Bacon wrapped smokies are a classic party favorite, combining sweet caramelized brown sugar with crispy bacon for the ultimate crowd-pleasing appetizer. This bacon wrapped smokies with brown sugar recipe is easy to make, requires less than 10 ingredients, and ready in just 30 minutes.
If you love these easy party bites, you'll also enjoy our sweet and sour meatballs.
Quick Summary
- Fast & Easy: A sweet-and-salty appetizer ready in about 30 minutes.
- Crowd-Pleasing Flavor: Crispy bacon and caramelized brown sugar everyone loves.
- Make-Ahead Friendly: Simple to prep in advance and easy to scale for parties.
- Perfect for Entertaining: Best served warm and ideal for game day, holidays, or kid-friendly snacks.
The first time I made these brown sugar bacon wrapped smokies, my family went back for seconds before I even had the chance to plate them. The combination of sweet brown sugar and crispy bacon is irresistible. Bacon wrapped cocktail weenies are perfect for game day, potlucks, or quick party appetizers.
Hosting a party and need more quick appetizer ideas? You'll love these sweet and savory grape jelly meatballs and our crack corn dip.
Easy Party-Ready Smokies Wrapped in Bacon
There's a reason these smokies wrapped in bacon are always the first to disappear at any party! With minimal prep, sweet and savory flavor, and crispy, caramelized bacon, they're an easy, crowd-pleasing appetizer that's perfect for family gatherings or last-minute entertaining.
Ingredients
- Little smokies: Choose cocktail-size sausages for bite-sized appetizers; bringing them to room temp ensures even cooking and better flavor. We use these in our Crock Pot little smokies recipe as well.
- Bacon: Thin-cut bacon is best for quick, crispy results; regular-cut works too, but may take longer to crisp and caramelize.
- Brown sugar: Provides delicious caramelization and a sticky glaze that clings to the bacon; pack lightly to avoid burning during baking.
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.
Variations
- Maple bacon: Drizzle maple syrup over the smokies wrapped in bacon for extra sweetness.
- BBQ-bacon: Brush with BBQ sauce in the last 5 minutes of baking for extra flavor.
- Spicy Cajun: Sprinkle cayenne and smoked paprika over the bacon wrapped smokies before baking. You can also use our homemade French fry seasoning to layer in a flavorful mix of herbs and spices.
- Lighter version: Swap in turkey sausages and turkey bacon for a leaner take on this recipe without sacrificing flavor.
How to Make Smokies Wrapped in Bacon
These brown sugar bacon smokies are quick and simple to prep, with just a few easy steps, your sweet, sticky, and crispy bites are ready to enjoy.
- Step 1: Preheat & Prep. Preheat your oven to 350°F and spray a 13x9 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. This makes cleanup easier and ensures your smokies won't stick.
- Step 2: Wrap the Smokies. Cut the bacon into thirds lengthwise. Tightly wrap each little smokie with a piece of bacon, placing the seam side down in the prepared dish.
- Step 3: Add Brown Sugar Mixture. In a medium bowl, whisk together brown sugar and black pepper. Pour the mixture evenly over the bacon wrapped smokies, making sure each one gets coated.
- Step 4: Bake & Caramelize. Bake for 40-45 minutes, or until the bacon is crispy, and the sugar has caramelized into a sticky, flavorful sauce. Serve warm with a side of Wingstop ranch dip and watch them disappear!
Expert Tips
- Bacon Choice: Use thin-cut bacon for faster crisping and even cooking.
- Even Caramelization: Rotate the pan halfway through baking to ensure the bacon wrapped smokies brown evenly.
- Extra Flavor: Brush with your favorite BBQ sauce and broil 3-5 minutes after baking for a sticky, caramelized finish.
- Serving Made Easy: Place toothpicks in each bacon wrapped cocktail weenie after baking. This makes them easy to pick up.
- Storing Leftovers: Store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven at 350°F for 5-7 minutes to bring back crispiness; avoid the microwave to prevent soggy bacon.
Party Serving Tips & Ideas
- Keep them warm. Use a chafing dish to keep them hot or serve them in a slow cooker on warm. This ensures they stay the perfect temperature and texture.
- Serving at room temperature. They're perfectly fine at room temperature for up to 2 hours. They get a little chewier as they cool. You can always give them a quick refresh in the oven or air fryer. You can also put them out in batches and the rest in the oven, refilling as needed.
- Parties: Serve these brown sugar bacon smokies as kid-friendly appetizers at birthday parties, play dates, or game day parties alongside other favorites like ham and cheese rolls ups and pizza dip.
- Holiday celebrations & potlucks: They're perfect for potlucks and holiday gatherings when you want something quick, sweet, and savory. Pair them with cranberry brie bites and sausage cream cheese crescent rolls for a tasty spread!
Recipe FAQs
For the crispiest result, use thin-cut bacon and rotate the pan halfway through baking. For extra crispiness, broil 2-3 minutes at the end while watching closely.
Yes, you can absolutely make a big batch for a party! Brown sugar bacon smokies scale beautifully, and the math is easy: plan on 4-5 per person for light appetizers, 6-8 for a typical party spread, and 8-10 if it's game day or you know your crowd loves bacon.
One 14-ounce package of little smokies gives you about 40 pieces, and one pound of thin-cut bacon (cut into thirds) wraps roughly 48 pieces, so it's simple to multiply for larger groups.
The best way to reheat bacon smokies so they're crispy is to warm them in the oven at 350°F for about 8-10 minutes or in the air fryer for 3-5 minutes. Avoid reheating in the microwave since it makes the bacon rubbery.
Absolutely! Prep up through wrapping the bacon on the smokies, preparing the sauce, and pouring it over the sausages in the baking dish. Wrap and refrigerate for up to 48 hours before baking. Remove the dish from the refrigerator and let it sit at room temperature for 30 minutes, then bake as directed.
More Delicious Party Appetizer Recipes
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Bacon Wrapped Smokies
Ingredients
- 1 lb bacon (cut into thirds)
- 16 oz package of little smokies (or small cooked sausages)
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350° and spray a 13x9 baking dish with a non-stick cooking spray. Then set aside.
- Cut bacon into thirds lengthwise. Then, tightly wrap each little smokie with one piece of bacon. Lay the wrapped sausages with the seam of the bacon down in the prepared baking dish.
- In a medium bowl, add brown sugar and black pepper. Whisk until well combined. Evenly pour the mixture over all the little smokies.
- Bake for 40-45 or until the bacon is crisp and the brown sugar has caramelized and created a sauce.
Notes
- Rotate the pan halfway for even baking.
- Use parchment or foil for easy cleanup.
- Add sugar halfway if the bacon is thin-cut to prevent burning.
Nutrition
*All nutrition information provided is automatically calculated and is an estimate and will vary based on ingredients, brands, and changes in cooking methods listed in the recipe. If you need exact numbers on your ingredients, I would recommend calculating them with your prefered nutrition calculator.
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