Texas Twinkie Day at Hutchins BBQ in McKinney and Frisco
Nearly every barbecue joint in Texas has some version of the stuffed jalapeño. Only one of them, about 30 miles north of downtown Dallas, can claim to have invented the Texas Twinkie and then given it a holiday of its own. On Friday, October 16, 2026, Hutchins BBQ marks National Texas Twinkie Day at both of its restaurants, in McKinney and Frisco, selling its signature bite for $5 apiece, limit four per person.
The date comes from Texas arithmetic. October 16 sits halfway between Texas Independence Day and National Barbecue Month, a calculation that holds up best with a tray in front of you. Hutchins declared the holiday in 2022, and the day now draws lines long enough to make a $5 Twinkie feel earned.
The thing itself is simple and a little brutal. A big jalapeño is stuffed with brisket and cream cheese, wrapped in thick-cut bacon, and smoked until the bacon tightens and the pepper gives in. It’s heat, fat, smoke, and cream in a single bite, built for a paper tray and best eaten before it has a chance to cool.
It began as a practical fix. The kitchen introduced the Twinkie in 2014 as a way to use leftover brisket, and because each one is stuffed and wrapped by hand, it was first sold only on weekends. That detail looks almost quaint now. Hutchins reports selling more than 400,000 Texas Twinkies in 2025 alone, which suggests the leftovers ran out a long time ago.
The brisket inside is the same brisket that goes across the cutting board. Hutchins starts with USDA Prime beef, wet-ages it for 45 days, seasons it with a peppery house rub, and smokes it low and slow for about 18 hours. Stuffing that into a pepper is either extravagant or entirely sensible, depending on how you feel about leftovers.
The family business goes back to 1978, when Roy Hutchins opened a small smokehouse in Princeton, east of McKinney. The McKinney restaurant followed in 1991, and today brothers Tim and Trey Hutchins run the operation, with Frisco joining under the Hutchins name in 2014. The Twinkie belongs to their era, when the brothers began reshaping the menu around better beef and a few inventions of their own.
For Dallas diners, it’s the item that justifies the drive up the Dallas North Tollway to Frisco or up US 75 to McKinney. Plenty of pits closer to town can argue for their brisket. Very few have built an entire day around a single appetizer, and fewer still could fill it.
This year the charitable side of the holiday gets more room. For the first time, Hutchins is stretching its annual raffle across the entire weekend, Friday, October 16, through Sunday, October 18. Tickets are $10 each, with multiple prizes on offer, and proceeds benefit Frisco Family Services, which has helped area families facing hunger and homelessness since 1994, and The Samaritan Inn in McKinney, the largest residential homeless program in Collin County.
The $5 price holds for October 16 only, during regular hours of 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Plan for a wait, save room for the complimentary peach cobbler and banana pudding served to dine-in guests, and don’t assume the four-Twinkie limit will survive the drive home. Directions and menus for both restaurants are on the Hutchins BBQ locations page.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is National Texas Twinkie Day 2026 at Hutchins BBQ?
National Texas Twinkie Day is Friday, October 16, 2026, at both Hutchins BBQ locations in McKinney and Frisco.
How much are Texas Twinkies on National Texas Twinkie Day?
Texas Twinkies are $5 each on Friday, October 16, 2026, only, with a limit of four per person.
What is a Texas Twinkie?
A Texas Twinkie is a large jalapeño stuffed with smoked brisket and cream cheese, wrapped in thick-cut bacon, and smoked. Hutchins BBQ created the dish in 2014.
Where are the Hutchins BBQ locations?
Hutchins BBQ McKinney is at 1301 N. Tennessee St., McKinney, TX 75069, on North Tennessee Street in McKinney. Hutchins BBQ Frisco is at 9225 Preston Road, Frisco, TX 75033, on Preston Road in Frisco. Both are in Collin County, north of Dallas.
What are the phone numbers for Hutchins BBQ?
The McKinney location can be reached at (972) 548-2629, and the Frisco location at (972) 377-2046.
What are Hutchins BBQ’s hours?
Both locations are open Monday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Does Hutchins BBQ take reservations?
The Hutchins BBQ website does not offer reservations for dine-in guests, so plan to wait in line on National Texas Twinkie Day. Catering orders can be requested through the website.
How does the National Texas Twinkie Day raffle work?
Raffle tickets are $10 each and are available Friday, October 16, through Sunday, October 18, 2026. Proceeds benefit Frisco Family Services and The Samaritan Inn in McKinney.
Is there parking at Hutchins BBQ?
[VERIFY PARKING DETAILS FOR MCKINNEY AND FRISCO]
What is the official website for Hutchins BBQ?
The official website is hutchinsbbq.com, where you’ll find menus, location details, and catering information.
