Description
Sizzling pig shots bring savory Wisconsin-style appetizers to life with crispy bacon cups filled with creamy cheese and tangy barbecue sauce. Hearty bites deliver irresistible flavor that will keep guests coming back for more.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Protein:
- 1 lb ground pork or sausage
- 4 slices bacon
Dairy and Cheese:
- 1/2 cup cream cheese
- 1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Seasonings and Additional Ingredients:
- 1 tbsp barbecue rub or seasoning
- 2 green onions, chopped
- 1 jalapeño, diced (optional)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup and crisp cooking.
- Slice bacon into rings, creating circular bases that will serve as the foundation for the pig shots, ensuring each ring is uniform in thickness.
- Gently press bacon rings into a muffin tin, forming cup-like shapes that will cradle the savory filling.
- Mix ground pork or sausage with barbecue rub, salt, and black pepper, creating a well-seasoned meat mixture with robust flavor profiles.
- Carefully fill each bacon-lined cup with the seasoned meat mixture, pressing down gently to create a compact base.
- Bake the meat-filled bacon cups for 15-20 minutes, allowing the bacon to crisp and the meat to cook thoroughly.
- While baking, blend cream cheese with shredded cheddar, diced jalapeños, and chopped green onions to create a creamy, zesty filling.
- Remove the partially cooked meat cups from the oven and drain any excess grease.
- Generously top each meat cup with the cheese mixture, ensuring complete coverage.
- Return to the oven and bake for an additional 5-7 minutes until the cheese melts and becomes slightly golden and bubbly.
- Let the pig shots rest for 3-4 minutes after removing from the oven to allow the filling to set and cool slightly.
- Transfer to a serving platter, garnish with extra green onions if desired, and serve hot as an irresistible appetizer.
Notes
- Choose thick-cut bacon for sturdy, crispy bases that hold the filling without falling apart during cooking.
- Pat bacon rings dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture, ensuring better crisping and preventing soggy texture.
- Opt for low-sodium barbecue rub to control salt levels and allow more personalized seasoning control.
- Experiment with alternative protein options like ground turkey or plant-based crumbles for dietary flexibility and different flavor profiles.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-27 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 330
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 590 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 4 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 23 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg