Easy Appetizers with Jack Daniels Meats...Featuring Outrageous BBQ Pulled Chicken Stuffed Corn Muffins #bbq #appetizers #gamedayeats

It's hard to believe it's August already! Kids across the country are gearing up for back to school, the promise of cooler temps is in sight (albeit WAY off in the distance here in Texas!), and prime sports season is on the horizon. Between college football Saturdays, Texans football on Sundays, and Astros playoff games all starting in a matter of weeks? It's time to start thinking about game day snacks! Like everyone, we have our favorite go-to snacks: chips and queso, guacamole, and pizza are perineal favorites. I also like to come with a few new options every year. This year, I teamed with my friends at Jack Daniels Meats to create a fun appetizer made with their ready-to-eat BBQ Pulled Chicken. The meat is fully cooked and ready to heat and use -- which saves me a ton of prep work in the kitchen!

My Outrageous BBQ Pulled Chicken Stuffed Corn Muffins are a hearty handheld treat that's an ideal game day appetizer! They're my spin on an Emeril Lagasse recipe. Cornbread mix is combined with creamed corn, green onions, cheese, and a bit of smoky chipotle hot sauce for added flavor and texture. The corn muffins are then baked with a generous amount of sweetly savory Jack Daniels BBQ Pulled Chicken inside! It's really fun to serve these muffins to friends and family and see the surprise on their faces when they realize they have a delicious BBQ chicken inside! My recipe makes six muffins, but it's easily doubled for larger crowds.  This sweet and savory appetizer will definitely be the hit of your next game day get together!

Outrageous BBQ Pulled Chicken Stuffed Corn Muffins

adapted from Emeril Lagasse

WW Freestyle SmartPoints: 7 SP per large muffin...8 SP if you add the optional cheese inside

Ingredients (makes six muffins):

•  Half of a 16-ounce package Jack Daniels Pulled Chicken (approx. 1 cup of meat and sauce)
• 6-ounce package cornbread mix
• 1/2 cup creamed corn
• 2 green onions, thinly sliced
• 1/2 cup + 1/2 cup (optional) shredded reduced fat Colby-Jack cheese
• 1 tsp. chipotle hot sauce
• 1 large egg
• 3/4 cup skim milk
• 1 tsp. garlic salt

Directions:

Step 1: Preheat oven to 375℉. Add the dry cornbread mix to a large mixing bowl. Add the creamed corn, green onions, 1/2 cup shredded cheese, garlic salt, hot sauce, and egg to the mixing bowl. Finally, add the skim milk and whisk just until all ingredients are combined to form a uniform batter.

Step 2: Heat the Jack Daniels Pulled Chicken according to package directions. Generously spray a muffin pan with six large wells -- preferably non-stick -- with baking spray. Gather the corn muffin batter and cooked pulled chicken so you're ready to assemble the muffins for baking.

Step 3: Spoon a heaping tablespoon of muffin batter in the bottom of each well. Spoon approximately 2 tbs. of Jack Daniels Pulled Chicken on top of the muffin batter. Finally, add another two tablespoons of the muffin batter on top of the pulled chicken. Carefully spread the batter to completely cover the chicken. 

NOTE: If desired, use an additional 1/2 cup of shredded cheese so you can add a tablespoon on top of the pulled chicken before topping with muffin batter. The end result is gooey melted cheese inside the cooked muffins!

Step 4: Bake the corn muffins for approximately 20 minutes, until golden brown outside -- rotating the pan halfway through the baking time for even baking. Remove the cooked muffins from the oven and let cool for a minute or two before removing from the pan. If you use a non-stick muffin pan, removal will be a snap. If not, be sure to run a butter knife along the area between the muffin and the inside of the well to make removal easier.

These muffins are simply amazing -- be sure to serve them warm! Moist, cheesy corn muffins flecked with corn kernels and green onion give way to a center of sweet and tangy BBQ pulled chicken...and a bit of melted cheese if you go that route! The amount of chipotle hot sauce I added to the muffin batter provides a moderate level of heat. Prefer your foods more spicy? Feel free to add a seeded, diced jalapeno to the muffin batter! I hope you'll try these fun savory muffins at your upcoming game day celebrations -- they're sure to be a hit!!

Disclosure: Jack Daniels Meats provided me with product samples of their ready-to-use Pulled Chcken to facilitate recipe development for this feature.