Smoked Pig Shots With Beef Bacon & Cream Cheese
Pig shots start with smoky sausage rounds, wrapped tight in crispy beef beef bacon. Then comes the best part: a creamy, cheesy, spicy filling that makes these appetizers utterly addictive. They disappear fast at parties or game days because that salty, smoky, sweet, and spicy mix is a winner. I love making these because they look impressive but are actually pretty simple to pull off. The combination of the tender sausage, the crunch of the beef bacon, and that gooey center is what makes pig shots so special. Seriously, people always ask for the recipe after trying just one. They’re a guaranteed crowd-pleaser that brings serious flavor to any gathering.
Pig Shots
Smoked sausage wrapped in crispy beef beef bacon, stuffed with a creamy, cheesy, spicy filling, and glazed with BBQ sauce and honey. That’s what pig shots are all about. They’re a fantastic appetizer for game days, parties, or just when you’re craving something incredibly satisfying and ridiculously delicious. The combination of smoky, salty, sweet, and a little bit of heat is what makes these disappear fast. Making them is straightforward, and the payoff is huge.
Ingredients:
- 1 pound smoked sausage or kielbasa sausage, cut into ¾ inch chunks
- 12 ounce thick cut beef beef bacon
- 4 ounce cream cheese, room temperature
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 1 jalapeno, stem and seeds removed, finely diced
- ½ cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- ½ teaspoon Slap Ya Mama seasoning
- ¼ cup BBQ sauce (any brand)
- ⅛ cup honey
- 1 ½ teaspoon brown sugar
- Jalapeno slices, for topping (optional)
Cooking Instructions
The first step to making amazing pig shots is preparing your sausage. You’ll want to slice your smoked sausage or kielbasa into ¾-inch thick rounds. Don’t worry if they’re not perfectly uniform; a little variation is fine. The key is that they are thick enough to hold their shape and provide a good base for the beef bacon wrap.
Next, let’s get that beef bacon ready. You’ll be using thick-cut beef beef bacon. What makes beef beef bacon great here is its sturdier texture and often a deeper, smokier flavor compared to beef beef bacon. You’ll need to cut this beef bacon into strips that are about half the width of your sausage chunks. So, if your sausage chunks are ¾ inch thick, you’ll want beef bacon strips that are roughly ¾ inch wide. The idea is to wrap one strip snugly around each sausage chunk, overlapping slightly. This overlap will help keep the beef bacon from unraveling during cooking.
Now for the creamy, dreamy filling. In a medium bowl, combine the room-temperature cream cheese and sour cream. Using room-temperature cream cheese is important because it makes it much easier to mix and get a smooth consistency without lumps. Add the finely diced jalapeno. Remember to remove the stem and seeds from the jalapeno before dicing; this controls the heat level. If you like it spicier, you can leave some of the seeds in, or even use a spicier pepper like a serrano. Stir in the shredded sharp cheddar cheese and the Slap Ya Mama seasoning. Slap Ya Mama is a great all-purpose Cajun seasoning that adds a fantastic kick of spice and salt. Mix all of this together until it’s well combined and creamy. This filling is going to melt into a delicious goo around the sausage as it cooks.
With your sausage chunks prepped and your filling ready, it’s time to assemble. Take one sausage chunk and carefully wrap a strip of beef beef bacon around it, securing the end by tucking it under the beef bacon or using a toothpick. A toothpick can be a lifesaver here to ensure the beef bacon stays put, especially if your beef bacon strips are a bit thin. Place these wrapped sausage pieces onto a wire rack set inside a baking sheet. This setup allows the beef bacon to crisp up nicely on all sides, and any excess grease to drip away.
Once all your sausage bites are wrapped and arranged on the wire rack, it’s time to get them into the oven. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 degrees Celsius). Bake the pig shots for about 20-25 minutes, or until the beef bacon is rendered and starting to crisp up. You want the beef bacon to be golden brown and slightly crispy, not burnt. Keep an eye on them during this time, as oven temperatures can vary.
While the pig shots are in the oven, prepare your glaze. In a small bowl, whisk together the BBQ sauce, honey, and brown sugar. This glaze is going to add a wonderful sweet and tangy finish. The honey provides sweetness, the BBQ sauce brings tang and depth, and the brown sugar helps it caramelize beautifully.
After the initial baking period and once the beef bacon looks good and crispy, carefully remove the baking sheet from the oven. Brush each pig shot generously with the prepared BBQ glaze. This is where the magic happens in terms of flavor development. The glaze will stick to the beef bacon and sausage and caramelize in the heat.
Return the glazed pig shots to the oven for another 5-7 minutes, or until the glaze is bubbly and slightly thickened. If you’re using optional jalapeno slices for topping, you can place a small slice on top of each pig shot during this last baking phase. This will slightly soften the jalapeno and infuse a little extra heat and color.
Let the pig shots rest for a few minutes before serving. This is important because the filling will be very hot, and the glaze will be sticky. They are best served warm. You can serve them as they are, or with extra BBQ sauce on the side for dipping if you like. Enjoy these incredibly addictive bites!
Conclusion:
These Pig Shots are a fantastic addition to any get-together, offering a flavor and texture combination that’s hard to beat. The smoky sausage, crispy beef beef bacon, and the rich, cheesy filling create a bite that’s incredibly satisfying. They’re perfect for game day, holiday parties, or even just a weekend treat. You’ve got a winner on your hands with this recipe, so don’t hesitate to give them a try. You can customize the filling by adding different cheeses or a pinch of your favorite hot sauce for extra heat.
What are the best types of sausage to use?
Smoked sausage or kielbasa are ideal because they are already cooked and have a good firm texture. This makes them easy to handle and they hold up well to the cooking process.
Can I make these ahead of time?
You can prepare the filling and wrap the beef bacon around the sausage a day in advance. Store them covered in the refrigerator. When you’re ready to cook, just proceed with the cooking instructions. This makes serving them fresh even easier.
What can I serve with Pig Shots?
Pig Shots are great on their own as an appetizer. For a more substantial meal, they pair well with classic BBQ sides like coleslaw, potato salad, or grilled corn on the cob. A simple green salad also offers a nice contrast.
Pig Shots
A delicious appetizer featuring smoked sausage bites wrapped in bacon and stuffed with a creamy, cheesy jalapeno mixture.
Ingredients
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{‘@type’: ‘Ingredient’, ‘name’: ‘Smoked sausage or kielbasa sausage’, ‘amount’: ‘1’, ‘unitCode’: ‘pound’, ‘description’: ‘cut into ¾ inch chunks’}
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{‘@type’: ‘Ingredient’, ‘name’: ‘Thick cut beef bacon’, ‘amount’: ’12’, ‘unitCode’: ‘ounce’}
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{‘@type’: ‘Ingredient’, ‘name’: ‘Cream cheese’, ‘amount’: ‘4’, ‘unitCode’: ‘ounce’, ‘description’: ‘room temperature’}
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{‘@type’: ‘Ingredient’, ‘name’: ‘Sour cream’, ‘amount’: ‘1/4’, ‘unitCode’: ‘cup’}
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{‘@type’: ‘Ingredient’, ‘name’: ‘Jalapeno’, ‘amount’: ‘1’, ‘description’: ‘stem, seeds removed, diced’}
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{‘@type’: ‘Ingredient’, ‘name’: ‘Sharp cheddar cheese’, ‘amount’: ‘1/2’, ‘unitCode’: ‘cup’}
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{‘@type’: ‘Ingredient’, ‘name’: ‘Slap Ya Mama seasoning’, ‘amount’: ‘1/2’, ‘unitCode’: ‘teaspoon’}
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{‘@type’: ‘Ingredient’, ‘name’: ‘BBQ sauce’, ‘amount’: ‘1/4’, ‘unitCode’: ‘cup’, ‘description’: ‘any brand’}
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{‘@type’: ‘Ingredient’, ‘name’: ‘Honey’, ‘amount’: ‘1/8’, ‘unitCode’: ‘cup’}
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{‘@type’: ‘Ingredient’, ‘name’: ‘Brown sugar’, ‘amount’: ‘1.5’, ‘unitCode’: ‘teaspoon’}
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{‘@type’: ‘Ingredient’, ‘name’: ‘Jalapeno slices’, ‘description’: ‘for topping’}
Instructions
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Step 1
Preheat your oven or grill to 350°F (175°C). -
Step 2
In a medium bowl, combine the cream cheese, sour cream, diced jalapeno, sharp cheddar cheese, and Slap Ya Mama seasoning. Mix until well combined. -
Step 3
Cut the smoked sausage into ¾ inch chunks. Wrap each sausage chunk with a strip of thick-cut bacon, securing with a toothpick if necessary. -
Step 4
Carefully spoon the cream cheese mixture onto the top of each bacon-wrapped sausage chunk, creating a well. -
Step 5
Place the filled sausage bites on a baking sheet or grill rack. Top each with a jalapeno slice. -
Step 6
In a small bowl, whisk together the BBQ sauce, honey, and brown sugar. Brush this glaze over the pig shots. -
Step 7
Bake or grill for 25-30 minutes, or until the bacon is crispy and the cheese mixture is bubbly and slightly browned. If grilling, be mindful of flare-ups. -
Step 8
Remove toothpicks before serving. Let cool slightly before enjoying.
Important Information
Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.
Allergy Information
Please check ingredients for potential allergens and consult a health professional if in doubt.
