With a double dose of pork, Smoked Pork Shots feature sausage wrapped in bacon and filled with a tangy, spicy, cream cheese filling. Cooked on the smoker, they’re smoky, delish, and totally crave-worthy!
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These aren’t the prettiest things to make on your smoker, but they are one of the tastiest! Smoky sausage, smoky bacon, and a creamy, tangy, and spice cream cheese filling put these bite-sized Smoked Pork Shots over the top!
They’re a bit of a bother to make, but the good news is that you can make them ahead of time, and then just fire up the smoker about an hour before you want to eat. And, once cooked, you can just warm up any leftovers – if there are any to be warmed up!
Also called pig shots, pork bites, and pig bites, these porky mouthfuls are loaded with big, bold, smoky flavor and plenty of meaty goodness. I bet you can’t eat just one!
What you’ll love about Pork Shots
- Bacon, sausage, and cheese – what’s not to love?
- They’re smoky, bacony, cheesey, and spicy!
- Customize them with your favorite spices and cheeses!
Ingredients
- Smoked sausage – Any kind of smoked sausage, or even kielbasa, will work.
- Bacon – Thick-cut bacon is perfect for this smoked appetizer. It holds the filling in nicely.
- Cream cheese – Softened.
- Cheddar cheese – Shredded. Sharp cheddar is great in this smoked appetizer recipe.
- Diced chilis – Use one of those small 4.5 ounce cans of chopped green chilies.
- Seasoning – Chili powder, taco seasoning, or your favorite rub are all good choices.
You’ll Also Need
- Traeger pellet grill/smoker – Or another smoker.
- Pellets – I used a hardwood blend.
- A tray with a rack above it – You can put the pork shots right on the grill if you don’t mind all that grease dripping down.
- Toothpicks – To secure the pork shots.
Recommended
What Kind of Sausage Do You Need to Make Pork Shots?
Any smoked sausage links will work. You can use a spicy or a mild sausage, or even kielbasa.
This full-color ebook cookbook features more than 50 of Chef Jenn’s tried, tested, and favorite smoker recipes! Enjoy:
- Smoked Beef Kabobs
- Smoked Chicken Thighs
- Smoked Bacon-Wrapped Pork Stuffed Jalapeno Poppers
- Smoked Spaghetti Squash with Herbs
and so much more!
How to Make Pork Shots On Your Smoker
For a full list of ingredients and instructions, please scroll down to the recipe at the bottom of this page.
- Fire up your smoker according to the manufacturer’s directions.
- Mix the softened cream cheese with the shredded cheddar, diced chilis, and your choice of seasoning.
- Spoon the cream cheese mixture into a zipper-top bag, seal it, and cut one of the corners off the bag to create a piping bag.
- Cut the sausage into 1/2-inch disks. Any smaller and they won’t hold up well to the filling and bacon.
- Cut the bacon strips in half so you have 2 shorter pieces.
- Wrap the bacon around the sausage circles, with the bottom of the bacon level with the bottom of the sausage so that they sit evenly without tipping. Make sure the bacon is taller than the sausage by about 1/2 inch. Secure the bacon with a toothpick.
- Squeeze the cream cheese filling into the space above the sausage.
- Place the bacon-wrapped sausage – your pork shots – onto a rack fitted overtop a pan and smoke for about 1 hour or until the bacon is crispy.
- Serve and enjoy!
Chef Jenn’s Tips
- If you like it spicy, add 1/4-1/2 teaspoon of cayenne or chipotle powder to the cream cheese mixture. You could even add finely diced jalapeno.
- Sharp cheddar is my favorite cheese in this Pork Shots recipe, but any cheese will work.
- Don’t overcook the pork shots!
How To Make This Smoked Pork Shots Recipe Ahead of Time
Smoked pork shots need about an hour on the smoker, but you can get them ready to go onto the smoker up to 2 days ahead of time. Simply prepare the pork shots all the way up to the point of putting them onto the smoker. Instead of smoking them, package them in an airtight container and pop them into the fridge until you’re ready to smoke them.
What To Serve With Smoked Pork Shots
Pig shots, if you call them that, or Pork Shots are delicious just on their own. I’ve served them as a meal, but also as party snacks. And, if you pair them with Shotgun Shells and Smoked Chicken Tortilla Bites, you can have a whole smorgasbord of smoked party recipes!
Frequently Asked Questions
Count on 45-60 minutes to get the smoked pork shots fully cooked. You can eat the sausage and filling raw, but the bacon needs to be thoroughly cooked and you really want that bacon to get crispy.
You can use pretty much anything. From chili powder to taco seasoning or your favorite rub, anything goes!
Yes, you can. Bake them on a baking sheet in a preheated 350-F oven for about 45 minutes or until the bacon is crispy.
Step By Step Process
Smoked Pork Shots
Equipment
- Pellets
- Toothpicks
- Pan with fitted rack options
Ingredients
- 1 pound smoked sausage
- 1 pound thick cut bacon
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 tablespoon chili or your favorite spice rub
- 4.5 ounce canned diced chilis one of small cans
Instructions
- Fire up your smoker according to the manufacturer's directions.
- Mix the softened cream cheese with the shredded cheddar, diced chilis, and your choice of seasoning.
- Spoon the cream cheese mixture into a zipper-top bag, seal it, and cut one of the corners off the bag to create a piping bag.
- Cut the sausage into 1/2-inch disks. Any smaller and they won't hold up well to the filling and bacon.
- Cut the bacon strips in half so you have 2 shorter pieces.
- Wrap the bacon around the sausage circles, with the bottom of the bacon level with the bottom of the sausage so that they sit evenly without tipping. Make sure the bacon is taller than the sausage by about 1/2 inch. Secure the bacon with a toothpick.
- Squeeze the cream cheese filling into the space above the sausage.
- Place the bacon-wrapped sausage – your pork shots – onto a rack fitted overtop a pan and smoke for about 1 hour or until the bacon is crispy.
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
Chef Jenn’s Tips
- If you like it spicy, add 1/4-1/2 teaspoon of cayenne or chipotle powder to the cream cheese mixture. You could even add finely diced jalapeno.
- Sharp cheddar is my favorite cheese in this Pork Shots recipe, but any cheese will work.
- Don’t overcook the pork shots!
Nutrition
A Note on Nutritional Information
Nutritional information for this recipe is provided as a courtesy and is calculated based on available online ingredient information. It is only an approximate value. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site cannot be guaranteed.
This was so tasty and a nice easy recipe! My husband is in love with anything off the smoker and these are high on his list.
So fun to serve at a party! They were a huge hit with my crowd. Thanks!
Hmm, there is all the good stuff in this recipe. And looks so good. Thanks for the recipe!
Someday I will get a smoker but for now, I made these in the oven and they are amazing. Hubby asked to have these again.
The flavor is out-of-this-world! We like it spicy so we added a chopped habanero. Can’t wait to make again!!