This smoked Cuban cigar recipe is the perfect appetizer for gameday, tailgating or a backyard cookout. These are a unique twist on a classic: Cuban sandwich-inspired pork chops, which are rolled then stuffed with cheese, pickles and mustard wrapped in crispy bacon and given a BBQ sauce glaze
This mouth-watering dish combines the beloved flavors of a Cuban sandwich into a bite sized appetizer. Perfect for tailgates or watching the Big Game, it’s a sure fire way to score big with your crowd!
Why You’ll Love This Smoked Cuban Cigar Recipe
Wrapped in Bacon; Anything wrapped in crispy bacon is sure to be a tasty treat
Perfect for Any Event: You can serve these tailgating, at a cookout or as a apart of a main course
Impressive yet Inexpensive: These tasty cigars will look impressive but you won’t
Easy to make ahead: If you want to ensure you aren’t spending the day in kitchen instead of with your guests this appetizer is perfect. You can make them ahead of time and have them ready to throw in the smoker when your guests arrive.
What You’ll Need to Cook Smoked Cuban Cigars
- Boneless Pork Chops
- Thin Cut Bacon
- Deli Ham
- Swiss Cheese
- Pickle Slices
- Yellow Mustard
- BBQ Rub
How to Make Smoked Cuban Cigars
Step 1: Prep and Assemble
Use a meat mallet to pound out each pork chop to 1/8″ thickness or as thin of slices as you can cut without the pork chop falling apart.
Spread a thin layer of mustard on each side of the chop, layering ham, cheese, and pickles on top of the mustard.
Roll these ingredients with the chop as tightly as possible, and then wrap 1-2 slices of bacon until the chop is completely covered.
Step 2: Smoke Your Cigar
Preheat your smoker to 275°F.
Grill your cigar for approximately 30-45 minutes, until the internal meat temperature of the pork chop reaches 135°F.
After this, brush each roll with BBQ sauce and cook for an additional 10-15 minutes or until the meat temperature reaches 145°F.
Step 3: Serve!
After the pork chop reaches a temperature of 145°F, pull it out of the smoker.
Let your cigars rest for about 5-10 minutes. Serve with more BBQ sauce or your favorite mustard for dipping.
What Temperature to Smoke Cuban Cigars At
You’ll need to smoke these at a temperature of 275°F.
What Internal Temperature You Need to Reach?
You’ll need to reach an internal temperature of 145°F when smoking cuban cigars to ensure they are safe to eat.
How Long to Smoke Cuban Cigars For
You’ll need to smoke these cigars for approximately 30-45 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the meat reaches 145°F.
How to Store Leftover Smoked Cuban Cigars
If you find yourself with leftovers, you may store them in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
If you’re freezing them, make sure to wrap them tightly in plastic wrap or place in a freezer-safe bag before freezing.
My Fav Wood Chips to Use
You’ll want to use wood chips with a mild flavor such as cherry wood when smoking cuban cigars. This wood will give you a mild smoky flavor without overpowering the flavors of the pork and ham.
What to Serve With Smoked Cuban Cigars
Although this dish is perfect as a snack and can be enjoyed by itself with a nice dip such as mustard or BBQ sauce while watching the game, you may pair it with some side dishes to make it a hearty meal.
Some side dishes to pair these cigars are;
If you’re looking for a dish that’s perfect for your guests to snack on during gameday, this recipe is the way to go for you!
Make sure you assemble these cigars ahead of time if you need to and cook them until the recommended internal meat temperature as mentioned above and you’ll be good to go!
Smoked Cuban Cigars
Equipment
- 1 Smoker
Ingredients
- 2 lbs Boneless Pork Chops
- 12 oz Bacon
- 5 oz Sliced Ham
- 7 slices Cheese, cheddar or swiss
- 7 whole Pickles, sliced thinly
- 2 tbsp Yellow Mustard
- 2 BBQ Rub
Instructions
- Use a meat mallet to pound out each pork chop to 1/8″ thickness or as thin of slices as you can cut without the pork chop falling apart.
- Spread a thin layer of mustard on each side of the chop, layering ham, cheese, and pickles on top of the mustard.
- Roll these ingredients with the chop as tightly as possible, and then wrap 1-2 slices of bacon until the chop is completely covered.
- Preheat your smoker to 275°F.
- Grill your cigar for approximately 30-45 minutes, until the internal meat temperature of the pork chop reaches 135°F.
- After this, brush each roll with BBQ sauce and cook for an additional 10-15 minutes or until the meat temperature reaches 145°F.
- After the pork chop reaches a temperature of 145°F, pull it out of the smoker.
- Let your cigars rest for about 5-10 minutes. Serve with more BBQ sauce or your favorite mustard for dipping.
Smoke On!
Charlie
Hi, I’m Charlie, I have been meat-smoking and grilling for the past 15 years. I have an array of different smokers, thermometers, and have a love for finding the right wood and charcoal combo My favourite recipes are my EXTRA CRISPY smoked pork belly, juicy pulled pork, smoked brisket, duck poppers, and ANY SEAFOOD I grill).
I loves sharing his tips with beginners, helping them navigate the world of smoking. I find it’s not just about cooking; it’s a quest for that perfect smoky flavor.
You will usually find me playing with the kids, perfecting my brisket bark, or sipping beers with boys around the fire. Can’t wait to share all my delicious smoking and grilling recipes with you!
You can read more about me on our About Us page.
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