Dove Breast Poppers with Bacon and Jalapeño

Ingredients

Method

Long Description

In Texas, dove season is more than a date on the calendar — it’s the start of fall, a reason to gather and a tradition passed down from one generation to the next. Families head out to the lease, fields fill with trucks and hunters line up before the sun dips low. After the shooting stops and the coolers are packed with birds, everyone knows what comes next: fire up the grill and turn that day’s hunt into supper.

That’s where this recipe shines. Dove poppers are a hunting camp classic. They take the freshest game of the season, pair it with jalapeños and cream cheese, then wrap it all up in smoky Kountry Boys Original Bacon. After an overnight soak in Italian dressing and cilantro, the poppers go straight to the grill where bacon crisps, cheese melts and the jalapeño softens into just the right kick of heat.

This isn’t fussy food. It’s field-to-fire eating at its best — simple, bold and built for sharing.

Dove Season Traditions

For Texans, September 1st isn’t just another day. It’s opening day of dove season — the first chance to dust off the shotgun, load the cooler with ice and spend a long afternoon scanning the skies. The hunts are fast-paced, full of action and often end with a tailgate full of stories.

Cooking dove is as much a part of the ritual as the hunt itself. At the lease or in the backyard, there’s always someone tending the fire while the rest of the crew cleans birds, grabs a cold drink or counts limits. And once the bacon-wrapped poppers hit the grill, the smell alone brings everyone running.

This recipe is part of that tradition. It’s not just about feeding folks, it’s about keeping the experience alive from field to table.

What Makes These Poppers Texas-Style?

These poppers check every Texas box:

• Smoky Kountry Boys Bacon wrapping the meat and crisping over an open flame.
• Spicy jalapeños that give just enough heat to balance the richness.
• Creamy, cheesy filling that melts into the meat as it cooks.
• Fresh dove from the day’s hunt, tender and flavorful from an overnight marinade.

The combination hits salty, spicy, smoky and creamy all at once. It’s why bacon-wrapped poppers have become the go-to recipe for hunters across the state. They’re simple to prep in big batches, they cook fast and they feed a crowd without ever hitting a plate — most disappear right off the grill.

Tips for Making It Just Right

• Marinate overnight: The Italian dressing tenderizes the meat and adds tangy flavor, while the cilantro brightens every bite.
• Keep it tight: Wrap bacon snugly around the dove so the cheese stays put. A toothpick through the center keeps everything secure.
• Grill with care: Dove cooks quickly, so keep the heat medium-high and turn once. You want crisp bacon, not dried-out meat.
• Tame the heat: If your crew likes things milder, remove the jalapeño seeds before stuffing.
• Batch it out: Expect poppers to go fast. Prep more than you think you need — they’ll vanish before the rest of supper hits the table.

Why Kountry Boys Bacon?

Poppers live or die by their bacon. Thin slices won’t hold, thick slices won’t crisp — you need something just right. Kountry Boys Original Bacon is smoked low and slow for deep flavor, cut to wrap tight and cook even. It’s the kind of bacon you can trust on the grill, whether you’re turning out two dozen poppers at the lease or cooking for family on a Friday night.

Every bite carries that signature smoke and sizzle that makes this recipe more than just a way to cook dove — it makes it unforgettable.

Bringing Texas Flavor to Your Table

At Kountry Boys, we know dove season is about more than the hunt. It’s about time spent outdoors, meals shared with family and traditions that get passed down year after year. These Dove Breast Poppers bring that spirit to the plate — smoky, spicy and wrapped in Texas-sized flavor.

From opening day in the field to backyard cookouts, this recipe is built for sharing and guaranteed to be the first thing gone.

Try more bacon-wrapped Kountry Boys favorites like our Bacon Wrapped Shrimp or our Buffalo Pig Shots.