Crispy, cheesy Texas Roadhouse Rattlesnake Bites bring bold jalapeño heat and melty cheese together in one addictive steakhouse appetizer.
Photo by Mike McCormick
Copycat Texas Roadhouse Rattlesnake Bites
Texas Roadhouse Rattlesnake Bites are bite sized fried cheese balls made with diced jalapeños and a creamy cheese blend.
This copycat lets you recreate the restaurant’s most popular starter at home with the same crispy coating and spicy cheese center people order again and again.
Quick Recipe Overview
- Best For: Appetizers, game day snacks
- Flavor Profile: Cheesy, spicy, savory
- Skill Level: Intermediate frying
- What Makes It Like the Restaurant: Jalapeño cheese filling and crunchy breaded exterior
Texas Roadhouse
Texas Roadhouse built its reputation on hand cut steaks, lively service, and crowd pleasing starters. Founded in the early 1990s, the brand leaned into a casual, high energy dining experience that felt more like a party than a traditional steakhouse. Alongside steaks and fresh baked rolls, appetizers like Rattlesnake Bites became menu standouts. They reflect the chain’s focus on bold flavors, shareable plates, and comfort food that pairs easily with drinks and group dining.
The Steakhouse App Everyone Orders
Fried Cheese Appetizers have long been a staple of American casual dining, especially in steakhouse and bar style menus. Adding jalapeños gives this version a Southwestern edge that balances richness with heat. These bite sized snacks are designed for sharing and dipping, making them ideal for social settings. Texas Roadhouse’s version helped turn a simple fried cheese concept into a recognizable signature dish.
Texas Roadhouse Rattlesnake Bites Recipe
Note: You need to make plans to start the Rattlesnake Bites about 1 hour before you want to serve them so they have time to firm up in the freezer before cooking.
Video Courtesy of Delish YouTube Channel
Ingredients (Taken from the Video)
- 2 1/2 cups Monterey Jack Cheese, shredded
- 1 cup chopped fresh Jalapenos
- 1 cup chopped pickled Jalapenos
- 1 cup chopped Red or Green Bell Peppers
- 1/2 cup Buttermilk or regular Milk
- 1 1/2 cup Bread Crumbs, seasoned or unseasoned
- 1 1/2 cups Buttermilk
- Vegetable Oil
Directions
- In a shallow bowl, mix well cheese, jalapenos, bell peppers and 1/2 cup buttermilk.
- Roll into a firm “golf ball-sized” balls.
- Place bites in covered bowl and let set for 30 to 45 minutes in the freezer.
- Take the balls out of the freezer and dip in buttermilk, then roll around in breadcrumbs. You can do this early and place them in the freezer until you are ready to fry them
- Deep fry in hot oil until golden brown.
Serve immediately with Ranch Dressing or Cajun Horseradish Sauce
Related Copycat Recipes
- Margaritaville Fried Pickles – Crispy, tangy pickle slices with a crunchy coating and bar-snack attitude
- Logan’s Roadhouse Fried Mushrooms – Crunchy, savory mushroom bites that disappear fast at the table
- Chi-Chi’s Chili Con Queso – Retro restaurant-style cheese dip that turns tortilla chips into a problem
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Questions People Ask
Are Texas Roadhouse Rattlesnake Bites very spicy
They have noticeable heat from jalapeños but are balanced by the creamy cheese filling.
Can I bake Rattlesnake Bites instead of frying
Yes. Baking works, but frying gives the most authentic crispy texture.
What dipping sauce is usually served with them
They are commonly served with a creamy ranch or spicy dipping sauce.
Can I make them ahead of time
You can assemble and chill them in advance, then fry just before serving.
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Photo of Texas Roadhouse Rattlesnake Bites is by Mike McCormick – https://aitiwv.wordpress.com/ – and is used by permission under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0) License. Photo of “Texas Roadhouse” is by Jeremy Brooks and is used by permission under the CC BY-NC 2.0 Deed Attribution-NonCommercial 2.0 Generic Creative Commons License. Read the Full License Here – https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/legalcode.en. Thank you, Mike and Jeremy. Great Pictures. Photos may be representative of the recipe and not the actual finished dish. All photo licenses listed were correct at the time of the posting of the page. Original Video can be found here – Texas Roadhouse Rattlesnake Bites | Delish. Additional Information is from original research done by Secret Copycat Restaurant Recipes and/or courtesy of Wikipedia and is used by permission.