These bacon wrapped little smokies have been one of my favorite appetizers since I was a kid! Smoked sausages are wrapped in crispy bacon and smothered in sticky brown sugar. A game day or party must-have!
We’ve always been huge bacon fans. That’s apparent from our love of this Bacon Cheeseburger Pasta, so be sure to check that out for dinner!
Bacon Wrapped Little Smokies
When my mom first gave me this recipe it was nothing more than a few vague directions on a slip of paper. There are only three ingredients to these addictive appetizers, but the first time I made them on my own they didn’t taste as good as hers always do.
So I went back and asked for her secrets and I’m sharing them with you for the BEST bacon wrapped little smokies with brown sugar ever!
Start with cutting the bacon into thirds. If you leave the strips any longer they will never crisp up. There may be a few pieces of bacon left over. That’s ok! Cook them up and save them to add to an omelet in the morning or use it in another appetizer like Bacon Goat Cheese Log or Jalapeño Cream Cheese Dip.
Ingredients you will need for bacon wrapped little smokies:
- 1 pound bacon (not thick sliced)
- (14 oz) 1 package little-smoked sausages
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
Helpful kitchen tools:
Wrap one piece of bacon around one little sausage and place in pan. No need to secure with a toothpick, just place it seam down. As for the pan you use, this makes a big difference.
I asked my mom how she did it and she said she uses a glass baking dish, not a foil-lined baking sheet. To clean up after, she fills the pan with hot tap water and lets it sit for a few minutes. The caramelized sugar dissolves away.
After all the sausages have been wrapped in bacon, sprinkle with the brown sugar. A smaller pan works well for this so the sugar ends up on top of the sausages and not in between cracks and rows.
Next, cover and refrigerate for 1-2 hours. They can be cooked right away if you wish, but they come out 10 times better if you wait! This was my mom’s #1 tip. Letting them marinate makes all the difference in flavor.
When ready to bake, remember to uncover the pan. Start checking after 40 minutes. You’ll know they’re done when the bacon is crispy and the sugar is melted and caramelized.
Want more great game day appetizers? Well, who doesn’t love pizza? Especially in bite-size portions, we all know everything is better in miniature form. These pepperoni pizza puffs are quick, easy & delicious!
Or for a dip appetizer, this warm Crockpot crack dip is a delicious combo of bacon, cheddar, and ranch. It’s only fitting this queso appetizer is called crack dip, it is so addicting!
Bacon Wrapped Little Smokies
Ingredients
- 1 pound bacon NOT thick sliced
- 14 oz little smoked sausages 1 package
- 1 cup brown sugar packed
Instructions
- Cut the bacon into thirds.
- Tightly wrap one piece of bacon around one little smokie. Place seam down in a glass 13x9 dish. Repeat with remaining little smokies.
- Sprinkle evenly with brown sugar. There should be a thin layer over all the little smokies. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Uncover little smokies and bake for 40-50 minutes. Bacon should be crispy and sugar deeply caramelized.
Nutrition
Rebekah Garcia
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Carla Kamp says
So good and easy. Granddaughters loved these. Will definitely be made again.
Amanda Formaro says
So glad you liked them, thank you!
Al McNic says
Can these be prepared & stored the night before?
Cooked the next day?
Amanda Formaro says
I don’t see why not!
Debbie says
I’ve been making these for years & always refrigerate overnight & bake them the next day before serving. They are always the first appetizer to disappear!
Missy says
Will this work with turkey bacon?
Amanda Formaro says
We haven’t tried it with turkey bacon, but I think it should be ok. Please let us know how it turns out!