Honey BBQ snack sticks are a wonderful and easy to convey food that can be taken to picnics, festivities, or eaten on the go. The harmony of honey combined with the sharpness from grill sauce creates something everyone will love. Here is how you can make your own Honey BBQ snack sticks at home step by step.
Ingredients
For the Snack Sticks:
2 pounds ground beef or pork (or both)
1/2 cup BBQ sauce
1/4 cup honey
1 tablespoon smoked paprika
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 tablespoon ground mustard
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon salt
Optional for heat: cayenne pepper (1/2 tsp)
Optional for preservation: curing salt (1/4 tsp)
Glaze Ingredients:
BBQ sauce (1/4 cup)
Honey (2 tbsp)
Equipment Needed
Large bowl for mixing
Piping bag or sausage stuffer
Dehydrator / oven with drying option
Baking sheet/wire rack if using an oven
Meat thermometer
Preparation Steps
Step One: Mix ingredients together.
In a large mixing bowl, combine ground meat with barbeque sauce and honey along with smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, ground mustard, black pepper, salt and cayenne pepper if desired. Thoroughly mix so that all ingredients are incorporated evenly.
Step Two: Prepare a piping bag or sausage stuffer.
Place meat mixture into a piping bag fitted with a large round tip OR fill a sausage stuffer.
Step Three: Form snack sticks.
Pipe onto dehydrator trays OR baking sheet lined wire racks in long thin strips about half inch thick ensuring uniformity throughout stick thicknesses to guarantee even drying.
Step Four: Drying the snack sticks.
Using a Dehydrator Set dehydrator temperature to 160°F(71ºC). Dry snacks for four to six hours until they reach an internal temperature of160ºF(71ºC)and feel dry .
Using Oven Preheat oven then set it at160°F(71°C).Put baking tray containing snacks inside the oven letting them dry out over four-six hour period while checking periodically until they reach an internal temp of160ºF(71°C)and feel dry when touched.
Step Five: Make the glaze.
While waiting on your snack sticks to dry prepare glaze by mixing barbecue sauce and honey together in a small bowl until well combined.
Step Six: Apply glaze to food item being cooked.(optional)
Brush honey barbecue glaze over top of sticks about thirty minutes before cooking . Return back into the dehydrator/oven where the finished product should be placed back into where it was originally put so as not disrupt anything else around it .
Step Seven: Cool & Store
When fully dried remove from heat source let cool completely before storing away again but this time sealing up tightly within airtight containers at room temp only lasting a week max otherwise refrigerate longer life span potential use if necessary since always best kept refrigerated anyway just saying.
Serving Suggestions
There’s lots of different ways you can enjoy these delicious treats such as:
On-The-Go Snack Quick energy boost during busy days Charcuterie Board Include cheese crackers fruits etc.
Picnic Snack: A delicious and easy snack to pack for a picnic.
Substitutes and Suggestions
Meats: For a healthier alternative, use ground turkey or chicken instead of beef.
Heat Levels: Lower the cayenne pepper if you want less heat, or remove it completely for no spice at all.
Flavor Options: Use different BBQ sauces or add liquid smoke to increase smokiness.
Texture: Increase drying time slightly for a chewy texture, but be careful not to over dry them so they become too tough.
Final Feelings
Honey BBQ snack sticks are an easy-to-make and tasty treat that trusts sweet honey with tangy grill sauce. This recipe is simple yet flavorful enough to make home-based snacks for any instance. Try it out yourself you won’t regret it.
Common Questions
Can I switch up the meat I use in these sticks?
Of course! Feel free to use ground turkey, chicken, etc., whatever you prefer.
How long do these stay good?
If stored in an airtight container at room temperature, this can last about one week but refrigerating will keep them fresh even longer.
Is curing salt necessary?
Curing Salt isn’t mandatory; while it gives flavor and helps preserve the sticks themselves – skip if desired!
What if I want mine extra spicy?
Throw in more cayenne or any other kind of heat seasoning until your taste buds are happy!
I don’t own a dehydrator! What now?
Set your oven low (around 160°F) to achieve similar results as using a dehydrator. Make sure you check on them every now and then though they should dry evenly.