Equipment You’ll Need
- Hickory Wood Pellets
- BBQ Tongs
- BBQ Gloves
- Camp Chef Woodwind Wi-Fi 36 Pellet Grill
- Yonedas Okami Chef Knife
- You Need a BBQ Cutting Board
- BBQ Basting Brush
Ingredients
- 1 lb bacon
- 2 large sweet onions
- ¼ cup Smoke Show Lightly Smoked Jalapeno BBQ Sauce
- ¼ cup Heath Riles Garlic Jalapeno Rub
Instructions
1. Preheat the Grill
Set your smoker or BBQ to 300°F.
2. Slice and Prep the Onion Rings
Cut the sweet onions into ½-inch thick slices, separating the rings. Lay them out on a cutting board.
3. Wrap with Bacon
Wrap each onion ring tightly with a strip of bacon. Trim any excess — aim for one layer of bacon per ring, with slight overlap since bacon shrinks as it cooks.
4. Season the Rings
Generously season both sides of the bacon-wrapped rings with Heath Riles Garlic Jalapeno Rub.
5. Smoke the Rings
Place the rings on the smoker and cook for 20 minutes. Flip and smoke for another 20 minutes.
6. Sauce and Sear
Increase the grill temperature to 400°F. Using a basting brush, paint one side with Smoke Show Jalapeno BBQ Sauce. Flip and repeat. Continue flipping every 2–3 minutes until the bacon caramelizes and crisps up.
7. Serve Hot
Remove from the grill and serve immediately while the bacon is sticky and delicious.
Quick Recap
- Preheat grill to 300°F
- Slice onions into ½-inch rings
- Wrap tightly with bacon
- Season generously with garlic jalapeno rub
- Smoke for 20 minutes per side
- Brush with BBQ sauce, flip every 2–3 minutes
- Grill until caramelized
- Serve hot and crispy
Helpful Tips and Notes
How Do You Get the Bacon to Stick?
Bacon naturally sticks to itself while cooking. Just make sure the ends are tucked underneath the ring at first — once the bacon starts to crisp, it’ll hold its shape without toothpicks.
Best Onions to Use
Go for large, sweet onions like Vidalia, Walla Walla, or Maui. They’re easier to slice and wrap, and their flavor is milder than sharp white or red onions.
Is This Gluten Free?
Yes! Unlike traditional battered onion rings, these are entirely gluten free and perfect for anyone avoiding gluten or living with celiac disease.
Want to Turn Up the Heat?
Try swapping the sauce for Truff Hotter Sauce, or use Kosmos Q Ghost Pepper Wing Dust instead of the garlic jalapeno rub. Feeling bold? Go full Nashville Hot Chicken style and let your mouth burn in the best way possible.