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Strawberry Cream Cheesecake

Strawberry Cream Cheesecake

Discover savory Strawberry Cream Cheesecake flavors in our smoked shotgun shells appetizer recipe. Perfect for parties, these bacon-wrapped delights are a crowd-pleaser.
Prep Time 35 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 35 minutes
Servings: 28 shells
Calories: 120

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pound pound ground beef 80/20 blend
  • 1 pound pound hot Italian sausage casings removed
  • 1 medium onion finely diced
  • 2 cups cup sharp cheddar cheese shredded
  • 6 ounces ounce cream cheese softened
  • 2 teaspoons teaspoon Slap Ya Mama seasoning or your favorite Cajun/creole blend
  • 2 teaspoons teaspoon garlic powder
  • 2 teaspoons teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 2 boxes box manicotti shells uncooked
  • 2 packages package regular-cut bacon
  • 1 cup cup barbecue sauce plus more for coating

Equipment

  • Large Mixing Bowl
  • Wire Rack & Baking Sheet
  • Pastry Brush
  • Chopping Board & Sharp Knife
  • Smoker (or grill set up for indirect heat)

Method
 

  1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, Italian sausage, diced onion, shredded cheddar, softened cream cheese, diced jalapeño, Slap Ya Mama seasoning, garlic powder, black pepper, and red pepper flakes. Mix thoroughly with hands.
  2. Using uncooked manicotti shells, scoop a handful of the meat mixture and press it gently into the shell from both ends, meeting in the middle.
  3. Lay a slice of bacon on a cutting board, place one stuffed manicotti shell at one end, and roll the bacon around the shell. Place seam-side down on a wire rack.
  4. Preheat the smoker to 250°F and coat the tops of the bacon-wrapped shells with barbecue sauce using a pastry brush.
  5. Transfer the shells to the smoker and smoke for 60 minutes. Flip the shells, coat with more barbecue sauce, and smoke for another 60 minutes until bacon is crispy and filling is cooked through.

Nutrition

Calories: 120kcalCarbohydrates: 4gProtein: 9gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 30mgSodium: 400mgPotassium: 200mgSugar: 1gVitamin A: 5IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 8mgIron: 5mg

Notes

Mixing with your hands ensures the filling is well combined. Feel free to swap meats or cheeses based on your preference. If made ahead, you can assemble and refrigerate them for up to 24 hours before smoking. For reheating leftovers, the oven or air fryer works best to maintain crispiness. Experiment with different dipping sauces for serving, like ranch or blue cheese dressing.
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