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Smoked Shotgun Shells Recipe

Easy Smoked Shotgun Shells

Smoked Shotgun Shells are the perfect appetizer that you can toss on your grill before a big BBQ. Not only are they easy to make, but they will also keep hungry eyes from opening the lid of your grill while you make the main dish!
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Calories: 3709
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb 80/20 or Higher Ground Beef 
  • 1 Cup Monterey Jack Cheese, shredded
  • 1/2 Cup Your Favorite BBQ Sauce
  • 20 Slices Thin Sliced Bacon
  • 10 Shells Manicotti Pasta
  • 1-2 TBS Worcestershire Sauce, to taste
  • 1 Jalapenos, chopped (Optional)
  • Salt and Pepper, to taste

Method
 

Make the Filling
  1. Start by mixing the ground beef and shredded cheese in a bowl.
  2. Add a tablespoon or two of Worcestershire sauce, the salt and pepper, and a chopped jalapeno if you want a little kick.
  3. Mix with your hands until well-incorporated.
Assemble the Shells
  1. Take the stuffing mixture and fill the uncooked pasta shells. Stuff the shells to the brim because the pasta is relying on the juices of the meat to cook fully. 
  2. Note: Stuffing manicotti shells can be difficult. If your ground beef is ground finely enough, we recommend loading the mixture in a plastic bag, cutting off the corner, and squeezing the mixture into the tube to speed up the stuffing process. 
  3. Wrap the stuffed manicotti shells in strips of bacon, ensuring the pasta is completely covered. You will need 1-2 pieces of bacon for each shell. 
  4. Let your stuffed and wrapped shells sit in the fridge for at least 6 hours but no longer than 3 days. 
Smoke The Shells
  1. Preheat your smoker to 275°F and load with fruity wood. We recommend cherry or apple wood.
  2. Transfer the shotgun shells to a wire rack and place them on the smoker.
  3. Let them smoke for 1½ hours
  4. Turn your smoker up a bit higher, to 375°F or so, for ten minutes to crisp the bacon.
  5. Take your smoked shotgun shells off the grill and brush them with BBQ sauce.
  6. Place them back in the smoker to cook for another 10 minutes. Then remove and serve!