Super Bowl Grill Fest: 3 Smoky Appetizers for Game Day
Indulge in a delightful trio of smoked appetizers featuring Z Grills' versatility. Enjoy sweet and smoky Candied Bacon, savory Smoked Sausage Balls packed with cheese and spices, and hearty Stuffed Loaded Potato Skins filled with bacon and melty cheese. Perfect for any gathering, these treats highlight the easy use and consistent results of the Z Grills Multitasker 7052B and Hickory Pellets.
Servings 4
Estimated Total Time 3 hours hrs
Equipment
- Z Grills Multitasker 7052B
- Z GRILLS HICKORY PELLETS or your favorite pellets
Ingredients
Candied Bacon
- 7-12 slices thick-cut bacon
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- A sweet rub of your choice
Smoked Sausage Balls
- 1 package breakfast sausage or a Mild, Sweet or Hot sausage(1Lb)
- 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese I used white and yellow
- 1 cup Bisquick Pancake & Baking Mix
- 1 tbsp chopped garlic
- 1 tbsp Maple syrup
- 1/4 c diced jalapeños
Stuffed loaded potato skins
- 6 small to medium-sized Russet potatoes or a baking potatoes Similar size potatoes works best
- 1-2 cups ounces fresh shredded cheddar cheese
- 8 slices bacon (for crumbles)
- 1/4 cup butter half of a stick
- 1/4 cup chopped green onion
- 1/2 chopped Jalapeno
Instructions
Candied Bacon
- (prep 15 minutes, cook time 30-45 minutes @250-275f)
- Set up the Z GRILLS to 250f
- Lay the bacon strips in a single layer on a flat wire rack placed over a cookie sheet.
- Brush one side with Maple Syrup, then sprinkle with dark brown sugar, then add your favorite rub. Make sure one side is covered.
- Once your grill comes up to temp, 250-275f add bacon middle rack.
- Smoke for 15-20 minutes(all brown sugar should be dissolved. Remove bacon.
- Flip each piece of Bacon and repeat step 2(Maple Syrup, Dark Brown Suger, and a Sweet Rub)
- add back to your Z and smoke for another 15 to 20 minutes,
Smoked Sausage Balls
- (prep 15 minutes, cook time 15-20 minutes @325f internal temperature of 165f)
- Set up your Z GRILLS @ 325F
- Arrange the Sausage balls on a wire rack or baking sheet
- Once that temp is reached, add the Sausage ball's middle shelf and cook till an internal temperature of 165+f is reached approximately 20 minutes
Stuffed loaded potato skins
- (prep 1 hour and 40 minutes, cook time 1 hour and 20 minutes @250-275f)
- set up your z grills @250-275f
- Wash Potatoes, dry them off, brush with olive oil then S&P&G or your favorite rub
- Cook the potatoes @250-275f till an internal temperature of 170-200f is reached.
- Remove and let cool.
- Once cooled, split each potato in half, long ways, and remove the flesh leaving approximately 1/4 inch…
- Add S&P&G or your favorite rub. You can also ass a small teaspoon of butter to each potato half.
- Add each potato back to the grill and cook @250f-275f until tender, approximately 15 minutes to 30 minutes more
- Remove the potatoes when tender
- and your fillings to each potato, Bacon, Cheese, Jalapeno, and Green onion.
- add back to the z and cook for approximately 15 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
- remove and enjoy!
Video
Notes
![Glistening candied bacon strips coated with brown sugar and maple syrup on a grill rack, cooked using a Z Grills pellet grill with hickory pellets.](https://blog.zgrills.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Screenshot-2025-02-06-081401-300x167.png)
![Succulent candied bacon strips glistening with a glaze of maple syrup and brown sugar, smoked on a Z Grills pellet grill.](https://blog.zgrills.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Screenshot-2025-02-06-075852-300x163.png)
![A gloved hand holds up a slice of freshly grilled candied bacon, showcasing its golden-brown sugar crust, with smoked sausage balls and loaded potato skins in the background.](https://blog.zgrills.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Screenshot-2025-02-06-082243-300x201.png)
![Golden and crispy smoked sausage balls with melted cheddar cheese, prepared on a Z Grills pellet grill using hickory pellets.](https://blog.zgrills.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Screenshot-2025-02-06-075905-300x163.png)
![Checking the temperature of smoked sausage balls on a Z Grills pellet grill, showing perfect doneness.](https://blog.zgrills.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Screenshot-2025-02-06-081959-300x171.png)
![Close-up of a smoked sausage ball held in a gloved hand, with loaded potato skins in the background, prepared on a Z Grills pellet grill.](https://blog.zgrills.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Screenshot-2025-02-06-082324-300x189.png)
![Half-scooped potato skins brushed with olive oil and seasoned with salt and pepper, ready for grilling on a tray.](https://blog.zgrills.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Screenshot-2025-02-06-081826-300x168.png)
![Stuffed potato skins loaded with bacon, green onions, and mixed cheese on a baking tray, prepped for grilling](https://blog.zgrills.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Screenshot-2025-02-06-081927-300x168.png)
![Close-up view of a hand holding a loaded potato skin filled with melted cheddar cheese, bacon bits, and green onions, cooked on a Z Grills pellet grill.](https://blog.zgrills.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Screenshot-2025-02-06-082410-300x181.png)
![An array of grilled Super Bowl appetizers on a serving platter, featuring candied bacon, smoked sausage balls, and stuffed loaded potato skins.](https://blog.zgrills.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Screenshot-2025-02-06-082133-300x183.png)
Cost: 32
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Keyword: bacon