Indulge in a flavor-packed journey with these Bacon-Wrapped Manicotti – Smoked, Stuffed, and oh-so-delicious!
Ingredients:
Mixture
- Mixture
- 1 lb Italian sausage
- 4 oz Mozzarella cheese
- 4 oz Cream cheese
- 2 tsp Barbecue rub
Shotgun Shells
- 12 Manicotti shells
- 1 lb Bacon
- 1/2 cup Barbecue sauce
- 1/2 cup Barbecue rub
Direction
-.Set the cream cheese out until it’s room temperature. Shred the mozzarella cheese and set it aside until you’re ready to make the shotgun shells.
-Combine sausage, cream cheese, mozzarella cheese, and 2 tsp of the rub in a large bowl.
-Add the meat mixture to a disposable piping bag fitted with a large tip. Squeeze the pork 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, use any kitchen utensil that will fit, such as a mini spatula or spoon.
-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. Apply a generous amount of your favorite rub. Make sure 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 barbecue 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 whole or cut into medallions.
Prep Time: 30 minutes | Smoking Time: 1 hour | Cooking Time: 30 minutes | Rest Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours | Servings: 4
FAQS
Absolutely! Feel free to experiment with various types of sausages to customize the flavor to your liking.
While this particular recipe features meat, you can try a vegetarian version by substituting the sausage with plant-based alternatives and adjusting the stuffing accordingly.
Yes, you can prepare the sausage and cheese mixture ahead of time and refrigerate it until you are ready to assemble and smoke the manicotti.