Description
Crispy Air Fryer Pig Shots are bite-sized appetizers featuring smoky sausage rounds wrapped in bacon, filled with a creamy, cheesy jalapeño mixture, and caramelized with brown sugar for a perfect balance of savory and sweet. These easy-to-make, crowd-pleasing pig shots are crisped to perfection in the air fryer and served warm with classic BBQ sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Base:
- 1 lb smoked sausage (Hillshire Farm preferred), cut into 1/2-inch thick rounds
- 6 slices bacon, cut lengthwise in halves
- 1.5 tbsp brown sugar
For the Filling:
- 1.25 cup cream cheese, softened to room temperature (approximately 70°F)
- 0.75 cup shredded cheddar cheese (Tillamook preferred)
- 2 tbsp minced jalapeños
- 0.5 tsp garlic powder
For the Sauce:
- BBQ sauce, such as Sweet Baby Ray’s, for dipping
Instructions
- Prepare the Sausage and Bacon Wraps: Slice the smoked sausage into 1/2-inch thick rounds, yielding about 24 pieces. Cut each bacon slice in half lengthwise to create long strips. Wrap one bacon strip around each sausage piece with slight overlap and secure with a toothpick. Stand each wrapped piece upright on a cutting board, bacon seam-side down, in the order they will be placed in the air fryer for easy transfer.
- Make the Cheese Filling: In a mixing bowl, combine softened cream cheese, shredded cheddar cheese, minced jalapeños, and garlic powder. Mix thoroughly until smooth and creamy without lumps. If the cream cheese is too cold to blend easily, microwave for 10-15 seconds to soften further.
- Fill the Bacon Cups: Spoon or pipe the cheese mixture generously into each bacon-wrapped sausage cup, mounding slightly on top. Sprinkle about 1/4 teaspoon of brown sugar over each filled piece to enhance caramelization and add sweetness during cooking. Arrange the filled cups upright in a single layer in the air fryer basket, bacon side down.
- Preheat and Air Fry: Preheat the air fryer to 390°F for 3 minutes. Carefully place the filled pig shots in a single layer inside the basket, working in batches if necessary to prevent overcrowding. Cook for 10 minutes until the bacon is crisp and browned, and the cheese filling is melted and bubbly. Optionally, gently shake the basket halfway through to ensure even crisping.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the pig shots from the air fryer and allow them to cool for 1-2 minutes. Transfer to a serving plate and serve warm alongside your favorite BBQ sauce for dipping. Toothpicks make them easy to pick up as appetizers.
Notes
- Use room temperature cream cheese for easier mixing and smoother filling.
- Microwaving cream cheese briefly can help if it’s too cold.
- Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket to ensure even cooking and crisping.
- If needed, cook in batches to maintain spacing.
- Brown sugar adds a caramelized sweetness that contrasts nicely with the savory bacon and cheese.
- Serve immediately for the best texture and flavor.
