Smoked Shotgun Shells

Smoked Shotgun Shells
Smoked Shotgun Shells make a fantastic appetizer or tailgating treat! We have made these with many different fillings and this Summer settled on this recipe that my family and guests loved. It's a very hearty version and it is filled mostly with meat and a little cheese and hatch chilies for a Southwestern flavor profile which we think you will love.
It's key to allow the meat mixture to rest in the pasta tubes in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours. We have test 1 hour, 2 and 3 hours as seen in this video and the results are not as good.
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About Meat Church BBQ:
Welcome to the official Meat Church BBQ KZbin channel! Meat Church is a global lifestyle BBQ brand and has one of the largest social media reaches in the world of outdoor cooking. The unique brand offers some of the most popular craft BBQ seasonings, apparel, recipe development & live fire cooking instruction around the world. Matt Pittman is the pitmaster and the founder of Meat Church BBQ. He is an expert and respected authority on outdoor cooking. Students travel from around the world to attend BBQ schools in his private outdoor kitchen. Make sure to subscribe and enable ALL notifications!
#MeatChurchBBQ​ #ShotgunShells #SmokedShotgunShells

[@thistles]

I’m a vegetarian wondering how I ended up here and why I’m drooling.

[@davidsoto7711]

You did it again!!! I can't wait to try these!! I lost my mom 2 years ago to cancer and when she passed I was in a bad place. Watching your videos and learning to grill saved my life!! Thank you!!!

[@beanzz801]

My condolences, pretty much same story over here. I was lost and cooking/grilling/smoking was a huge help, I dove fully into it and I love it. You ain't alone my friend I hope you're doing well 🤙🏻

[@ChezJ1]

I lost my mom to cancer too David, (Pancreatic) and although it’s been 22 years it still sucks. Cooking has been a great distraction for me as well. #CancerSucks #FindTheCure

[@NewBeginning509]

By any chance was she q good cook brother...?

[@Babsbakes]

Big big hugs. ♥️

[@anghiggy5029]

So sorry for your loss. We lost Mom very suddenly in 2009, I too was in a bad place. I was lost, "gone" for over a year. To this day it is still just so wrong without her.

[@panderson9561]

I made these for the first time a couple of weeks ago. I mixed the rub in with the meat, instead of sprinkling on the outside. Couple of tips: Let them sit overnight in the fridge, the shells will be much softer. Also, before you crisp up the bacon/brush on the sauce, let them sit on paper towels for a few seconds to make them less greasy.

[@whitey129]

All you're doing by seasoning the meat directly is binding it together and making it more mealy. Look up kenji lopez' video explaining seasoning beef burger.

[@tricepilot]

Just made this yesterday afternoon. I did use the suggestion below to parboil the shells about 2 minutes short of fully cooked. This way you can simply cut the shell with scissors and fill them and then the bacon hides the cut anyway (from a suggestion below). They came out great and the neighbors loved them too!! I did the smoked brisket mac & cheese and I'm setting out to do many more recipes from this channel.

[@andykives3420]

I've made this recipe twice in the last week. In my experience, setting for five hours (last Sunday) in the refrigerator isn't enough to give a soft shell after your one hour cook. I regrouped and made this recipe for my employees today with a 14 hour overnight in the fridge and they were perfect. The first thing I noticed this morning was the shells had softened enough to indent some with my finger. My employees agree that they are amazing.

[@MichaelJEmmi]

Great, that's exactly what I thought, overnight.

[@machinayrequiem8596]

I didnt know night lasts for 14 hrs.

[@mdeez8286]

​@@machinayrequiem8596lmao I said the same thing but I get it

[@1990westfalia]

Thanks for review on the time in the fridge. I'm trying these later in the week. Skillet

[@caroltochterman0000]

I was wondering how the shell tasted

[@tikijoebartz7134]

I had some leftover filling I froze after making these last fall. I thawed it, stuffed some jalapenos (sliced off 1/4), wrapped in bacon, then oven roasted for an hour at 275. Turned out awesome!

[@shug2795]

I'm impressed. Gotta try this!

[@Ray-po1yu]

TANK YOU! I have made these 2 times didn't think they were worth the time! Until YOUR video! I used my own venison hot Italian sausage for the meat. made them the night before and put them in the fridge. Smoked them the next day OMG!! You are the man thank you for the over night tip night and day difference! Thanks to you I would be proud to make these for party's!!!

[@thedieseldaniel3082]

I love all the additional information you provided in the video. I appreciate that you have done testing and research on the recipes before you make your quality videos. Always great, and I feel so confident to give these a shot and they’ll be great first try!!!

[@DAGORG18]

I made some this last weekend. I cooked the pasta before but cooked it ~1 minute short of the recommended time. Then split them open to stuff and rolled them back up. The bacon does a great job of holding it together and you can’t tell the difference. Thanks for the video!

[@highpocketsnana1333]

I'm going to try this your way. I've made some other pasta recipes this way and it worked perfectly. Thank you!!

[@brada1997]

Nice trick

[@tikitorturedmf]

Roll some meat mixture into a rope a little smaller diameter of the pasta. Cut it in lengths a bit longer than the pasta. Stuff them and compact them. Done.

[@merk9569]

@@tikitorturedmf. Great hack! Thanks for your suggestion!

[@monahayes3397]

Can these be stuffed, wrapped and frozen? I need to make about 100 of them and thought if they can be frozen before cooked, it would be helpful.

[@Dylan-tt3ic]

Best thing about Meat Church videos is that they give you the freedom to choose how you can make your own style. Not pushing product or gatekeepers

[@crystalhardin6363]

More fun than prom night, took me out 😂😂😂

[@robertreichardt1932]

i almost spit out my lunch laughing so hard when you said almost as much fun as prom night!!! Matt you are the best!! thanks for the video dude

[@cramdangle]

Did we all finger someone on prom night

[@mfcriz2561]

So funny! Prom night was memorable so I hope these are too!

[@gertoise]

same

[@troylakin826]

yup straight to the comments after that one

[@sergeantcalmdown]

😆

[@patrickbatman4426]

I made these yesterday and they came out amazing. Had I not watched this video I wouldn't have known about the 4 hour sit time. Thanks!

[@POWER-LINKS]

Use the "wheel bearing grease-packing technique" when filling the shells (put a wad in your off-hand and keep pushing one of the open ends down in to that wad until it overflows the shell).

[@Nicohly]

Just did it this way reading the comments after the fact this was the best way i found

[@POWER-LINKS]

@@Nicohly 👍🏻

[@blackbluedgunsmithing7171]

I usually make mine the day before and freeze them. Then thaw the next day. The shell is absolutely perfect after cooking. No crunchy bits. Everyone ❤❤❤❤❤ these !

[@barryfriesen8062]

I love shotgun shells! I have started precooking my Manicotti (about half the recommended time) just to soften them a little so the areas that are not bacon wrapped are not so tough. Also makes them a little more pliable for stuffing.

[@w00master]

Even easier, skip the shells and go with lasagna noodles instead. Par boil them (like you do with the shells), and then put your filling in, and roll it up - then follow the standard recipe from there. No more stuffing / using piping bags. This is much easier, never break noodles, and you're done so much faster.

[@morgangreenfield824]

​@@w00master 😊

[@allenkimball1883]

I just done these for the first time this past weekend and stuffed them with my Jerky gun the nozzle fits right inside worked great. Thanks for the videos

[@Chris-fo8wp]

The jerky cannon rocks, I have also been doing sausage with it!!

[@horacejones5226]

Yes sir! I always use my Jerky gun to stuff the shells. Really speeds up the process.

[@budduggly7781]

Oh my! I followed your directions exactly and just took my first bite.... I am in love with this recipe. They softened up perfectly in the fridge overnight, and they are a hit! Great video! You teach very well.

[@jimblock348]

😅where do I get the pasta tubes? What are they called?

[@budduggly7781]

@@jimblock348 Manicotti shells. Most any market, I would imagine.

[@damienminnock6509]

Greetings from Ireland. Thanks for your recipe, I made these shotgun shells over the weekend in a Weber Master Touch and they were fantastic. I made them up a left them in the fridge overnight. Pasta was perfect. They were a huge hit with my family.

[@TheBeardedItalian]

Great job brother! I’ve been wanting to try these and I have watched several videos and a lot of them comment that their pasta is chewy so your fix is four hours or more in the refrigerator, I think that is spot on awesome advice!👊🏻🍻😋

[@terryhamilton985]

After taking two shots at making these….I have had trouble with getting the pasta soft. So THANK YOU for the fridge tip. I’ve done them with just straight pasta….a little tuff, and Ive boiled them, still tuff. I agree best way is just use fingers.

[@jackbackintheday]

Made these many times before but the 4 hour minimum fridge time was the key! Left them in over night and they were finally right! Also used the Dr. Pepper bbq sauce Matt made for the Dr. Pepper chicken. Wow!

[@user-jl7ri9uo2n]

I love learning new recipes. My son loves cooking as well. I need new recipes to impress my cook buddy. Thank you so much 🙏

[@jimwsmith724]

Making these for NYE this year. I’m hoping the guests will like them. They look great ! Thanks Matt and Meat Church fam. Happy New Year !!

[@Nolgore]

Same!

[@aarondiment994]

@@Nolgorehow did they turn out? Happy guests?

[@Nolgore]

@@aarondiment994 very happy!! They were great.

[@rrest11]

Great video. I use my sausage stuffer with a tube that the pasta shell can fit over. This way it reaches through the entire pasta tube. It is fast and easy. Matt your the best.

[@DaveScottADV]

Yeah when he was doing it my first thought was "I wonder if a sausage press would make it easier to stuff the shells"

[@migueldelaney6291]

I've watched a lot of cooking videos and this is the very 1st time that whats being done is explained correctly, so thanks. I'm now a new subscriber and will enjoy trying new thing, again thank you!!!

[@McLovin0922]

Your kitchen space is extremely clean and spacious, I like that man. I get iffy looking at other cook places with cramped ceiling and tables. Keep up the great content!

[@davidstearn1342]

I cooked these a 2nd time using more hatch chilies an no cream cheese just the Colby farm cut cheese. It was better than my test cook and was a big hit at the party we attended. Needless to say we made a lot of new friends in our neighborhood!

[@sherrywilliams409]

It’s nice to have fresh chilis but you could use hatch chilis from the jar or can. I’ve never had a shotgun shell so I’m definitely making these. The look sooo yummy!

[@TheOneWhoReportsForDuty]

These just look delicious. I love watching cooking videos from the South, y'all have some of the best food.

[@OKNateM]

Made a batch for a big BBQ potluck at work. Only difference was a can of Hatch chiles ‘cause I couldn’t find fresh ones. These shotgun shells were outstanding, lots of great compliments! Many thanks!

[@SalongirlGardens]

I’ve not tried these yet but they’re now on my list. Thanks Matt!

[@mikeswingle8218]

Cant wait to do these. Thanks for the 4 hour fridge tip. I've been worried about doing these and turning out too hard with the pasta.

[@stevekempsyninja3292]

I've dabbled in all types of food, even going vegetarian for 8 years for dietary and personal reasons, I'm glad I did. It taught me to eat other food I'd never tried or thought that I would try. Now back to eating meat, I enjoy cooking soo many more dishes in so many ways. I'm a foodie and this looks fabulous!!!😋 😜 ❤😅

[@kimwalders8781]

Making these today. Mixing up this morning and will grill tonight. Can’t wait to try these. Awesome video.

[@acibo3264]

When I do these at Christmas time with a cream sauce I put them on a cookie sheet and drizzle some sauce over them before putting them in the fridge overnight. The sauce gets absorbed into the shell and more gets added when it’s time to cook. I think when I try this I will baste the shells with your barbecue sauce after stuffing them and before wrapping with the bacon to give us the shells something else to help soften them up before they get cooked.

[@WEJIII]

😂 "more fun than prom night" has me laughing over and over

[@Chris-fo8wp]

Absolutely!!!

[@rdbrnr86gt]

about spit out my drink when I heard that comment

[@EyeTyrant1979]

Yeah, I about choked on my lunch when he said that.

[@effyoujoebu.idoitmyself.7180]

Texasism

[@ceasursmoke1391]

yall are weird as fuck, that actually made you laugh?

[@stevelee3144]

Incredible thanks for sharing!

[@jnoyes8841]

Making some right now! Stuffed with ground beef, green chilis, cream cheese, taco seasoning, seasoned with Meat Church Honey Hog, and gonna baste them in sweet baby rays sweet hot bbq. Gotta have corn bread and jalepeno poppers too! Thanks for what you do!

[@pzuliomaccavellion9711]

"...more fun than prom night!" ....dude, this recipe is outrageous!

[@chancelebron3975]

yea finger fukin

[@billyrbii]

Just used your recipe tonight for the NCAA Championship game and it was the hit of the night. Thank you for the videos and making me look good!! BTW I used Texas Sugar for the first time and it was excellent.

[@user-wo4gw7hu2p]

Saturday June the 10th. I really enjoy all your information on smoking different things. Love your shotgun shells, made them again today only this time when stuffing them I used my jerky cannon to fill the shells and it worked great. A whole lot cleaner and faster. Thanks for all the info that you share.

[@mvjr7758]

Hatch Chiles are a treasure. Worked near Hatch NM, 6yrs ago & never had them until then... Awesome Chile. Nice touch and good idea !!!

[@bryanstubbins6018]

I'm new to the smoker scene and am enjoying your videos. The prom night reference made me spit my beer out and remember those days so long ago! Excellent job Matt!!!

[@MeatChurchBBQ]

Thanks for being here Bryan!

[@Luis-wg4my]

Prom night 😂

[@chadmiller6487]

LMFAO 😂

[@Grillincoastal]

Best part of the video you beat me to it 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@NaturalSpyder]

Exactly!

[@terrypedersen7]

I wonder if his biggest critic laughed as hard as I did? Lol The cameraman must have a muzzle on not to lose it sometimes.

[@conservativefolk7248]

I started dying laughing at that part and my 8 year old daughter, who was watching with me, really wanted to know what was so funny 😂

[@rdalert447]

Made these for the first time today after stumbling across this video. They were really awesome. Two pounds of meat makes A LOT. Thanks!

[@morals57]

It’s my daughters 8th birthday this weekend and all she wants to do is cook these with Dad! So I can’t wait to try them.

[@markwindholz816]

Hey Matt. Another great video. Love shotgun shells. I've also been making them this summer. I used Whataburger sausage with a little bit of hamburger. Mixed with Philadelphia spiced jalapeño cream cheese, and shredded pepper jack cheese and cheddar. Stuffed the shells and wrapped in bacon. But I used your Holy Voodoo for seasoning. I seasoned the ingredients and the bacon. I also let set in fridge for 4 hours. One thing I did do, I smoked the hamburger and Whataburger sausage, and the cream cheese (separately not mixed yet)for an hour at 150 with cherrywood first before I mixed the ingredients. I also cut a couple pieces of bacon just big enough to cover the ends of the shells and held there by the bacon used to wrap with. This helps keep most of the cheese from leaking out the ends. Then I smoked them in the smoker. They were a huge hit. Everyone was asking me for recipe. Lol. Thanks for another great video.

[@JB-tl3dr]

Great tips, do you pre cook shells or stuff them dry?

[@markwindholz816]

@@JB-tl3dr No precook. Stuff them then refrigerate for 4 hours. That will soften the shells before you cook.

[@JB-tl3dr]

@@markwindholz816 thank you, excited to give these a try

[@markwindholz816]

@@JB-tl3dr let me know how it goes. I hope you enjoy them..

[@ParadigmUnkn0wn]

I split the difference between cooking the pasta and using it dry. I soak the manicotti shells in a bowl of water before making them. No particular time. I do that first and whenever I'm done getting my meat, peppers, cheese, and seasoning together for the filling, I pull them out one at a time and stuff them. That bit of moisture really helps them cook up better in my experience.

[@parisite99]

Great tip! Thanks

[@cephlo1]

but mister meat church said he tried it all

[@bhubbard491]

Thanks for the specific temp and times! Can't wait to make some of these bad boys.

[@peteratkin6151]

Excellent video! We're gonna do these this coming long weekend, probably with some cream cheese in the filling. But, exactly with your method.

[@richhansen8617]

I use a jerky shooter with the snack stick horn, it fits all the way to the end of the shell and fills them fast and perfectly. I also use it for filling pig shots.

[@ChrisSmith-cv1cr]

Same!

[@brada1997]

Nice. What's a pig shot?

[@gmwwc]

I knew there was a more efficient way!

[@Robert-sw1xx]

Didn’t scroll far enough, this is what I came to say!

[@lennywells51]

"More fun than prom night"! LOL!! The recipe looks great. I'll make them soon. Thanks

[@tylerpowell2130]

Love his set up.

[@paulbradley1781]

Love all your videos. Wife loves my ribs better than any restraunt out there. Only comment Matt is that ( and I am sure someone else has sadi this) I don't think Miller Lite qualifies as a craft beer! LOL

[@dandowodzenka8864]

Sure it does, it was 'originally crafted' by a brewmaster when it first came out :)

[@chadpratt]

#MeatChurchBBQ #SmokedShotgunShells Made this for a college football gameday. I prepared them and let sit overnight and the pasta was softened just right. Only criticism I have of using beef, pork, and shredded cheese is the mixture is still very dense. Next time I'm going to try cream cheese. Keep sharing these ideas!

[@MeatChurchBBQ]

Fantastic!!!!

[@MichaelJEmmi]

Try Ricotta!

[@lisaherrera1285]

Wow!!! Im going to try this. Looks absolutely delicious 😋

[@rarad.3793]

I love that you said "take pride in the way you wrap the bacon" Bravo sir! 😊

[@papascruffy]

Nice job man, looks amazing! You're right, could be so many options and thanks for the tips. Do you really remember Prom Night 😂

[@ryanblease]

“More fun than Prom ngt” 🤣🤣🙈🙈 ABSOLUTE CLASSIC!! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 gonna try these! Yum!!

[@bdctrans70]

Since I can't have wheat (celiac disease), I tried making them with roasted and peeled hatch chillies as a carrier. It works great, I cut off the top and bottom of the chilli and put them in the fridge for a while I made and chilled the filling. I pre-made the filling and made them into 5"X2", what I call "free form sausages" on parchment and par froze them for an hour to an hour and a half. I found the cream cheese filling became too runny for this method, but the combination of the hard cheese, chilli ends, meat and spices really hold the shape well. I did use two strips of bacon for each to give it a better structure. Then refrigerate overnight and for a quick 30 minutes in the freezer before putting them in the smoker. Thank you for your version! Another recipe that I can enjoy with a twist!

[@MatthewVikdal]

Love it. I'm going to try this soon.

[@timthompson6109]

I made these for the first time at our tailgate last Saturday, and they were great! The Meat Mitch sauce was the perfect finish! I'm going to give your pork belly burnt ends a try next game!

[@jamesbuck3818]

You're AWESOME. .. Can't wait to try your recipe!

[@jameslast3192]

Never heard of these. Looks amazing!

[@GIBBO4182]

They look outstanding

[@scottboyer8450]

Hatch Green Chile is a religion in New Mexico. They'll have the big propane rotisseries out in the parking lots of every major grocery store, roasting the Hatch Chile and the smell is incredible.

[@georgecook1374]

awesomevid going to try these this summer as we have people over often for swim parties and this will be a nice surprise change up from the normal back yard BBQ foods.

[@EssexCountyPhoto]

Perfect timing, I've just done some for tonight's supper, living in the UK we've added... one teaspoon of Marmite!!!.. And to stuff more easily I've added one soup spoon of avocado oil, worked perfectly. Keep up the good work. 👍🏻🇬🇧🤝🏻🇨🇱

[@stellamariesmithson1431]

I need these in my life. Thank you

[@jeffsharpton1421]

I made some today! Used brisket, shredded pepper Jack cheese, diced jalapeños and a chipotle rub! Came out awesome

[@Wolfparkinson]

#MATT , I made the shells, and I bought some thin bacon witch turned out to wimpy ass bacon for the wrap, in a pinch I basted the exposed ends with butter and all was good! Thanks for the awesome videos!

[@glitzinglam4022]

I just stumbled across this video and these look amazing. Unfortunately, I don’t have a smoker but would love to try these one day! Nice job!

[@bradhamilton8092]

Looks great. May have to try it like that next time I make them

[@kathybiagi]

Such a great job!

[@iumouth]

I used my sausage stuffer with a small enough tube to fit through the manicotti shell…hold your thumb over the end and let the sausage stuffer push the shell off the tube - worked great! These are awesome!!!

[@Wildevis]

Will defintely try these, they look delicious!!

[@richhawley3945]

That dad joke was awesome great video man

[@johnmadden6472]

OMG! I never heard it was more fun than prom night, as I missed out on this maneuver as she was a friend of the family, not that I wouldn't have enjoyed this event, LOL!!!!

[@Husker2828]

Thanks for the videos. I smoked shotgun shells and turned out amazing. First time smoker and your videos help out

[@kurtcameron7562]

Wow! That looks amazing!!!!

[@robertbarger6439]

Can't wait to make these they look so good

[@benhoward7006]

Awesome ideas!! I will try it. I love your channel.

[@genekatauskas6904]

Always a pleasure to watch, explain what you are doing , do it by done🔨

[@brewcrewfishing]

Made these today. Man they are filling! Very good recipe Matt!

[@chattiesmom]

Looks totally awesome and a fun alternative to stuffed jalapenos. On the menu for next weekend when the kids come to visit.

[@jbuckley21]

Awesome video! The other channels also don’t have your humor, you crack me up! Many thanks!

[@beckym5730]

Thank you looks yummy , I will be making this for my grands

[@lamarrbetts3908]

Thank You. Did these for our Thanksgiving Appetizer! Big hit

[@nickiodice1433]

Shells turned out AMAZING! THANKS for all your hard work in making it easier for us! Only thing I have to say is....Sausage stuffer, with the small horn on it worked perfectly, cylinder type, not a screw.... game changer. Makes me want to make them all the time now! Thanks again

[@jasoncarver315]

I used a grinder with the screw and sausage stuffing attachment. Was too mixed but I may have done that when incorporating the ingredients. I added cream cheese that wasn’t quite soft enough and prob over mixed. I didn’t like the texture. I’ve made these a bunch by hand and always great. Do you think if I lightly mix and use the screw grinder it would work and not be mealy? Thanks!

[@kimasp7482]

making these today for the Super Bowl...SO GOOD!

[@rontech1671]

Love it, going to make these this weekend! 😊

[@Chris-fo8wp]

I just prepped these yesterday and did them this afternoon on a Big Green Egg with a couple hunks of Hickory added!! Absolutely amazing!!! I used 1/2 mild and 1/2 hot Italian sausage mix I had left over and combined that with equal portion of ground beef. I think next time I will do 1/2 Chorizo, 1/2 ground beef and definitely more cheddar cheese!! Thanks for a great recipe!!

[@MeatChurchBBQ]

Fantastic Chris!!!!!!

[@Chris-fo8wp]

@@MeatChurchBBQ The chorizo ones came out really good, anytime there is a get together these are requested. Basically if I do not show up with Shells and Pork Shots I do not get let in!!!! Thanks again for a great channel!!

[@Burn_pit_bbq]

Great tips. Thanks for sharing.

[@bobsaurin3258]

Loved the "... like, this is more fun than Prom Night" reference when stuffing the mixture in the pasta tube!!!

[@niagaramike528]

It's a good thing I wasn't in the middle of a swig of beer when he said that. I'd have had to clean my keyboard, desk, monitor, etc.

[@johnlewis6412]

I had to rewind it. The Prom night comment is priceless. I won't be able to make these without thinking about that!

[@mikescherf6469]

new to your channel, just made the shells, just great. thanks, from New Zealand.

[@gleneckert1]

that is awesome.....I need to do these....thank you

[@sroc524]

Can’t wait to try this. Going to try mine by dicing up some cherry peppers for a little sweet heat on the inside.