Recipe Details

Smoked Shotgun Shells Recipe

Smoked shotgun shells are manicotti noodles stuffed with all beef sausage and cheese, wrapped in crispy bacon, and topped off with spices and bbq sauce. Deliciously tantalizing.

Mixture

2 lb GWT all beef breakfast sausage

8 oz Mozzarella, smoked gouda or pepper jack cheese depending on your preference

8 oz Cream cheese

Shotgun Shells

24 Manicotti shells

2 lb Bacon

1 cup Barbecue sauce

Seasoning

2 Tbsp fresh minced garlic

2 tsp oregano

1 1/2 tsp black pepper

1 Tbsp seasoned salt

2 tsp smoked paprika

Instructions

Set the cream cheese out until it's room temperature. Shred cheese of choice and set it aside until you're ready to make the shotgun shells.

Mix seasonings and divide in half.

Mix beef breakfast sausage, both cheeses and half of spice blend.

Add the meat mixture to a disposable piping bag fitted with a large tip. Squeeze the meat mixture into the uncooked manicotti shells halfway.

Turn the pasta tube around and fill in the other half.

If you don’t have a piping bag, a ziplock with hole in the corner will work.

Wrap the stuffed shells with bacon. Make sure you cover the entire shell with the bacon. You want the slices of bacon to go to the ends of the shells.

Place the wrapped shells on a wire rack with a large sheet pan underneath. Rub with spice mixture to cover it completely.

Allow to rest for four hours to overnight.

When you’re ready, set the smoker to 250 degrees Fahrenheit. Use your preferred choice of wood.

Place the shotgun shells far from the heat source and allow them to smoke for one hour.

After the first 30 minutes, turn the shells to guarantee even cooking.

After an hour of smoke, turn the heat up to 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 15 minutes to crisp up the bacon.

Once the bacon has crisped up enough for your liking, apply your favorite barbeque sauce and continue to cook at 350 for about 15 minutes.

Once done, remove the shotgun shells from the smoker and allow them to rest, setting up the sauce for about 5 minutes.

Serve and your family will be pleasantly surprised.

Leftovers freeze and reheat well in air fryer or oven.