Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound smoked sausage or kielbasa sausage, cut into ¾ inch chunks
- 12 ounce thick cut bacon
- 4 ounce cream cheese, room temperature
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 1 jalapeno, stem, seeds removed, diced
- ½ cup sharp cheddar cheese
- ½ teaspoon Slap Ya Mama seasoning
- ¼ cup BBQ sauce (any brand)
- ⅛ cup honey
- 1 ½ teaspoon brown sugar
- Jalapeno slices
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F. While the oven’s warming up, gather all your ingredients and set up your station. Trust me, it makes the assembly process much smoother.
- Prepare the honey BBQ glaze: In a small bowl, mix the BBQ sauce, honey, and brown sugar until smooth. Set it aside for later.
- Wrap the sausage in bacon: Cut your thick-cut bacon strips in half, then wrap each chunk of sausage with a bacon strip. If you’re using a muffin pan, place the sausage pieces into the cups. Otherwise, use toothpicks to secure the bacon and place the Pig Shots on a baking sheet. This is where I learned the importance of tight wrapping—loose bacon will unravel during baking (and nobody wants that).
- Make the cheese filling: In a medium bowl, mix together the cream cheese, sour cream, cheddar, diced jalapeño, and seasoning until well combined. Transfer the mixture into a zip-top bag, snip off a corner, and pipe a generous amount onto the top of each sausage. The filling should mound up slightly but not spill over.
- Top with jalapeño slices and glaze: Pop a thin jalapeño slice on top of each Pig Shot, then brush them all generously with the honey BBQ mixture. This glaze will caramelize and add a sticky sweetness.
- Bake for 40-45 minutes: Place the tray in the oven and bake until the bacon is crispy and the cheese filling is golden. Keep an eye on them after 40 minutes—oven temps can vary, and you don’t want to burn your bacon.
- Enjoy! Let them cool for a few minutes (the filling will be piping hot!), then carefully remove them from the muffin pan or baking sheet and serve.
Notes
Serving Ideas to Impress Your Guests
For a dinner party or game day spread, I love to serve these Pig Shots on a wooden cutting board with some fresh herbs sprinkled around for color. You can garnish with extra jalapeño slices or chopped green onions for a pop of freshness. Pair these with a side of tangy coleslaw or baked beans for a true BBQ vibe, or serve them alongside crispy potato wedges.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40-45 minutes
- Category: Appetizers