It’s often said that everything tastes better with bacon, and when you try these succulent sweet and spicy bacon-wrapped pork skewers, you’ll undoubtedly agree! Transforming a simple pork loin into a gourmet grilling experience doesn’t have to be complicated. With just a few staple ingredients and some basic grilling know-how, you can create an unforgettable meal that’s both quick to prepare and bursting with flavor. Whether you’re looking for a swift weeknight dinner solution or a crowd-pleasing dish for your next backyard barbecue, these skewers are guaranteed to become a new favorite.
Table of Contents
- Mastering the Perfect Pork Skewer Preparation
- Essential Tips for Grilling Success
- Grilling the Skewers to Perfection
- The Art of Glazing and Resting
- Frequently Asked Questions About Pork Skewers
- Complementary Recipe Ideas
- Bacon Wrapped Pork Skewers Recipe
Mastering the Perfect Pork Skewer Preparation
The foundation of a great skewer begins with properly preparing your pork loin. Start by selecting a fresh, high-quality pork loin. This cut is naturally lean and tender, making it ideal for grilling when cut into bite-sized pieces. Precision in your cuts is key here: aim to slice the pork loin into uniform strips, then cube them into consistent, bite-sized pieces. This attention to detail ensures that every piece of pork cooks evenly, preventing some pieces from drying out while others remain undercooked. Uniformity is the secret to a perfectly grilled skewer.
Once your pork is cubed, it’s time to infuse it with flavor. In a spacious mixing bowl, combine the pork cubes with a generous drizzle of high-quality olive oil. The olive oil acts as a binder for your chosen seasoning and helps to create a beautiful crust during grilling. For this recipe, we recommend a Dad’s Sweet BBQ rub, which provides a fantastic balance of sweetness and savory notes. If you don’t have access to this specific rub, any high-quality sweet BBQ rub will do. Ensure the pork is thoroughly coated, mixing until every cube is glistening with oil and seasoning. This foundational seasoning layer is what will build depth of flavor as the skewers grill.
Now for the star of the show: the bacon. While many recipes simply wrap bacon around the pork, we have a small trick for better results. Begin by trimming the ends of your bacon strips. The middle, meatier sections are ideal for wrapping. Take each seasoned pork cube and carefully wrap a piece of bacon around it, ensuring the bacon fully encases the pork. As you thread the pork and bacon onto your skewers, pass the skewer directly through the bacon itself. This simple step helps to secure the bacon, preventing it from unraveling or falling off during the grilling process, ensuring that savory bacon goodness adheres to every bite of pork.
Essential Tips for Grilling Success
- **Choosing Your Skewers:** If you opt for wooden skewers, remember to soak them in water for at least 30 minutes prior to grilling. This prevents them from burning and charring excessively over the heat. However, for durability, reusability, and superior heat distribution, metal skewers are highly recommended. They are a worthwhile investment for any grilling enthusiast.
- **Don’t Overcrowd:** When loading your skewers, leave a small space between each pork cube. This allows heat to circulate evenly around all sides of the meat and bacon, ensuring a consistent cook and crispy bacon.
- **Pre-Grill Prep:** Ensure your grill grates are clean and lightly oiled before placing the skewers. This prevents sticking and helps create those desirable grill marks.
- **Monitor Internal Temperature:** For pork loin, the safe internal temperature is 145°F (63°C). A meat thermometer is your best friend to ensure perfectly cooked, juicy pork without overcooking.
Dad’s Seasonings
Must-have grillin’ seasonings for every BBQ master!
Grilling the Skewers to Perfection
With your bacon-wrapped pork skewers expertly prepared, it’s time to fire up the grill. Preheat your grill to a moderate temperature of 350 degrees Fahrenheit (approximately 175 degrees Celsius), utilizing indirect heat. Indirect heat is crucial for cooking these skewers, as it allows the pork to cook through gently while the bacon crisps up without burning prematurely. Place your skewers on the indirect heat zone and let them cook for approximately 20 minutes, turning them occasionally to ensure even cooking and beautiful browning on all sides of the bacon.
Midway through the grilling process, or once the pork is nearly cooked through, it’s time to introduce that irresistible sweet and spicy glaze. Select your favorite spicy BBQ sauce – for an extra kick, consider options like a Tabasco Habanero Jerk BBQ Sauce, though sadly some great products get discontinued. If your preferred sauce is no longer available, or if you simply enjoy the satisfaction of a homemade touch, making your own spicy BBQ sauce is a fantastic alternative. I have a great BBQ sauce recipe on my website that you can easily customize. To amp up the heat, stir in a dash of your favorite sriracha or hot sauce until it reaches your desired level of spice. Liberally brush this spicy BBQ sauce over the skewers while they are still on the grill. Continue cooking for a few more minutes, allowing the sauce to caramelize and create a sticky, glossy, flavorful crust. This glazing step is where the sweet and spicy magic truly happens, locking in moisture and adding another layer of complex flavor.
The Art of Glazing and Resting
Once your skewers have reached an internal temperature of 145°F (63°C) and the glaze has caramelized beautifully, it’s time to remove them from the grill. However, your culinary journey isn’t quite finished. An often-overlooked but absolutely critical step in grilling is allowing your meat to rest. Transfer the skewers to a clean cutting board or platter, cover them loosely with foil, and let them rest for 5-10 minutes. This resting period is vital: it allows the muscle fibers in the pork to relax and reabsorb the juices that have accumulated during cooking. The result is a significantly more tender, incredibly juicy, and flavorful piece of meat. Skipping this step often leads to dry, tough pork, so patience is truly a virtue here.
Finally, with the resting complete, your sweet and spicy bacon-wrapped pork skewers are ready to be devoured! You can either carefully slide the succulent pork and crispy bacon off the skewers onto plates, or embrace the rustic charm and eat them directly off the stick. These skewers are incredibly versatile and pair wonderfully with a variety of side dishes, from a simple green salad or grilled vegetables to rice pilaf or corn on the cob. Prepare for a chorus of compliments as you serve up this delightful dish. Enjoy every mouthwatering bite!
Frequently Asked Questions:
Absolutely! While grilling imparts a wonderful smoky flavor, all my recipes, including these delicious bacon-wrapped pork skewers, can be easily adapted for oven or stovetop preparation. You don’t need a specialized smoker like a Big Green Egg or a high-end Weber grill to replicate the fantastic results. If using an oven, preheat it to 400°F (200°C) and bake the skewers on a foil-lined baking sheet for 25-35 minutes, turning occasionally, until the pork is cooked through and the bacon is crispy. For a stovetop method, use a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat, cooking the skewers in batches until golden brown and cooked through.
For the best results, we recommend using regular-cut or thin-cut bacon. Thick-cut bacon can take longer to crisp up and may not fully cook through by the time the pork is done. If you only have thick-cut bacon, you might want to pre-cook it slightly before wrapping to ensure it gets crispy on the grill.
Yes, you can certainly prep these skewers ahead of time! Assemble the pork and bacon on the skewers, then cover them tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. This makes them a perfect option for busy weeknights or entertaining, as you can simply pull them out and grill when ready.
These sweet and spicy pork skewers are incredibly versatile! They pair wonderfully with classic BBQ sides like creamy coleslaw, grilled corn on the cob, baked beans, or potato salad. For a lighter option, consider a fresh garden salad, roasted asparagus, or a simple rice pilaf. Even grilled pineapple or bell peppers threaded onto separate skewers would make an excellent accompaniment.
Similar Recipe Ideas:
Chicken & Turkey
Bang Bang Chicken
Chicken & Turkey
Grilled Bourbon Chicken
Chicken & Turkey
Spicy Chicken Skewers
Pork
Thai Inspired Pork Skewers
For more mouth-watering grilling ideas, be sure to check out the full Recipes Page!
Below is a printer-friendly version of this irresistible recipe:
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars based on 1 vote
Bacon Wrapped Pork Skewers
By: Maciek Zurawski
They say, everything is better with bacon, and yes that is so true!! Had some leftover pork loin in the fridge and decided to grill some sweet and spicy bacon wrapped pork skewers for a quick and easy dinner.
Ingredients
- 1 lb Pork Loin
- 1 pkg Bacon (regular or thin cut recommended)
- 1 tbsp Olive Oil
- 1 tbsp Sweet BBQ Rub (such as Dad’s Sweet BBQ rub)
- 2 tbsp Spicy BBQ Sauce (homemade or your favorite brand)
Instructions
- Cut the pork loin into strips, then cube the strips into even, bite-sized pieces. Ensure uniform sizing for even cooking.
- In a bowl, season the pork cubes with the sweet BBQ rub and drizzle with olive oil. Mix thoroughly to ensure all pieces are well-coated.
- Trim the ends of the bacon strips. Wrap a meaty portion of bacon around each seasoned pork cube.
- Thread the bacon-wrapped pork cubes onto skewers. Make sure to skewer through the bacon to help it stay secure while cooking.
- Preheat your grill to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175°C) for indirect heat. Place the skewers on the indirect heat zone.
- Cook the skewers for approximately 20 minutes, turning them occasionally to ensure the bacon crisps evenly and the pork cooks through.
- During the last few minutes of cooking, glaze the skewers with your spicy BBQ sauce while they are still on the grill. Continue cooking until the sauce caramelizes, forming a delicious sticky coating.
- Remove the skewers from the grill and let them rest for 5-10 minutes. This allows the juices to redistribute, ensuring a tender and juicy result.
- Serve immediately and enjoy your sweet and spicy bacon-wrapped pork skewers!
Nutrition
Per serving (approximate):
- Calories: 194 kcal
- Carbohydrates: 6g
- Protein: 24g
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g
- Monounsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0.04g
- Cholesterol: 74mg
- Sodium: 154mg
- Potassium: 492mg
- Fiber: 1g
- Sugar: 3g
- Vitamin A: 119 IU
- Vitamin C: 0.5mg
- Calcium: 47mg
- Iron: 2mg
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