If you’re a fan of hearty, meaty dishes, you’ll love this recipe for Sausage Stuffed Bacon Wrapped Pasta. It’s a delicious combination of pasta, sausage, and bacon that’s perfect for any occasion, from a family dinner to a backyard BBQ. The best part is that it’s easy to make and can be done in a smoker, which adds a smoky flavor that you won’t find in any other pasta dish.
Ingredients
Before you get started, you’ll need the following ingredients:
- 12 large manicotti pasta shells
- 1 lb ground pork sausage
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1/2 tbsp sweet seasoning
- 1 cup cheddar cheese
- 12 slices thin sliced bacon
- Your favorite BBQ sauce for glazing
Preparation
Here’s how to make Sausage Stuffed Bacon Wrapped Pasta in a smoker:
- Preheat your smoker to 275 degrees Fahrenheit.
- In a mixing bowl, combine the ground pork sausage, cheddar cheese, milk, and sweet seasoning. Mix well until all the ingredients are fully combined. This will be the filling for the pasta shells.
Stuffing the Pasta Shells
- Transfer the sausage mixture into a large ziplock bag and cut a small hole in one corner of the bag. This will make it easier to stuff the pasta shells.
- Cook the manicotti pasta shells according to the package instructions. Once the pasta is cooked, drain it and rinse it with cold water to stop the cooking process.
- Stuff each manicotti pasta shell with the sausage mixture using the ziplock bag. Make sure to fill each shell completely with the mixture. This will ensure that each bite has a delicious balance of pasta and sausage.
Wrapping the Pasta Shells
- Wrap each stuffed pasta shell with one slice of thin sliced bacon. Start at one end of the pasta shell and wrap the bacon around it until it’s completely covered. Repeat this process for all the pasta shells.
Smoking the Pasta Shells
- Place the bacon-wrapped pasta shells onto the smoker rack and smoke for 1-2 hours or until the bacon is crispy. Make sure to arrange them so that they are not touching each other to ensure even cooking.
Glazing the Pasta Shells
- Once the bacon is crispy, remove the pasta shells from the smoker and glaze each one with your favorite BBQ sauce. This will give the pasta shells a delicious flavor and add some sweetness to balance out the saltiness of the bacon and the richness of the sausage.
- Return the pasta shells to the smoker and continue smoking until the pasta is tender and cooked to your liking. This will usually take another 30 minutes to an hour, depending on the size of the pasta shells and the temperature of your smoker.
Serving the Pasta Shells
- Remove the pasta shells from the smoker and let them cool for a few minutes before serving. This will give them a chance to set and make them easier to handle. Serve them hot and enjoy your delicious Sausage Stuffed Bacon Wrapped Pasta!
Sausage Stuffed Bacon Wrapped Pasta
Ingredients
- 12 large manicotti pasta shells
- 1 lb ground pork sausage
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1/2 tbsp sweet seasoning
- 1 cup cheddar cheese
- 12 slices thin sliced bacon
- Your favorite BBQ sauce for glazing
Instructions
- Preheat your smoker to 275 degrees Fahrenheit. You can use any type of smoker, but a pellet smoker, electric smoker, or charcoal smoker will work best.
- In a mixing bowl, combine the ground pork sausage, cheddar cheese, milk, and sweet seasoning. Mix well until all the ingredients are fully combined.
- Transfer the sausage mixture into a large ziplock bag and cut a small hole in one corner of the bag. This will make it easier to stuff the pasta shells.
- Cook the manicotti pasta shells according to the package instructions. Once the pasta is cooked, drain it and rinse it with cold water to stop the cooking process.
- Stuff each manicotti pasta shell with the sausage mixture using the ziplock bag. Make sure to fill each shell completely with the mixture. This will ensure that each bite has a delicious balance of pasta and sausage.
- Wrap each stuffed pasta shell with one slice of thin sliced bacon. Start at one end of the pasta shell and wrap the bacon around it until it's completely covered. Repeat this process for all the pasta shells.
- Place the bacon-wrapped pasta shells onto the smoker rack and smoke for 1-2 hours or until the bacon is crispy. Make sure to arrange them so that they are not touching each other to ensure even cooking.
- Once the bacon is crispy, remove the pasta shells from the smoker and glaze each one with your favorite BBQ sauce. This will give the pasta shells a delicious flavor and add some sweetness to balance out the saltiness of the bacon and the richness of the sausage.
- Return the pasta shells to the smoker and continue smoking until the pasta is tender and cooked to your liking. This will usually take another 30 minutes to an hour, depending on the size of the pasta shells and the temperature of your smoker.
- Remove the pasta shells from the smoker and let them cool for a few minutes before serving. This will give them a chance to set and make them easier to handle. Serve them hot and enjoy your delicious Sausage Stuffed Bacon Wrapped Pasta!
This recipe for Sausage Stuffed Bacon Wrapped Pasta is a delicious and satisfying meal that’s perfect for any occasion. It’s easy to make and can be cooked in a smoker, which adds a smoky flavor that you won’t find in any other pasta dish. The combination of pasta, sausage, and bacon creates a flavor explosion that will leave you and your guests wanting more.
This recipe is versatile and can be customized to your liking. If you prefer a spicier flavor, you can add some hot sauce or red pepper flakes to the sausage mixture. If you prefer a milder taste, you can omit the sweet seasoning or reduce the amount of cheese. The options are endless, so you can create a recipe that’s perfect for your taste buds.
Not only is this recipe delicious, but it’s also a crowd-pleaser. It’s perfect for family dinners, game day parties, or backyard BBQs. Your guests will be impressed with the presentation of the bacon-wrapped pasta shells, and they’ll love the combination of flavors.
If you’re new to smoking, this recipe is a great way to get started. It’s simple and requires minimal preparation, and the results are delicious. Once you try this recipe, you’ll be hooked on the smoky flavor of your smoker and will want to experiment with other recipes.
