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BBQ Shotgun Shells - Mini

Jason Hardee, Elite BBQ Smokers
"If you're looking for the perfect appetizer to kick off your BBQ, look no further! This Grilled Mini BBQ Shotgun Shell recipe is sure to be a hit with your friends and family. Whether you're hosting a backyard party or just looking for a tasty snack to enjoy while grilling, this BBQ appetizer is sure to satisfy your cravings. So fire up the grill and get ready to enjoy some delicious BBQ flavored Smoked Shotgun Shell!"
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American, Barbeque

Equipment

  • Grill
  • Cast Iron Pot
  • Cast Iron Skillet

Ingredients
  

  • 1 box manicotti shells
  • 1 package Smithfield Home-style Bacon
  • Wagyu Tallow / Olive Oil
  • 1 Med. Chopped onion Chopped
  • 3 Diced Jalapeno Peppers without the seeds
  • 1 lbs. Pork Sausage
  • 8 oz. Cream Cheese

BBQ Rubs

  • Sweet Smoke Q - If Anything Rub
  • Elite BBQ Smokers - SPG Rub

BBQ Sauce

  • EAT - The Next Big Thing

Instructions
 

Boiling Manicotti Shells​

  • In a large pot add in your Water and 3- tbsp of Elite BBQ Smokers SPG rub (Salt/Pepper/Garlic rub) or equivalent
  • Once the water comes to a hard boil. Add 4-5 manicotti shells and boil the manicotti shells pasta for 4-5-minutes. I am wanting a softer Al Dente texture, but you can boil them less if desired.
  • Remove the manicotti shells from the boiling water and cut them in half. Place them in a pan with a cooling rack to allow the water to drain off of them.

Sausage Filling

  • In a medium Skillet add in the Wagyu Tallow or Olive Oil and cook on medium heat.
  • Once the oil is hot, add in the chopped Onions and Jalapeno peppers and saute them.
  • Add in the Sausage and Elite BBQ Smokers SPG rub (Salt/Pepper/Garlic) rub (to taste) and cook until the sausage is completely cooked.
  • Reduce to low heat and add in the Cream Cheese. Stir continuously until it has completely melted and mix all together.
  • Remove from the heat and set to the side.

Setting up the Grill​

  • Setup your Weber Grill to have a Direct and Indirect Heat zoned areas. You can do this with a divider or like we did with some bricks.
  • Place some Royal Oak Lump Charcoal in the Weber Grill in the Direct Heat side.
  • In a Charcoal Chimney, fill with Royal Oak Briquettes charcoal and place on top of 2 Royal Oak Tumbleweeds Natural Fire Starters.
  • Place a 1/2 pan on the indirect side and fill with water
  • Once the Royal Oak Briquettes charcoal is fully light, dump onto the Royal Oak Lump Charcoal.
  • Return the Weber Grill lid to the smoker and dail back the air flow. You are looking for a temperature of 300° on the indirect side. I choose to monitor the temperature with my Thermoworks Signals with the Pit probe.

Making the BBQ Shotgun Shells.

  • Layout the Bacon on the cutting board.
  • Take the manicotti shell and fill with the Sausage Filling from both ends. Make sure that you fill the shells completely.
  • Wrap the stuffed Manicotti shells with 1 strip of the home-style bacon and place in a pan.
  • Season the exposed side with the Sweet Smoke Q - If Anything Rub

Grilling the BBQ Shotgun Shells.

  • Place them on the weber grill on the indirect heat side with the seasoned side down.
  • Season the exposed side with the Sweet Smoke Q - If Anything Rub
  • Grill the BBQ Shotgun Shells for amount 5-minutes and then rotate them to be over the direct heat side of the grill.
  • After about 5-minutes rotate them back over the indirect heat side of the weber grill and flip.
  • Grill for an additional 5-minutes and then rotate them to direct heat side of the weber grill.
  • After about 5-minutes rotate them back over the indirect heat side of the weber grill.
  • Repeat this process until you get your bacon to the crispiness that you want.
  • Once you have your BBQ Shotgun Shells at the crispiness level you want. Apply some of the EAT The Next Big Thing BBQ Sauce and leave them on the smoke just long enough to set the sauce. (about 3-minutes)

Tasting the BBQ Shotgun Shells.

  • Remove them from the grill and allow them to cool. Now Enjoy
  • Let us know how they turned out and Tag #EliteBBQSmokers in your social media post.

Video

Keyword Bacon, BBQ, Cast Iron, Cream Cheese, Elite BBQ Smokers, Grilling, Jalapeno Poppers, Onion, Weber Grill

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