Bacon Explosion
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Get ready to indulge in the ultimate bacon lovers’ dream with this step-by-step guide to making the mouth-watering Bacon Explosion. All we need to say is pork, sausage and cheddar cheese in a bacon weave! Guaranteed to be a hit at any party or gathering!
The name of this dish, bacon explosion, is what drew us to it! I mean, what’s not to love about bacon? Throw it in the smoker and you’ve got something that is drool-worthy for sure. We love our smoked breakfast fatty recipe, and this smoked bacon bomb is kind of similar! And man did it turn out wonderfully delicious.
Loaded with a gooey cream cheese center and covered in a crispy bacon shell, every bite of this bacon explosion is so satisfying. You can get eight servings out of just one log, but it’s a simple enough recipe that you could make multiple at one time if you wanted. Then you’d have plenty of bacon explosion fun to go around at a party! So yum!
Why You’ll Love This Smoked Bacon Explosion
- You only need 20 minutes of prep time to get this dish together. Then just set it in your preheated smoker and wait for it to cook to perfection!
- This is a great unique dish to make when hosting parties. Everyone will oo and ahh over the incredible flavor.
- It’s really easy to make a smoked bacon bomb. Even if you’re not very experienced with your smoker, you can make this 100% success.
Ingredients for Bacon Explosion
- Ground pork – Grab some regular ground pork to mix with seasoning ground pork sausage.
- Shredded cheddar – Make the center of your bacon bomb extra extra cheesy by mixing together shredded cheddar cheese and cream cheese.
- BBQ sauce – You can use a bottle of your favorite barbecue sauce from the grocery store, or you can make some homemade BBQ sauce!
- BBQ rub – Our Gimme Some Grilling BBQ rub is absolutely delicious! But you can also use anything you can find in grocery stores, or even make your own BBQ rub.
- Cream cheese – This is the “explosion” in the name bacon explosion — a surprise cream cheese center. So so tasty!
- Bacon – You’ll need both slices of bacon and cooked chopped bacon. So make sure that you have enough strips of bacon for both.
- Pork sausage – Mix regular ground pork with some pork sausage for the best flavor. For a spicy kick, you can use hot pork sausage.
Helpful Tools
How to Make Bacon Explosion
Preheat your smoker to 225 degrees Fahrenheit. While it preheats, fry up one pound of the bacon in a large frying pan until crisp. Crumble it up and set it aside on a plate lined with paper towels.
Use the basket weave method to weave together the other pound of bacon into a square lattice. Then sprinkle the BBQ rub on top of your bacon weave.
In a large bowl, mix together ground pork, ground sausage, remaining on tablespoon barbecue rub, and the bite size pieces of bacon crumbles. Mix together well, then spread the ground pork mixture over the entire surface of the bacon weave.
Add the cream cheese and shredded cheese to a small bowl and mix well. Then spread it over the sausage layer.
Roll sausage and bacon like a jelly roll into a log shape. Press sausage roll together well around the edges to keep the cheese from leaking out while it cooks.
Place the sausage log seam side down, directly onto the preheated smoker grates. When the internal temperature reaches 155-160 degrees Fahrenheit, use a basting brush and coat the outside of the bacon weave with one cup barbecue sauce.
Continue to smoke the bacon explosion for about half hour, or until the internal temp reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Use a meat thermometer to check the temperature.
Once cooked, let the roll rest for a few minutes and then slice and serve!
How to Store Leftover Bacon Explosion
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. For best results, reheat leftovers in the oven at 350 until warmed through.
Because of the cream cheese center, I do not recommend freezing leftovers of this smoked bacon bomb.
Can you cook bacon in a smoker?
Bacon cooks really well in the smoker, that’s what makes it a fabulous “outer shell” for this bacon explosion with cheese. I even have a recipe for smoked bacon slices that are perfect for breakfast time or any other tasty bacon recipes.
How do you intertwine bacon?
To make a bacon weave, lay down about six strips of bacon side by side, all facing vertically, and fold back every other piece of bacon halfway. Then lay one slice of bacon horizontally across the vertical pieces bacon that are laid flat, and pull the other slices back over.
Then take the opposite vertical slices and pull them back halfway. Lay another strip of bacon across horizontally, and pull the slices of bacon over again. Continue this process until you make a complete weave.
What to Serve with Bacon Explosion
This hearty bacon explosion pairs wonderfully with things like smoked baked beans, bacon wrapped asparagus, and smoked baked potatoes. Basic veggies sides like grilled zucchini or grilled asparagus would be a great pairing too.
Hearty side dishes like smoked potato casserole and smoked jalapeño popper mac and cheese would be fun to serve with bacon explosion too!
Pro Tips for the Best Bacon Explosion
- For the most gooey and cheesy results, shred your own cheddar from a block. Pre-shredded cheese has anti-caking agents that prevent it from melting as well as freshly shredded cheese does.
- If the edges aren’t staying together, then stick toothpicks into the roll to prevent it from unrolling. You can remove them once you’re done smoking the bacon bomb.
- Feel free to drizzle each serving in extra barbecue sauce!
Smoked bacon explosion is such a fun and unique recipe. Loaded with flavor, you’ll love every bite!
More Smoked Recipes to Try!
- Shake things up for your next game-day party and make Smoked Brats! I’m convinced it’s the best way to prepare brats.
- These Smoked Hot Dogs are super simple and have the most incredible flavor.
- Looking for new ways to make classic appetizers? Then you’ve gotta try out this Smoked Queso Dip!
- Smoked Burgers have the best smokey flavor and are a definite crowd favorite recipe.
Shop Our Spices
Shop Now!Did you make this? If you snap a photo, please be sure tag me on Instagram at @gimmesomegrilling or #gimmesomegrilling so I can see your grilling masterpieces!
Bacon Explosion
Ingredients
- 2 pounds bacon divided
- 1 pound ground pork
- 1 pound pork sausage
- ½ cup shredded cheddar
- 8 ounces cream cheese room temperature
- 2 Tablespoons BBQ Rub divided
- 1 cup BBQ sauce
Instructions
- Preheat the smoker to 225 degrees Farenheit.
- In a large skillet fry one pound of the bacon until crisp. Crumble and set aside on a paper towel lined plate.
- Basket weave the other pound of bacon. Sprinkle 1 Tablespoon of the BBQ Rub over the bacon weave.
- In a large bowl mix together ground pork, ground sausage, remaining 1 Tablespoon BBQ Rub, and crumbled bacon until combined. Spread ground pork mixture over bacon weave.
- Mix together the cream cheese and shredded cheddar cheese in a small bowl and spread over the pork mixture.
- Roll the basket weaved bacon with all the toppings on it into a log. Press the edges together to keep the cheese from leaking out during the cook.
- Place the log seam side down directly on the preheated smoker grates. When the internal temperature reaches 155-160 degrees Fahrenheit brush with BBQ sauce.= about 2 – 2 ½ hours.
- Continue to cook until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit. The total cook time is about an additional 1/2 hour. The exact time will depend on how thick your bacon explosion is.
- Let rest for a few minutes, then slice and serve.
Leave a Comment