Stovetop
Ground Pork
Pork Shots
Smoky, creamy, spicy, and wrapped in crispy bacon, these Pork Belly Pig Shots are the ultimate BBQ appetizer for game day, backyard gatherings, or summer cookouts. Tender pork belly is slow-cooked on the BBQ, wrapped in thick-cut bacon, filled with a creamy jalapeño cheddar mixture, and grilled until the bacon is perfectly crisp and the filling is hot and bubbly.
Prep:
25 minutes
Cook:
4 hours 15 minutes
Serves:
8-10
Best Cuts:
Cooking Method:
Ingredients
For the Pork
- 2 lb (900 g) pork belly, cut into 1½-inch cubes
- 2 tbsp (30 mL) yellow mustard
- 3 tbsp BBQ rub of choice
- 16–20 slices thick-cut bacon
For the Filling
- 1 block (250 g) cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup (125 mL) sour cream
- ½ cup (60 g) shredded cheddar cheese
- 2 tbsp minced garlic
- 2 tbsp minced pickled jalapeños
Extra
- Toothpicks
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Preheat your BBQ grill to 225°F (107°C) using indirect heat.
Step 2
Place the pork belly cubes into a large bowl. Coat them lightly with the yellow mustard, then season generously on all sides with your favourite BBQ rub until evenly coated.
Step 3
Arrange the seasoned pork belly cubes directly on the grill over indirect heat, leaving a little space between each piece. Close the lid and cook for 3 hours, or until the pork begins to darken and the fat starts to render.
Step 4
While the pork belly is cooking, prepare the filling. In a medium bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, minced garlic, and pickled jalapeños. Mix until smooth and creamy.
Step 5
Remove the pork belly from the grill. Wrap each cube with a slice of thick-cut bacon, forming a small “shot glass” around the pork belly, and secure the bacon with a toothpick inserted through the bottom.
Step 6
Using a spoon or piping bag, fill the centre of each bacon-wrapped pork belly with the cream cheese mixture, being careful not to overfill.
Step 7
Return the pig shots to the BBQ grill and cook for 1 hour, or until the bacon is crisp and the filling is hot, bubbly, and lightly golden.
Step 8
Remove the pig shots from the BBQ grill and let them rest for 5 minutes before serving. Arrange on a serving platter and enjoy warm as the perfect BBQ appetizer or game day snack.
Optional Add-Ins:
Try adding: crispy bacon bits, sliced green onions, pepper Jack cheese, candied jalapeños, BBQ sauce drizzle, crumbled Cotija cheese
