This BBQ Shotgun Shells recipe would be the hit of your subsequent tailgate or cookout! Bacon-wrapped manicotti shells are filled with a tacky jalapeño and floor meat combination. Brushed with bbq sauce and cooked to crispy, caramelized perfection on the grill or smoker — and even within the oven or air fryer.
Jessica's Notes
From the second these viral BBQ Shotgun Shells began popping up on social media, I knew we needed to make them! All of the shotgun shells recipe I discovered didn't cook dinner the noodles, so we tried it that means and ended up with crunchy noodles. ☹️ So we bought busy and began testing and located that a fast boil on the manicotti makes all of the distinction! We wish to serve them up alongside crispy grilled pork stomach burnt ends and our favourite straightforward baked beans recipe and a bowl of broccoli salad for a real bbq feast.
What Makes This BBQ Shotgun Shells Recipe So Good?
- Drool Worthy: The crispy caramelized bbq bacon exterior enhances the tender pasta and creamy and meaty filling so completely.
- Make-Forward Pleasant: Assemble them a day earlier than your occasion, then cook dinner when prepared for a simple, stress-free appetizer.
- Smoky and Savory: My Dad described these as a “meaty taste explosion” and we couldn’t agree extra, they're actually bursting with daring flavors.
- Good for Events: These beefy shotgun shells are assured to be successful, particularly for a Fourth of July bash or sport day. Your company will likely be begging so that you can share the recipe!
Key Substances
You’re going to like how all of those daring elements style once they come collectively in a single chew. Scroll right down to the recipe card beneath for the total ingredient checklist and actual quantities!
- Manicotti Shells: These massive, fats noodles are excellent for stuffing. Many shotgun shell recipes don’t cook dinner the noodles, however after making an attempt it that means, we don’t suggest it. The noodles don’t soften all the way in which and stayed crunchy. Doing a fast 3-minute boil simply fixes that difficulty!
- Floor Meat: We like to make use of a mix of floor beef and floor Italian sausage, however you should use any sort of floor meat you favor. Chorizo is one other nice alternative! We like to make use of scorching floor sausage when we do not make them for the children.
- Cheese: We used Colby Jack, however you possibly can substitute this with Monterey Jack, sharp cheddar, or any related melty cheese.
- Cream Cheese: It must be room temperature, so don’t neglect to depart it on the kitchen counter for an hour or so previous to utilizing.
- Barbecue Sauce: Use your favourite model! I sometimes go for the unique Candy Child Ray’s because it’s barely candy and completely compliments all of the spicy and savory flavors.
- Jalapeños: For gentle warmth, take away the seeds as that’s the place a lot of the warmth is. Or, when you like a bit additional spice, depart the seeds within the combine.
- Bacon: Any model/kind of bacon will get the job finished, however we want to make use of thick-cut bacon.
Tips on how to Make BBQ Shotgun Shells
Take a fast have a look at the best way to make these bbq shotgun shells, however please scroll right down to the recipe card for full directions! You may grill them, smoke them, and even oven bake or air fry them when you don’t need to need to go exterior. In case you are cooking them inside, be at liberty so as to add a 1/2 teaspoon of liquid smoke to the filling for a extra genuine style.
Chef’s Suggestions & Variations
- Stuffing the Shells: Be certain to press the meat all the way in which in, ensuring there aren't any air bubbles within the center. I discover it best so as to add the meat combination from only one aspect, that means you realize it’s full when it begins popping out the opposite aspect.
- BBQ Sauce: We wish to brush them a number of occasions with bbq sauce all through the cooking course of to actually caramelize the bacon and assist to develop a deeper, richer taste.
- Further Spicy: For an additional fiery model, swap the jalapeños for serrano peppers or habaneros. You too can use a spicy bbq sauce.
- Add a Candy Kick: Combine a bit honey or brown sugar into the BBQ sauce for a refined sweetness that balances the warmth.
- Make It a Meal: Serve alongside creamy garlic mashed potatoes and grilled corn, candy creamed corn, or these crispy corn ribs recipe for an entire dinner.
How To Put together This Shotgun Shells Recipe in Advance
Sure you may make these forward – simply just be sure you don't cook dinner the noodles any longer than 3 minutes or they will change into soggy as they relaxation.
- Make Forward: Assemble them prematurely, stopping on the step of wrapping them in bacon (don't brush them with bbq sauce but). Retailer them within the fridge in an hermetic container for as much as 48 hours.
- Prepared To Cook dinner: Take away them from the fridge half-hour earlier than cooking. Brush them with bbq sauce and cook dinner as directed.
Yield: 32 servings
BBQ Shotgun Shells Recipe
This mouthwatering bacon-wrapped BBQ Shotgun Shells recipe is the right smoky, tacky, and meaty appetizer your company will devour!
Substances
- 16 oz manicotti shells
- 1 ½ lbs floor beef
- 1 lb floor Italian sausage
- 1 ½ cups shredded Colby Jack cheese, or sharp cheddar cheese
- 8 oz cream cheese, room temperature
- 1 ½ cups barbecue sauce, divided
- 2 jalapeños, minced (seeds eliminated for gentle warmth)
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 lb thick-cut bacon
Directions
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Deliver a pot of water to a boil and add the manicotti. Boil for 3 minutes, then drain and rinse. Separate the noodles so that they don’t stick or collapse. Do not boil the noodles any longer, or they will change into soggy!
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Combine the meat and sausage collectively till mixed. Add the cheese, cream cheese, ½ cup BBQ sauce, jalapeños, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt and pepper and blend till nicely mixed.
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Utilizing your arms, gently stuff the shells with the meat combination, ensuring to push the filling all the way in which to the center, with no air bubbles. I like so as to add the meat from one aspect to make sure the middle of the shell will get crammed.
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Wrap a bit of bacon tightly round every shell. Brush the bacon wrapped shells with BBQ sauce.
Grilling
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If utilizing a gasoline grill, warmth the grill to 300°F, then flip off the burners on half the grill. If utilizing a charcoal grill, lay the charcoal on one aspect solely and maintain the fireplace decrease at round 300°F.
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Place the shotgun shells on the aspect away from the fireplace. Brush with extra BBQ sauce and canopy the grill. Cook dinner for quarter-hour, then flip and brush the opposite aspect with BBQ sauce. Proceed cooking for about 10 to fifteen minutes extra, till the bacon is crispy and a meat thermometer inserted into the middle reaches 160°F.
Smoker
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Preheat your smoker to 250°F. Smoke for 60 minutes, brushing with bbq sauce half means via. After the primary 60 minutes, flip the shells over, add extra barbecue sauce, and proceed smoking for an additional half-hour.
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Brush them with bbq sauce as soon as extra after which proceed smoking them for 20 to half-hour extra, till the bacon is crispy and a meat thermometer inserted into the middle reaches 160°F.
Oven
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Preheat the oven to 300°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil. Organize the shells on the baking sheet in a fair layer, leaving a bit room between every one for even cooking.
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Bake for 20 minutes. Flip and brush with bbq sauce, then bake for quarter-hour extra. Flip as soon as extra and brush once more with bbq sauce. Cook dinner for five to 10 minutes extra, till the bacon is crispy and a meat thermometer inserted into the middle reaches 160°F. In case you bacon just isn't crispy sufficient, you possibly can broil them for a couple of minutes, simply watch very carefully!
Air Fryer
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Place 5 to six shells within the air fryer basket and set the air fryer to 300°F. You will want to cook dinner the shotgun shells in batches. Cook dinner the shells for 10 minutes, then flip and brush with extra BBQ sauce. Flip and brush them with bbq sauce as soon as extra, cooking for 10 minutes extra.
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Flip one final time, brushing with bbq sauce as soon as extra, after which cook dinner for an additional 5 to 10 minutes, till the bacon is crispy a meat thermometer inserted into the middle reaches 160°F.
Notes
- Storing: Shotgun shells are greatest served contemporary when the bacon is nice and crispy, however you possibly can retailer leftovers in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 4 days. Reheat within the oven or air fryer to attempt to crisp the bacon up once more.
- Liquid Smoke: If cooking them within the oven or air fryer, be at liberty so as to add 1/2 a teaspoon of liquid smoke to the meat filling. This may add extra of an genuine smoky taste.
Diet
Serving: 1 serving, Energy: 288kcal, Carbohydrates: 17g, Protein: 11g, Fats: 19g, Saturated Fats: 8g, Polyunsaturated Fats: 2g, Monounsaturated Fats: 8g, Trans Fats: 0.3g, Ldl cholesterol: 48mg, Sodium: 447mg, Potassium: 207mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 5g, Vitamin A: 217IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 64mg, Iron: 1mg
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