Ingredients
2 packs thick cut bacon
2 packs manicotti shells, uncooked
1 lb ground beef
1 lb Italian sausage, I use chicken
1 cup yellow onion, diced
2 cups cheddar cheese
6 oz cream cheese
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp black pepper
½ tsp red pepper flakes
1 cup barbecue sauce of choice—I love Stubbs
BBQ Sauce
2 tsp brown sugar
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
½ tsp sea salt
½ tsp black pepper
Directions
Step 1
Combine all dry rub ingredients together and give a quick mix.
Step 2
Add shredded cheese, diced onion, ground beef, chicken sausage (casing removed), cream cheese, seasonings, and 1/4 cup of the barbecue sauce to a large bowl and mix to combine.
Step 3
Begin stuffing the uncooked manicotti shells with the meat mixture.
Step 4
Once all your shells are stuffed, begin wrapping each shell with bacon. I only needed one piece of bacon with Good Ranchers, but with other brands you might need two.
Step 5
Place wrapped shells on a baking sheet. You can also add a wire rack to help them crisp up, but not mandatory. Sprinkle bacon-wrapped shells with more dry rub and brush with BBQ sauce. Flip over and repeat.
Step 6
Place into a preheated oven at 300° for 1 hour. Remove from the oven, flip over, brush with more BBQ sauce and place back into oven for 1 hour.
Step 7
Remove from oven, share, and enjoy!
