill).
I loves sharing his tips with beginners, helping them navigate the world of smoking. I find it’s not just about cooking; it’s a quest for that perfect smoky flavor.
You will usually find me playing with the kids, perfecting my brisket bark, or sipping beers with boys around the fire. Can’t wait to share all my delicious smoking and grilling recipes with you!
You can read more about me on our About Us page.
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