Bacon Wrapped Smokies with Brown Sugar and Butter (Easy Little Smokies Recipe)
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These bacon wrapped smokies with brown sugar and butter are the ultimate sweet and salty party appetizer. Little smokies are wrapped in bacon, coated in a buttery brown sugar glaze, and baked in the oven until the bacon turns perfectly crispy and caramelized.
Table of contents
- Why I Love This Recipe
- What Are Little Smokies?
- Ingredients for Bacon Wrapped Smokies
- How to Make Bacon Wrapped Smokies in the Oven
- Tips for the Best Bacon Wrapped Smokies
- Can You Make Bacon Wrapped Smokies Ahead of Time?
- How to Store Leftover Bacon Wrapped Smokies
- A Classic Holiday Appetizer
- Frequently Asked Questions
- More Crowd-Favorite Appetizers
This bacon wrapped little smokies recipe is one of the easiest appetizers you can make for holidays, game day, potlucks, or family gatherings. With just a few ingredients and about 40 minutes, you’ll have a tray of irresistible bacon wrapped smokies that disappear fast.
Why I Love This Recipe
This is one of those classic recipes that shows up at holiday parties and football watch parties because everyone loves it.
The combination of smoky sausage, crispy bacon, and buttery brown sugar glaze creates the perfect balance of sweet, salty, and savory flavors.
Even better, this bacon wrapped smokies recipe only uses a handful of simple ingredients and bakes entirely in the oven, so it’s easy to make for a crowd.
If you need a simple appetizer that people will rave about, these bacon wrapped little smokies with brown sugar and butter are always a hit.
What Are Little Smokies?
Little smokies are small smoked sausages that are often served as appetizers. They are sometimes called:
- cocktail sausages
- cocktail weenies
- mini smoked sausages
No matter what you call them, they are perfect for making bacon wrapped smokies in the oven because their small size cooks quickly and evenly.
Ingredients for Bacon Wrapped Smokies
You only need a few simple ingredients to make this recipe.
Lit’l Smokies Smoked Sausages
These small smoked sausages are the star of the recipe and give the appetizer its classic smoky flavor.
Bacon
Regular sliced bacon works best because it wraps easily around the little smokies.
Butter
Melted butter helps create the rich glaze and helps the brown sugar caramelize.
Brown Sugar
Brown sugar adds sweetness and creates the sticky caramel coating that makes these bacon wrapped smokies so irresistible.
How to Make Bacon Wrapped Smokies in the Oven
Making bacon wrapped smokies with brown sugar and butter in the oven is incredibly simple.
First, preheat your oven to 350°F.
Cut each slice of bacon into thirds. Wrap a piece of bacon around each little smokie sausage and secure it with a toothpick.
Place the bacon wrapped smokies in a single layer in a glass or metal baking dish.
In a small bowl, stir together the melted butter and brown sugar. Spoon the brown sugar butter mixture over the wrapped sausages.
Bake the bacon wrapped smokies for about 20 minutes, until the bacon begins to cook.
Turn the oven to broil and broil for 3–5 minutes until the bacon becomes crispy and the brown sugar glaze caramelizes.
Watch carefully during broiling so the sugar does not burn.
Tips for the Best Bacon Wrapped Smokies
Use regular bacon instead of thick cut.
Thick bacon takes longer to cook and may not crisp up as well.
Line your pan if you want easier cleanup.
The brown sugar glaze can become sticky as it caramelizes.
Watch closely when broiling.
Brown sugar can burn quickly under the broiler.
Can You Make Bacon Wrapped Smokies Ahead of Time?
Yes! These appetizers are great for parties because you can prepare them ahead of time.
Simply wrap the little smokies with bacon and place them in the baking dish. Cover and refrigerate for up to 24 hours before baking.
When ready to cook, add the brown sugar butter glaze and bake as directed.
How to Store Leftover Bacon Wrapped Smokies
If you happen to have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3–5 days.
Reheat them in the oven or air fryer until warmed through and the bacon crisps back up.
A Classic Holiday Appetizer
Bacon wrapped smokies are sometimes called Santa’s Little Weenies and are a popular appetizer during the holidays.
They’re also perfect for:
- Christmas parties
- New Year’s Eve gatherings
- Super Bowl parties
- potlucks
- family get-togethers
Because they are easy to make and always disappear quickly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Bacon wrapped smokies bake at 350°F for about 20 minutes, then are finished under the broiler for 3–5 minutes to crisp the bacon. The exact time can vary slightly depending on the thickness of the bacon. When done, the bacon should be cooked through and the brown sugar butter glaze should be bubbling and caramelized.
Yes! Bacon wrapped smokies are a great make-ahead appetizer. Simply wrap the little smokies in bacon and place them in the baking dish. Cover and refrigerate for up to 24 hours before baking. When you’re ready to cook, add the melted butter and brown sugar mixture and bake as directed.
Bake bacon wrapped little smokies at 350°F. This temperature allows the bacon to cook evenly while the brown sugar and butter melt into a rich caramelized glaze. Finishing the dish under the broiler helps crisp the bacon and gives the smokies their signature sticky coating.
Yes, bacon wrapped smokies can be cooked in an air fryer. Preheat the air fryer to 375°F, then cook the wrapped smokies for about 10–12 minutes, turning halfway through. Add the brown sugar butter glaze during the last few minutes so it caramelizes without burning.
Little smokies are small smoked sausages that are commonly used in appetizers. They are sometimes called cocktail sausages or cocktail weenies. Because of their small size, they cook quickly and are perfect for recipes like bacon wrapped smokies with brown sugar and butter.
Yes! Cocktail weenies work perfectly in this recipe. They are very similar to little smokies and cook the same way. Whether you use cocktail sausages, cocktail weenies, or little smokies, the bacon and brown sugar glaze will still create the same sweet and savory appetizer.
During the holidays, bacon wrapped smokies are sometimes nicknamed “Santa’s Little Weenies.” They’re a popular Christmas party appetizer because they are easy to make for a crowd and always disappear quickly from the appetizer table.
If you’re looking for an easy appetizer that always gets rave reviews, these bacon wrapped smokies with brown sugar and butter are hard to beat. The combination of crispy bacon, smoky sausage, and caramelized brown sugar creates the perfect sweet and savory bite for parties, holidays, and game day gatherings.
If you make this recipe, I’d love to hear how it turned out! Leave a comment below and let me know if you served these bacon wrapped little smokies for a party, potluck, or family get-together. Your tips and variations might help another reader make the recipe even better!
Brown Sugar Bacon-Wrapped Smokies
Ingredients
- 1 pkg, 12 oz Hillshire Farms Beef Lit’l Smokies Smoked Sausages
- 1 pkg, 1.5 lb Wright Brand Hickory Smoked Bacon
- ½ cup butter, melted
- 1 cup light brown sugar
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Cut bacon into thirds. Wrap each Lit’l Smokie with a piece of bacon and secure with a toothpick. Place bacon-wrapped smokies in a single layer in glass or metal baking pan.
- In small bowl, combine melted butter and brown sugar. Spoon brown sugar mixture over each bacon-wrapped sausage in the baking pan.
- Bake 20 minutes. Turn oven to broil and broil 3-5 minutes until bacon crisps up.
Notes
Nutrition Facts
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More Crowd-Favorite Appetizers
If you love these bacon wrapped smokies with brown sugar and butter, here are a few more easy appetizer recipes that are perfect for parties, potlucks, and game day. These simple crowd-favorite snacks come together quickly and are always a hit with guests.
Kick ass! Soo delish, will be gone in a moment at any gathering!