Smoked Shotgun Shells

A grill with several different kinds of food on it.

Thank y'all for stopping by the website! This recipe is for all of you who are trying out one of those new smokers that Santa brought you for Christmas this year! Smoked shot gun shells are made with manicotti stuffed with a delicious blend of ingredients and wrapped in bacon and smoked for around 45 minutes. They're a fun and filling appetizer that your friends and family will always ask you to bring anywhere you're invited for the rest of your life. I'm not even kidding.

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What are Smoked Shotgun Shells?

Smoked shotgun shells are manicotti stuffed with meat and cheese, wrapped in bacon and smoked. A lot of people make them with Italian sausage, mozzarella, and parmesan and, while those are delicious, y'all know I had to put a cowboy spin on the recipe. Instead of Italian sausage, I'm using a mixture of 80/20 Certified Angus ground beef and a 9 oz package of pork chorizo.

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Tip: Use gloves when you mix the filling with your hands. You don't want to get jalapeno on your hand and then scratch your eye!

Once the meat is well-mixed, add some Rib Rub and Original Seasoning and mix well. Add in the onion, jalapeno, garlic, and cheeses and mix well. The filling should feel like meatloaf.

How to Assemble the Shotgun Shell Appetizer

Grab a wire rack that you can use in the smoker. We will assemble these, chill them, and smoke them all on the same wire rack.

As Seen in This Recipe

Tip: Smoking the shotgun shells on a wire rack will allow for air circulation and more even cooking.

Stuff the meat mixture into each manicotti until it is full. Pack the mixture in as much as you can to avoid air pockets. Next, wrap one slice of thick-cut bacon all the way around the shell. Season over the top with some more Rib Rub, and move the wire rack with the stuffed shells on it into the ice box for at least 5 hours. This time in the ice box will help the moisture from the bacon and meat mixture soften the manicotti enough to cook up well on the smoker.

Fire up your smoker using hardwood lump charcoal and two pieces of Alderwood. Smoke at 275 and smoke for an hour. When the hour is up, you'll want to open the vents or open the lid of the smoker and allow the fire to get hotter - at least 350.

Baste the shot gun shells with Red River Mud BBQ or your favorite BBQ Sauce, and cook at 350 for ten minutes. This will crisp up the bacon and caramelize the BBQ Sauce. This finishing touch will be absolutely delicious.

Allow the smoked shot gun shells to cool for about 10 minutes. I guarantee this will be a favorite appetizer for years to come.

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