Chicken Breast

Texas-Style Chicken Balls

by:
June 16, 2015
4.3
3 Ratings
  • Serves 4
Author Notes

Inspired by my friend Travis who grew up in Austin, Texas. Don't let the name scare you! —Dawn Kimball

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • Chicken Balls
  • 4 Boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 8 ounces Softened Cream Cheese
  • 2 Jalapeño peppers
  • 1 1/2 cups BBQ Sauce (recipe follows)
  • 4-6 tablespoons BBQ Rub (below)
  • 1 tablespoon Cumin powder
  • 1 tablespoon Pimenton
  • 1 tablespoon Garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon Onion powder
  • 1 tablespoon Chili powder
  • 1 tablespoon Brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon Kosher salt
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons Ground black pepper
  • BBQ Sauce
  • 1 cup Ketchup
  • 2 tablespoons Apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons Brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons Molasses
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons Ground black pepper
  • 2 teaspoons Kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon Onion powder
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon Garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon Ground cumin
  • 1 tablespoon Low-sodium soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
Directions
  1. Chicken Balls
  2. Mix cumin powder, pimento, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, brown sugar, kosher salt and black pepper together and set aside.
  3. Remove tenders from the chicken breasts and pound to a 1/4" thickness
  4. Sprinkle both sides of chicken liberally with the BBQ rub.
  5. Cut both ends off the jalapeños. Cut them in half lengthwise and remove the seeds. Cut the jalapeños into long thin slices about 1/8" thick.
  6. Spread approx. 2 oz of softened cream cheese on the back side of the chicken breast leaving a 1/2" border on all sides. Top with a few slices (3-4) of jalapeños.
  7. Starting with the short end of the chicken roll the breasts up tightly and set aside seam side down.
  8. Lightly pound the bacon slices to thin them slightly.
  9. Wrap bacon slices from top to bottom of each stuffed breasts and secure the rolled chicken with twine. Place in the refrigerator until ready to grill.
  10. Preheat the grill to medium heat while preparing the BBQ sauce.
  1. BBQ Sauce
  2. In a small saucepan combine all BBQ sauce ingredients and simmer for 10-15 minutes. Remove from heat.
  3. Place chicken balls on the grill at medium heat. Once the bacon fat has begun to render on all sides baste lightly with BBQ sauce and continue grilling the chicken balls, occasionally turning them and basting them until the balls are thoroughly cooked. Serve with remaining BBQ sauce.
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