Tasty Cheese Dill Pickle Bacon Shots

You know those moments at parties when someone brings out a dish that makes everyone stop and say “Wait, what?” That’s exactly what happened when my friend Sarah showed up with these dill pickle bacon shots. Growing up, I always thought pickles belonged in sandwiches and bacon was strictly for breakfast. But combining them? That seemed like crazy talk.

Turns out, this weird-but-wonderful combo is actually genius. The salty crunch of bacon wrapped around tangy pickle chunks creates something that’s way more than just a party snack. It’s like someone took two foods that were perfectly happy on their own and discovered they were meant to be together all along.

What Kind of Bacon Should I Use?

For these pickle bacon shots, regular sliced bacon from the grocery store works perfectly – just avoid thick-cut bacon as it won’t crisp up as nicely for this recipe. Center-cut bacon is a great choice since it’s more uniform in shape and has a good meat-to-fat ratio that helps it cook evenly. If you’re buying packaged bacon, look for strips that are fairly even in length and have a good mix of fat and meat running through them. While you could use turkey bacon in a pinch, regular pork bacon will give you the best results since it crisps up better and adds that rich, savory flavor that makes these shots so irresistible.

Options for Substitutions

Need to make some swaps? Here are some handy substitutions for this tasty appetizer:

• Cream cheese: Regular cream cheese works best here, but you can use light cream cheese. Just know the filling might be a bit softer. In a pinch, you can also use Neufchâtel cheese.
• Sour cream: Plain Greek yogurt makes a great substitute for sour cream – it’ll give you that same tangy taste with a protein boost!
• Colby Jack cheese: Feel free to swap this with cheddar, monterey jack, or even a Mexican cheese blend. Any good melting cheese will work well here.
• Fresh dill: If you don’t have fresh dill, use 1 teaspoon dried dill instead. The flavor won’t be quite as bright, but it’ll still taste good.
• Bacon: Regular or thick-cut bacon both work fine. Turkey bacon can be used too, but it won’t get quite as crispy.
• Dill pickles: This is pretty key to the recipe’s flavor, but you can use different styles of dill pickles – whole, spears, or chips all work, just dice them up. Just avoid sweet pickles as they’ll change the taste completely.

Watch Out for These Mistakes While Cooking

The biggest challenge when making dill pickle bacon shots is getting the bacon cups to hold their shape – solve this by wrapping the bacon around the outside of a muffin tin (turned upside down), rather than placing it inside the cups where it can collapse while cooking. Another common mistake is using cold cream cheese, which creates lumps in your filling – make sure to let it soften at room temperature for at least an hour before mixing. The success of these shots also depends on draining the pickles well before adding them to the mixture, as excess moisture can make the filling runny and prevent it from staying put in the bacon cups. For the crispiest bacon cups, pat the bacon slices dry with paper towels before wrapping them around the muffin tin, and bake them at 375°F instead of higher temperatures that might cause burning before they’re fully crisp.

What to Serve With Pickle Bacon Shots?

These savory pickle bacon shots are perfect for game day or party spreads, and they pair really well with other finger foods and appetizers. Try serving them alongside some crispy chicken wings, a plate of fresh veggies with ranch dip, or some warm pretzel bites. Since these shots pack a rich, creamy punch, it’s nice to balance them out with something light like celery sticks or cucumber rounds. I also love putting out some cold beer or fizzy drinks nearby – they help cut through the richness and complement those tangy pickle flavors perfectly!

Storage Instructions

Keep Fresh: These tasty pickle bacon shots are best enjoyed right after assembly, but if you have leftovers, place them in an airtight container in the fridge. They’ll stay good for up to 3 days, though the bacon might lose some of its crispiness over time.

Make Ahead: Want to prep these in advance? You can make the cream cheese filling mixture up to 2 days ahead and store it in the fridge. When you’re ready to serve, just cook the bacon cups fresh and fill them with your pre-made mixture. This way, you’ll get that perfect crispy bacon texture!

Serve: If you’re taking these to a party, they’re best assembled on-site or just before serving. The filling can be transported separately in a sealed container, and the bacon cups can be carried in another container. This keeps everything fresh and crispy until it’s time to eat!

Preparation Time	15-20 minutes
Cooking Time	40-45 minutes
Total Time	55-65 minutes
Level of Difficulty	Easy

Estimated Nutrition

Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):

• Calories: 1400-1600
• Protein: 50-60 g
• Fat: 120-130 g
• Carbohydrates: 15-20 g

Ingredients

For the filling:

• 1 tbsp fresh dill (finely chopped)
• 1 tbsp pickle brine (from the pickle jar)
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 8 oz cream cheese (softened at room temperature)
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup diced dill pickles
• 1 cup shredded Colby Jack cheese (I prefer Sargento Co-Jack for shredding)

For the bacon shots:

• 12 slices bacon (medium-thick cut for best results)

For the optional topping:

• hamburger pickle slices (for garnish)
• extra chopped dill

Step 1: Preheat the Oven and Prepare the Muffin Tin

Start by preheating your oven to 375°F (190°C).

While the oven is heating, lightly grease a mini muffin tin.

Set the prepared tin aside for later use.

Step 2: Prepare the Filling

In a mixing bowl, add softened cream cheese and beat it until it becomes light and fluffy.

Then, incorporate the sour cream, diced pickles, shredded cheddar cheese, garlic powder, pickle juice, and fresh dill.

Mix all the ingredients together until they are evenly combined and smooth.

Set the filling mixture aside.

Step 3: Prepare the Bacon Strips

Take 12 strips of bacon and cut each one in half lengthwise, giving you 24 bacon strips.

Lay these strips out flat on a clean workspace, ready for the next step.

Step 4: Assemble the Bacon Roll-Ups

Take about 1 tablespoon of the prepared filling and place it at the end of a bacon strip.

Roll the bacon up around the filling, creating a neat bacon roll-up.

Repeat this process using all 24 bacon pieces to create the roll-ups.

If desired, secure each roll-up with a toothpick to ensure they hold their shape during baking.

Step 5: Bake the Roll-Ups

Place each bacon roll-up into a slot in the prepared mini muffin tin, positioning them right side up.

Transfer the muffin tin to the preheated oven and bake for 40-45 minutes, or until the bacon is cooked through and crispy to your liking.

Step 6: Cool, Garnish, and Serve

Once baked, allow the roll-ups to cool in the muffin tin for 3-5 minutes.

Then, use tongs to carefully remove them from the pan and arrange them on a serving dish.

Garnish the roll-ups with a sprinkle of chopped fresh dill and a slice of hamburger dill pickle on top.

Serve the bacon roll-ups warm and enjoy!