🔥Smoking Hot Pig Shots
1st Place Award-Winning Appetizer — Hico, Texas Steak Cookoff 2026
By 🔥 Smokin' Hot Cousins™ 🔥
The Story Behind the Shot
Some appetizers warm you up. These ones stop the show. At the 2026 Hico, Texas Steak Cookoff, 🔥 Smokin' Hot Cousins™ 🔥 took home 1st place with a bite-sized masterpiece that had judges reaching for seconds before the scores were even tallied. Meet the Smoking Hot Pig Shots — smoky, creamy, crispy, and absolutely unforgettable.
What Are Pig Shots?
Pig shots are the ultimate BBQ appetizer: a ring of smoked sausage wrapped in bacon, filled with a savory cream cheese mixture, and smoked low and slow until the bacon crisps and the filling bubbles into pure perfection. They're called "shots" because you pop the whole thing in one glorious bite.
Smoking Hot Pig Shots
1st Place Award-Winning Appetizer — Hico, Texas Steak Cookoff 2026 By 🔥 Smokin' Hot Cousins™ 🔥The Story Behind the ShotSome appetizers warm you up. These ones stop the show. At the 2026 Hico, Texas Steak Cookoff, 🔥 Smokin' Hot Cousins™ 🔥 took ...
- Author
- Tony Marcotte
- Servings
- ~24
- Category
- Appetizer
- Cuisine
American
Ingredients
- 1 lb andouille sausage
- 1 lb thick-cut bacon, cut in half crosswise
- 16oz cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 package of Cousin Tony’s ™ Jalapeño Cheddar Dip mix
- ½ jar of Crybabies ® Sweet-n-Sassy Jalapeños (Diced)
- 1 tbsp Creamy Raspberry Honey
- Cousin Tony’s ™ Texas Trail Dust ™
- 2-3 Green Onions
Directions
- Prep your smoker to 275°F using hickory or cherry wood for a bold, sweet smoke profile.
- Build the shells — Stand each sausage slice upright and wrap a half-strip of bacon around the outside, forming a cup. Secure with a toothpick. The bacon should extend above the sausage to create a well for the filling.
- Mix the filling — Combine cream cheese, cheddar, seasoning mix, jalapeños, and honey until smooth and well blended.
- Fill 'em up — Pipe or spoon the cream cheese mixture into each bacon cup, filling just above the rim.
- Season the tops — Dust lightly with Texas Trail Dust ™
- Smoke for 60–75 minutes, or until the bacon is crispy and the filling is golden and set.
- Finish with sliced green onions — angle slice some green onions sprinkle on top for that look that home the trophy