Disclosure: I was sent Stubb’s BBQ sauce for this Bacon Explosion Recipe post.
It is finally barbecue season! Not only that, Father’s Day is coming up quickly, so what a better time to share one of the manliest recipes I know! A recipe that melts my husband’s heart. The joy that this bacon sausage roll recipe brings him, is like nothing else.
Have you heard of The Bacon Explosion? It is like a bacon meat roll… bacon, surrounded by a roll of sausage surrounded by MORE bacon. How else do you describe it… maybe a bacon-loaf??
However you choose to explain it, it is delicious. And meaty. And hearty. And he’ll love it.
BACON EXPLOSION RECIPE
Making a bacon explosion is not as hard as it may seem. It is quite simple, especially once you get the bacon weave instructions and roll down. It doesn’t take too long and is only a few ingredients.
This famous original recipe that “requires the minimum of culinary talent”comes from www.bbqaddicts.com. We tweaked just a few things, but mostly kept the same.
Ingredients:
2 pounds bacon
2 pounds ground sausage (flavor of choice)
1 jar of your favorite BBQ Sauce and 1 jar of your favorite BBQ Rub or All-In-One Cooking Sauce
Tip: Instead of buying sauce and rub separate, you can also use Stubb’s all natural cooking sauce. This package comes with both sauce and rub in one package. Choose your flavor (original, sweet heat, spicy, hickory bourbon, smokey mesquite or honey pecan). We like the Original or Spicy for the Bacon Explosion. (If you don’t have the authentic sauces, you can use the marinade and rub together – but the sauce package comes with both!)
Directions:
Set up: Grab a large cookie sheet and put a layer of wax paper or foil on top. Make sure your cookie sheet is large enough for the bacon weave when it is spread out.
Bacon Weave: First start by constructing the bacon weave. This will be the base of the bacon explosion. Make sure your bacon weave is tight and square-ish!
Tip: We have used both thick cut and standard. We found the standard size cooked a little better in the smoker and crisped up a bit easier. Your mileage may vary!
Check out this video on how to make a bacon weave.
Beyond Bacon Weave: Next, take Stubb’s spice rub and sprinkle it on top of the bacon. This will give the bacon a light seasoning. Then, take your 2 pounds of ground sausage (flavor of choice) and put it directly on top of your bacon weave. Press the sausage down evenly, across the entire bacon weave.
We made bacon explosion with all kinds of sausage. From Italian sausage, to mild or very spicy. We like all of them – but my husband would probably prefer the spicier the better!
MOAR Bacon: So, were you wondering why you have remaining bacon and what to do with the extra bacon? Now is the time for more bacon! Take the remaining bacon slices and cook them up! Fry them in the frying pan just like normal (soft, mid or crispy… however you like them). Once they are cooled a bit, break them up into pieces. Add these pieces to the top of the sausage. This makes another layer of bacon, can’t go wrong with that!
BBQ Sauce Topping: Last on the layers, add your Stubb’s BBQ sauce. Simply, drizzle the sauce on top of the bacon pieces.
We use Stubb’s because the hubby refuses to use anything but Stubb’s Legendary BBQ Sauce when barbecuing. It is a crucial part of this heavenly bacon dish! (Yes Stubb’s is legendary. They make premium, small batched, all natural barbecue sauce. Stubb’s is based in Austin, TX and they have a tasty line up of authentic sauces, marinades and rubs. If you’ve never tried Stubb’s check them out!)
Then add some more rub seasoning. You decided how little or how much! Do what feels best!
Bacon Sausage Roll Time: Now let’s bring this bad boy together! Very carefully peel the front edge of the sausage layer from the bacon weave and begin to roll the sausage backwards. You want all the layers EXCEPT the bacon weave to be rolled together. You should end up the the sausage roll rolled up tightly on the opposite side of the bacon weave.
Now that the sausage is rolled tightly. Pinch the side seams to seal all of the insides together. You’ll want to pinch to hide all the inside goodness and just see sausage.
Then you’ll take your sausage roll and carefully roll it forward wrapping the bacon weave on top of it as you roll. The sausage roll should fit perfectly inside the bacon weave. End the roll with the seam on the bottom downward side.
Finally, sprinkle on some more BBQ rub on the outside of the bacon weave.
Smoke Bacon Sausage Roll: Cook the Bacon Explosion at 225 degrees in the smoker until the meat reaches an internal temperature of 140-165 degrees. This is approximately a cook time of 1 hour for each inch of thickness. On average, our bacon explosion took around 3 hours. If you do more than one at a time, make sure you add time as necessary!
Serve Bacon Explosion: Lastly, serve your bacon masterpiece by slicing it in 1/2 inch round slices. You will see the gorgeous pinwheel pattern from the sausage roll displayed in every serving. If your Bacon Explosion needs a little more moisture, serve it topped with BBQ sauce.
So delicious.
It is so hearty it will last for many leftovers – that is why Bacon Explosion makes a great party dish or something to share! Isn’t this the prettiest Bacon Loaf you ever did see?
Make Bacon Explosion For…
This Bacon Explosion Recipe is good for: Superbowl parties, football gatherings, Father’s Day, BBQs, Fourth of July events, Family reunions… or anytime you want to impress someone with your bacon skills. I mean making a perfect bacon weave is a skill!