Pineapple Cream Cheese Pig Shots
On August 31, 2020 (Updated May 11, 2024)
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These Pineapple Cream Cheese Pig Shots are the perfect appetizer for holiday dinner parties and potluck summer BBQs. Everybody loves a good appetizer and when that appetizer includes bacon, well, let’s just say you’d better make a double batch just to be safe. These pig shots are beyond tasty and won’t last long.
What are Pig Shots?
In a nutshell, pig shots are like a little BBQ shot of pork goodness. I don’t know the true origin of the “Pig Shot” as a recipe. I searched deep into the underbelly of the internet yesterday and found some pretty awesome versions (like these guys with green chiles and cheese), but I couldn’t determine who created them originally. Maybe pig shots are just one of those BBQ recipes that have become common intellectual property, like Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers or 3-2-1 Ribs.
Wherever they came from, I am grateful, because these little bites of heaven are going to be a permanent fixture at our BBQ spreads from here on out.
Smoked Pig Shots
These pig shots are small rounds of sausage wrapped up in bacon to form perfect little shot glasses of meat. (Just being able to write that sentence means that I officially have the best job in the universe.) Our meaty shot glasses are filled with a sweet and savory filling of cream cheese, pineapple, and brown sugar. YUM!
Next, each cup gets a pineapple topping and a gorgeous dusting of my Homemade Sweet Rub. If you’ve been around a while, you know this rub is my go-to rub for a ton of my recipes and I keep it on hand at all times. I recommend you make a big batch and do the same! You can also save yourself some time and purchase this rub (plus many of my other award-winning rubs and sauces) pre-made from Patio Provisions.
How to Make Pineapple Cream Cheese Pig Shots
Ready to make your own amazing pig shots? Follow the instructions below, and scroll to the bottom of the page for a full printable recipe.
- Assemble the “shot glasses.” Slice sausage into 1/2-inch thick rounds, and wrap each slice of sausage with half a slice of bacon. Season with a few sprinkles of Sweet Rub.
- Fill the shots. Beat together cream cheese, brown sugar, and pineapple chunks in a bowl. Pipe the pineapple cream cheese mixture into the “shot glasses.” Top with additional crushed pineapple and extra Sweet Rub.
- Smoke. After the assembly process, these bites get lots of love from my grill. I cook these over indirect heat in my Camp Chef pellet grill, but you can cook them on any indirect grill you like. I recommend using fruit or hardwoods like apple, cherry, hickory or maple to add smoke to these beauties.
- Serve. Allow the pig shots to cool slightly before serving warm.
Tips for Making Pig Shots
Before you dive into this recipe, here are a few tips I’ve found help the process of making these appetizers that much easier.
- Use thick cut bacon. The thick cut stuff stands up better on the smoker and holds all the filling in good and tight.
- Don’t forget the toothpicks! I recommend using a toothpick or two to secure the bacon. Remember how many you used so you can remove them prior to serving them to your guests.
- Assemble on a flat cooling rack (like you use for cookies). Use a flat cooling rack to assemble your pig shots. This makes it easier to get them on and off the smoker.
There you have it! You should be good to go! Make sure to scroll below to leave me a comment after you make these bad boys. I’d love to hear how they turned out for you!
Can You Make Pig Shots in the Oven?
Pineapple cream cheese pig shots are excellent on the smoker, but if you are holed up inside for the winter or you don’t have a smoker you can make these in the oven as well.
To cook these pig shots in the oven, simply follow the time and temperature instructions in the recipe below. Keep an eye on the pig shots as they cook to make sure they don’t burn.
More BBQ Bacon Recipes
Bacon, man. It’s a glorious addition to any grilled or smoked meat (and it tastes pretty darn good on its own, too!). For more awesome bacon recipes from Hey Grill Hey, check out these links below:
Pineapple Cream Cheese Pig Shots Recipe
Pineapple Cream Cheese Pig Shots
Video
Ingredients
- 1 package smoked pork sausage or kielbasa
- 2 8 oz packages cream cheese softened
- 1 cup crushed pineapple
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 Tablespoons Signature Sweet Rub
- 1 pound bacon cut in half width wise
Instructions
- Preheat the smoker. Preheat your smoker to 300 degrees F. This method is also adaptable for the oven if you don't own a smoker. Simply preheat to the same temperature.
- Make the pig "shot glasses." Slice the sausage into 1/2 inch thick rounds. Wrap each slice of sausage with a half of a slice of bacon so it forms a little "shot glass" of meat. Season the shots with the sweet rub.
- Make the pineapple cream cheese filling. In a medium bowl, beat together the cream cheese, brown sugar, and most of the pineapple chunks, reserving a couple of tablespoons of the pineapple to top the shots with later.
- Fill the pig shots. Transfer the cream cheese mixture to a quart sized zip top bag and snip off the bottom corner. Fill each shot glass with some of the mixture, leaving just a little room at the top. Spoon the remaining crushed pineapple into the top of each shot and season them all again with a little sweet rub.
- Smoke the pig shots. Carefully transfer the shots to the grill grates (or a foil lined pan if using your oven) and cook for 75-90 minutes, or until the bacon gets crisp.
- Serve warm. Serve the pineapple cream cheese pig shots warm with plenty of napkins. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
**This post was originally published in December 2016. We recently updated it with more information and helpful tips. The recipe remains the same.
Is the cooking time correct?
75-90 minutes is much longer than I usually cook bacon on the smoker.
The recipe looks great and I want to try it soon.
Thanks
It’s accurate in my experience!
I followed your timing and it worked out great. Thanks again.
What can I use if I don’t have the sweet rub on hand and wanting to make these?
Really you can use any bbq rub for pork that you can find. My sweet rub is pretty easy to make on your own though! Recipe: https://heygrillhey.com/best-sweet-rub-grilled-pork-chicken/
If you have a rub, look at the ingredients. If there’s no brown sugar, pour out some rub and mix a little brown sugar with it.
Do you use toothpicks to hold the bacon together?
Also, thick or regular cut bacon?
Thank you!
These have never lasted more than 10 minutes at any gathering I’ve taken them to.
How long would you recommend cooking if using electric smoker that maxes out at 275? Thanks!
Until the bacon gets crisp!
Great googly moogly these things are as the kids say, “FIRE”!! Seriously, there’s a perfect blend of creamy sweet cheese followed by the saltiness of the bacon and finished off with a smokey sausage. Make a BUNCH because I bet 3-4 or 20 of them end up in your own mouth! Thanks Susie!
Googly moogly! haha love that!
I’m so glad you like them!
These look yummy! Looking forward to making for 4th of July! Do you use regular or thick cut bacon? Thank you!
Hey Susan!! I’m excited for you to try these!! I just used regular bacon, but you can use thick cut if you prefer.
In Directions #3 it says ‘pineapple CHUNKS’… Prolly ought to leave off the word ‘chunks’?
Great recipe! Plan to make ’em when my son and his family visit NC next week… Thanks
Making this to bring to a NYE party tonight, looks awesome!! Question- you list 1 tsp of salt in the ingredients, but dont see where it’s added in the instructions. Does it go in the cheese mix? Thanks!!
Yes, in the cream cheese mix. So sorry!!
oh my gosh, please don’t be! Thanks so much for the reply and all your inspiration! HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Can you these ahead of time and reheat?
Hey Mark- you can reheat, but the bacon gets a bit soggy after it cools. I would recommend reheating in an oven, not a microwave or you’ll get really rubbery bacon.
Could you better explain the 1/2 thick sausage rounds. 1/2 ” thick or please explain? Thank you.
Hey Paul- I slice the whole sausage into 1/2 inch thick slices. Those act as the base of the shot glasses. If you look closely at the pictures you can see how they sit at the bottom of the cups.