Can you reheat smoked shotgun shells?

Yes! Reheat them in the oven or smoker to maintain texture. Avoid the microwave unless you're in a pinch—it’ll soften the bacon and dull the smoky flavor.

How does Dragon’s Breath shotgun shells work?

These aren’t food—Dragon’s Breath is a novelty shotgun round filled with magnesium pellets that shoot out flame. Absolutely not edible and nothing to do with BBQ shotgun shells!

What are BBQ shotgun shells?

BBQ shotgun shells are manicotti shells stuffed with seasoned meat, wrapped in bacon, and smoked low and slow. They’re a savory, smoky, and fun-to-eat appetizer—basically BBQ meets stuffed pasta with a crunchy bacon shell.

Why do people put rock salt in shotgun shells?

This one’s another gun-related question. Rock salt has historically been used in non-lethal homemade shells for deterrence—not food! Let’s keep the shells on your smoker, not in your ammo box.

Smoked Shotgun Shells – Ultimate BBQ Recipe

Description

Smoked Shotgun Shells are meat-stuffed manicotti pasta tubes wrapped in bacon and smoked to perfection. A bold BBQ appetizer perfect for backyard gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale

1 box manicotti shells (uncooked)

1 lb ground beef or spicy Italian sausage

1 cup shredded cheddar or pepper jack

2 tablespoons diced jalapeños (optional)

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika

Salt and pepper to taste

12–14 slices thin-cut bacon

2 tablespoons BBQ rub

1/2 cup BBQ sauce (for glazing)

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

1. In a bowl, mix ground meat, cheese, jalapeños, and spices.

2. Stuff each uncooked manicotti shell with the meat mixture using a piping bag or by hand.

3. Wrap each stuffed shell with a slice of bacon, covering the pasta completely.

4. Sprinkle BBQ rub over each bacon-wrapped shell and refrigerate for at least 4 hours.

5. Preheat smoker to 250°F. Place shells on smoker rack and smoke for 60 minutes.

6. Brush BBQ sauce over the shells and smoke for another 30 minutes until bacon is crisp and internal temp hits 160°F.

Notes

Refrigerating the shells before smoking helps soften the pasta.

Use a wire rack to keep shells from sticking during smoking.

Try flavor twists like Buffalo chicken, brisket & gouda, or Tex-Mex fillings.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Category: Appetizer
Method: Smoking
Cuisine: American BBQ

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 shell
Calories: 280
Sugar: 2g
Sodium: 480mg
Fat: 20g
Saturated Fat: 8g
Unsaturated Fat: 10g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 9g
Fiber: 1g
Protein: 16g
Cholesterol: 55mg