Barbecue Shotgun Shells: Manicotti BBQ Shotgun Shells

Okay, hear me out—what if manicotti and Kansas City BBQ had a baby? You’d get BBQ Shotgun Shells, and oh my word… they’re as ridiculous (and delicious) as they sound.

Let’s talk game day food. You know the kind I mean—the kind that makes everyone hover around the kitchen island before kickoff, acting like they’re helping, but really just waiting for the snacks to appear. That’s exactly where these Barbecue Shotgun Shells come in. They’re bold, smoky, cheesy, and wrapped in bacon (because, of course they are). Basically, these BBQ Shotgun Shells are everything you want to eat when your team’s playing and you’ve got a crowd to feed.

Picture this: manicotti shells stuffed with a creamy, smoky blend of ground beef, pork, and cheese. Each shell gets wrapped in bacon, brushed with a sweet and tangy Kansas City-style BBQ sauce, and cooked low and slow until the bacon crisps and that sauce turns perfectly sticky and caramelized. The result? A cross between barbecue, comfort food, and total game-day chaos—in the best possible way.

I like to call them Kansas City BBQ Manicotti Shells (REPRESENT 🙌) because they’ve got all those classic KC BBQ vibes: sweet, smoky, saucy, and just a little messy. You get that rich caramelization that only comes from a good BBQ glaze, the hearty meat filling that feels straight out of a backyard smokehouse, and the kind of flavor that makes everyone’s eyes light up when they take the first bite. It’s comfort food, tailgate-style.

And the best part? These beauties are surprisingly easy to make. You can prep them the night before, stuff your shells, wrap them up in bacon, and let them rest in the fridge. When it’s game time, just brush them with sauce and pop them in the smoker—or oven if you’re keeping things simple. That’s my kind of recipe: minimal effort, maximum payoff.

Now, let’s talk about that aroma for a second. Because oh my goodness. The bacon gets all crispy and smoky, the BBQ sauce starts bubbling and caramelizing, and suddenly everyone’s wandering into the kitchen asking, “What’s cooking?” It’s that perfect game-day tease—you know something good’s coming, and you can smell it from the driveway.

And when they come out? Be ready. The bacon’s perfectly crisp, the sauce is glossy and sticky, and the filling is cheesy and smoky and rich. It’s one of those dishes that looks like you spent all day on it, but really—it’s more about layering simple, bold flavors. You’ll be pulling these off the smoker while your friends are cheering for touchdowns, and I promise you, they’ll disappear faster than the chips and dip.

Recipes like this BBQ Shotgun shells are why I love game-day cooking so much. They’re not fussy or fancy. They’re fun, a little over-the-top, and made for sharing. You can eat them standing up, with a paper plate in one hand and a drink in the other, while yelling at the TV. That’s exactly how BBQ Shotgun Shells are meant to be enjoyed.

So if you’re looking to step up your game-day spread this season, skip the basic appetizers. Bring these Kansas City BBQ Shotgun Shells instead. They’re the kind of dish that turns heads, sparks conversation, and makes people immediately ask for the recipe.

You can call them BBQ Shotgun Shells, call them Kansas City BBQ Manicotti, call them your new secret weapon—it doesn’t matter. Just make them. Because when you show up with these bad boys on game day, you’re not just serving food—you’re serving bragging rights. And trust me, these will win you way more fans than your team ever could.

Ingredients for Barbecue Shotgun Shells

How to make BBQ Shotgun Shells: ingredients you need!

1 lb ground beef

1 package mild Italian sausage (casing removed)

1 white onion, diced

1 jalapeño, diced (optional for spice)

½ block cream cheese, softened (about 4 oz)

1 bag (8 oz) shredded Colby Jack cheese

2 tablespoons minced garlic

2 boxes manicotti noodles (uncooked)

2 packages bacon (1 slice per manicotti noodle)

Barbecue sauce (KC-style preferred — sweet & smoky is great)

Barbecue Shotgun Shells Video Tutorial

For those of you who would love a visual step-by-step tutorial here is one for these yummy BBQ Shotgun Shells!

How to Make Barbecue Shotgun Shells

How to make BBQ Shotgun Shells : a step by step guide

Preheat the oven to 300°F.

Make the filling: In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, Italian sausage, onion, jalapeño, cream cheese, shredded Colby Jack cheese, and minced garlic. Mix until everything is well combined.

Prepare to fill: Spoon the mixture into a gallon-size Ziploc bag (or piping bag). Snip a corner of the bag to create an opening for piping.

Fill the manicotti: Pipe the meat mixture into each uncooked manicotti noodle until both ends are filled.

Wrap in bacon: Wrap each filled noodle with one slice of bacon.

Arrange for baking: Place the bacon-wrapped manicotti on a wire rack set over a baking sheet to catch drips.

First bake: Brush the tops generously with BBQ sauce and bake for 60 minutes.

Flip & finish: Carefully flip each manicotti, brush with more BBQ sauce, and bake for another 60 minutes until bacon is fully cooked and caramelized.

Serve hot: These BBQ Shotgun shells perfect as a main dish or sliced into bite-size pieces for appetizers.

Barbecue Shotgun Shells: SIDE IDEA

These BBQ Shotgun Shells are so yummy with my Potato Salad or my Green Beans! But of course you can never go wrong with cornbread and air fryer potato bites!

Crazy Busy Mama Tip

Make sure you have a gallon sized baggy or piping bag for filling the manicotti shells!

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Mama, If you give this Barbecue Shotgun Shells recipe a try and love it, I’d be thrilled if you could leave a comment and a 5-star rating below! Your feedback not only makes my day but also helps me understand what kinds of recipes you’d like to see more of.

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More Easy Game Day Recipes

If you love this BBQ Shotgun Shells, be sure to check out these other easy Game Day recipes that will add fun and flavor to every meal.

4th Quarter Crunch: The Ultimate Game Day Salty and sweet snack

Cheese Slaw – Easy Game Day Appetizer

Hot Bacon Dip- Easy Game Day Food-Easy Football Appetizers

10 Game day Snack Ideas That’ll Disappear Before Halftime

10 Game day Meal Ideas That’ll Have Everyone Cheering

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