Smoked shotgun shells are manicotti noodles stuffed with Italian sausage and Mozzarella cheese, wrapped in crispy bacon, and topped off with bbq rub and bbq sauce. Deliciously tantalizing.
Smoked shotgun shells on a wooden cutting board with one of them cut in half so you can see a cross section.
We love finger foods, and anytime I can fire up my smoker and make a fun appetizer, I am on board.
Sausage, cheese, manicotti, bacon, bbq sauce, the smoker. What was this odd thing that sounded actually quite tasty?
Interesting, right?
Why This Recipe Works
This recipe makes a decent amount of appetizer bites. It’s chock full of flavor. The bacon and sausage play very well with the barbecue sauce. The pasta shell still has texture and holds up well.
Shotgun Shells (Oven Baked) Recipe 🧀
These cheesy and flavorful stuffed pasta shells are a crowd-pleaser. Perfectly baked with a rich marinara sauce, they make a satisfying and comforting meal. 🍝🧀
🟡 Ingredients:
- 12 oz jumbo pasta shells 🍝
- 1 pound ground beef 🥩
- 1 small onion, finely chopped 🧅
- 2 cloves garlic, minced 🧄
- 1 can (15 oz) ricotta cheese 🧀
- 1 egg 🥚
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese 🧀
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese 🧀
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning 🌿
- Salt and pepper to taste 🧂🌶️
- 1 jar (24 oz) marinara sauce 🍅
🔥 Instructions:
Cook pasta shells according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside. 🌡️🍽️
In a skillet, brown the ground beef over medium heat. Add chopped onion and minced garlic. Cook until beef is no longer pink and onion is tender. Drain excess fat. 🥩🧅🧄
In a bowl, combine ricotta cheese, egg, 1 cup mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. 🧀🥚🌿
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). 🌡️
Stuff each cooked pasta shell with the cheese mixture and place them in a baking dish. 🍝
Pour marinara sauce over the shells and sprinkle with the remaining mozzarella cheese. 🍅🧀
Bake for 25-30 minutes, until bubbly and cheese is golden brown. 🕒👌
Serve hot and enjoy!