Description
A recipe for smoked, bacon-wrapped sausage bites filled with cream cheese and topped with a sweet and tangy pineapple bourbon BBQ glaze.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound smoked sausage (like kielbasa or andouille), sliced into 1/2-inch thick rounds
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup crushed pineapple, drained well
- 1/4 cup bourbon
- 1/2 cup your favorite BBQ sauce
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 pound thin-cut bacon, halved lengthwise
- Toothpicks
Instructions
- Preheat your smoker or grill to 250°F (121°C).
- In a small bowl, mix the softened cream cheese and drained crushed pineapple until combined.
- Take one slice of sausage and use a small knife or melon baller to create a well or depression in the center.
- Spoon about 1/2 teaspoon of the cream cheese mixture into the well of each sausage round.
- Wrap each filled sausage round with one half-strip of bacon, securing the bacon with a toothpick inserted through the center.
- Place the pig shots directly on the grill grates or a wire rack over a baking sheet. Smoke for 1.5 hours.
- While the shots smoke, prepare the glaze: In a small saucepan, combine the bourbon, BBQ sauce, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, and Worcestershire sauce. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Cook for 5 minutes until slightly thickened. Remove from heat.
- After 1.5 hours of smoking, brush the pig shots generously with the bourbon BBQ glaze.
- Increase the grill temperature to 350°F (177°C) or move the shots to indirect heat. Continue cooking and glazing every 15 minutes for another 30 to 45 minutes, or until the bacon is crisp and the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
- Remove from heat and let rest for 5 minutes before serving with toothpicks.
Notes
- Make sure the crushed pineapple is very well drained to prevent the cream cheese filling from becoming too runny.
- Use a thin-cut bacon so it crisps up nicely without burning before the sausage is fully heated through.
- If you prefer a thicker glaze, simmer it slightly longer until it coats the back of a spoon.
- Prep Time: 20 min
- Cook Time: 2 hr 15 min
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Smoking/Grilling
- Cuisine: American BBQ
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3 shots
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 15
- Sodium: 750
- Fat: 25
- Saturated Fat: 10
- Unsaturated Fat: 15
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 18
- Fiber: 0
- Protein: 15
- Cholesterol: 60