Cooking with Ruth

Cooking & Food Science Lesson Plan 

Who doesn’t love food? It’s fun to make, it’s fun to eat, it’s fun to study. That’s right! There is a lot of science that goes into the everyday foods that you love. Explore questions such as how baking ingredients work, how and why certain ingredients mix well together, and why people’s tastes differ. Teaching consumers how to cook is one of the best things you can do to prepare them for independent living. 

Lesson 24 

Shotgun Shells 

Prep Time: 30 minutes  Cook Time: 2 hours 10 minutes Servings: 20 servings 

WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS OVEN BAKED SHOTGUN SHELLS RECIPE 

• It’s a hearty, delicious appetizer recipe that everyone loves, and it goes quickly when served. 
• It’s oven baked which is great for those who don’t own a smoker. 

• It features noodles stuffed with ground beef, sausage, cheese, and more that are wrapped in bacon, basted with sauce, and baked to crispy perfection. 

SHOTGUN SHELLS RECIPE INGREDIENTS 

You’ll only need a few simple ingredients to make this dish. Everything is readily available at your local grocery store. This recipe definitely doesn’t use anything fancy! The actual measurements are in the recipe card at the bottom of the post. 

INGREDIENTS: 

• Manicotti noodles 

• Ground beef 
• Hot Italian sausage 
• Onion 
• Colby jack cheddar cheese 
• Cream cheese 

• Jalapeno 
• Slap Ya Mama seasoning(Cajun seasoning) 
• Garlic powder 
• Black pepper 
• Red pepper flakes(optional) 

• Bacon 
• Barbecue sauce 

HOW TO MAKE THIS BAKED SHOTGUN SHELLS RECIPE 

STEP 1: PREP 

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees and line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Place a wire rack on top of the baking sheet and set aside. 

STEP 2: MAKE THE FILLING 

Combine all the ingredients except for the bacon and extra barbecue sauce. 

STEP 3: STUFF THE SHELLS 

Gently stuff the manicotti with the mixture from both ends, making sure the noodles are completely stuffed with no air pockets. 

STEP 4: WRAP 

Wrap bacon around each stuffed shell, covering all parts of the shell, including the ends. You may need two slices of bacon. 

STEP 5: BAKE 

Brush extra barbecue sauce over both sides of the stuffed, bacon wrapped shells, place on the prepared baking rack, and bake for 60 minutes. Then, flip the shells, add more barbecue sauce, and bake for another 60-70 minutes or until the bacon is nice and crispy.  

NOTES: 

*If you want to boil the shells first, boil them for 2-3 minutes. Drain, rinse and make sure the shells hold their shape. If you see that some have collapsed, gently open them up, if possible. 

SHOTGUN SHELLS RECIPE TIPS 

• There is no need to boil the manicotti. The moisture from the meat filling and the fat from the bacon are enough to cook the noodles. 
• It’s actually easier to stuff the manicotti if it hasn’t been cooked. 
• Be gentle when stuffing the manicotti so you don’t crack the noodles. 
• You can boil the shells for 2-3 minutes only, if desired, then stuff them.  

VARIATIONS 

• For a mild version, use mild Italian sausage and omit the diced jalapenos. 
• Use your favorite brand and variety of bacon for this recipe. 
• Use your favorite brand and variety of barbecue sauce for this recipe. 
• Try using mild or hot breakfast sausage. 

• Switch up the cheese and use sharp cheddar cheese, mozzarella cheese or Monterey Jack cheeses. 

WHY ARE THEY CALLED SHOTGUN SHELLS? 

They’re called shotgun shells because they look like shotgun shells.😊 The kind of shotgun shell that most people think of is a red tube, which is pretty much what these stuffed, bacon wrapped manicotti look like. 

SHOULD I BOIL THE NOODLES BEFORE FILLING THEM? 

If you’re extremely worried that the noodles won’t get soft, you can. I suggest only boil the noodles for 2-3 minutes. However, I find that it’s unnecessary, and it actually makes it more difficult to stuff them. 

CAN YOU MAKE SHOTGUN SHELLS IN THE AIR FRYER? 

You sure can! Prepare the shotgun shells recipe as normal until it’s time to cook them. Then, air fry them at 400 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes or until the bacon is crispy and the internal temperature is 165 degrees making sure to flip them half way through. 

HOW LONG WILL THIS OVEN BAKED SHOTGUN SHELLS RECIPE LAST IN THE FRIDGE? 

These will last for up to 4 days in the refrigerator in an airtight container. 

CAN YOU FREEZE LEFTOVER SHOTGUN SHELLS? 

Absolutely. These freeze very well and will last for up to 3 months in the freezer. 

HOW TO STORE AND REHEAT THIS SHOTGUN SHELLS RECIPE 

Store these oven baked shotgun shells in the refrigerator in an airtight container for 3-4 days. For longer storage, freeze them for up to 3 months in an airtight, freezer-safe container. To reheat, place the shotgun shells in a baking dish, cover it with foil, and bake for 15 minutes at 350 degrees.