These easy Bacon Wrapped Smokies are one of our go to appetizers for parties, holidays, and game day because they’re AMAZING. They are sweet, savory, and made with just a few simple ingredients, which makes them perfect for feeding a crowd.
Years ago my brother’s fiance made this for a family function. We remember thinking that it was the yummiest thing we had ever had, and we’ve been making them ever since. And because they’re so good, the entire family requests them for every gathering (no joke!)
What makes this recipe so good is the combination of smoky sausage, crispy bacon, and caramelized brown sugar. We have made and loved these for years, and it is one of those easy appetizers that never lasts long once it hits the table.
If you love this recipe, be sure to try Beanie Weenies, Cheese Ball, and Crockpot Meatballs.
Why you’ll love it + Why it works:
- Simple ingredients. Just three ingredients come together for a flavorful appetizer.
- Perfect for parties. Bite sized and easy to serve for gatherings or game day. Bacon wrapped smokies are a must for any party we throw!
- Sweet and savory combo. Brown sugar and bacon create a rich, caramelized flavor.
- Always a hit. One of those appetizers that disappear fast every time.
Bacon Wrapped Smokie Ingredients
- Hillshire Farm Beef Lit’l Smokies (2 twelve ounce packages): Provides the smoky, savory base that makes these bites so flavorful and easy to prepare.
- Bacon cold, slices cut into thirds (1 pound): Wraps around each smokie and cooks up crispy while adding rich flavor. Keeping it cold makes it easier to wrap.
- Packed light brown sugar (½ to ¾ cup): Melts and caramelizes in the oven, creating a sweet glaze that balances the savory bacon and sausage.
How to Make Bacon Wrapped Smokies
PREP. Wrap each smokie with a piece of bacon. Secure bacon in place with a toothpick.
SEASON. Place smokies on a baking sheet lined with foil. Sprinkle brown sugar over the smokies.
BAKE. Bake for 30-40 minutes.
Crockpot Directions
Wrap bacon around each smokie as usual and place half of them in the bottom of the crockpot. Cover with about ½ cup of brown sugar. Add another layer of smokies, and cover with another ½ cup of brown sugar. Cook on low for 3-4 hours.
Kristyn’s Recipe Tips
- Add ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (more or less depending on taste preferences) to the brown sugar for a sweet and spicy kick.
- Add a small slice of pineapple or jalapeño pepper to each weenie before sprinkling the brown sugar.
- Baste with BBQ Sauce after baking, and broil for an additional 3-4 minutes until the weenies are sticky.
- Use thin cut bacon so it cooks evenly and crisps up nicely.
- Place smokies on a rack over the baking sheet for extra crispiness.
- Turn halfway through baking for even browning.
- For extra flavor, add a sprinkle of black pepper or a drizzle of maple syrup.
- These can be assembled ahead and refrigerated until ready to bake for easy party prep.
Bacon Wrapped Smokies Recipes
Video
Ingredients
- 2 (12-ounce) packages Hillshire Farm Beef Lit’l Smokies
- 1 pound bacon cold, slices cut into thirds
- ½-¾ cup packed light brown sugar
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and set aside.
- Wrap each smokie with a piece of cold bacon. Secure bacon in place with a toothpick.
- Place smokies on prepared baking sheet.
- Sprinkle brown sugar over smokies.
- Bake for 30–40 minutes, or until bacon is cooked as you prefer.
Notes
- Add ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (more or less depending on taste preferences) to the brown sugar for a sweet and spicy kick.
- Add a small slice of pineapple or jalapeño pepper to each weenie before sprinkling the brown sugar.
- Baste with BBQ Sauce after baking, and broil for an additional 3-4 minutes until the weenies are sticky.
- Use thin cut bacon so it cooks evenly and crisps up nicely.
- Place smokies on a rack over the baking sheet for extra crispiness.
- Turn halfway through baking for even browning.
- For extra flavor, add a sprinkle of black pepper or a drizzle of maple syrup.
- These can be assembled ahead and refrigerated until ready to bake for easy party prep.
- Crockpot directions. Wrap bacon around each smokie as usual and place half of them in the bottom of the crockpot. Cover with about ½ cup of brown sugar. Add another layer of smokies, and cover with another ½ cup of brown sugar. Cook on low for 3-4 hours.
To reheat leftovers, put them in the oven for 20 minutes at 325°F. For smaller amounts, microwave them for 20 seconds at a time until heated through. Make ahead of time. These smokies can be prepared through Step 4 up to 24 hours in advance. Simply cover and place in the refrigerator until ready to bake. Increase the bake time if needed to cook the bacon through.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe FAQ
Place leftovers on a baking sheet and freeze them for a couple of hours, then transfer them to a freezer bag (this prevents them from sticking together in the bag). They can be stored in the freezer for 1-2 months.
To reheat leftovers, put them in the oven for 20 minutes at 325°F. For smaller amounts, microwave them for 20 seconds at a time until heated through.
These smokies can be prepared through Step 4 up to 24 hours in advance. Simply cover and place in the refrigerator until ready to bake. Increase the bake time if needed to cook the bacon through.
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This recipe was first shared December, 2013.
These are so easy to make and always gone, no matter what true if gathering I take them to. Thank you.
Everyone goes crazy for these! I did pre-cook the bacon a bit in the micrwave so it took a little less time to bake. (Limited oven time where I served them). Disappeared quickly. Minimal prep time too.
These were a hit at Thanksgiving. Thank you for sharing.
Great recipes
Awesome
These are soooo good.
Made these for New Years Eve they we’re good couldn’t stop eating them. If you have several people better double up. Thanks for this recipe.
Delightful!! Crowd favorite!!🙌🏻
Could you air fry these? If so what temp and time?
You bet! I’d say probably at 350 for 5-10 minutes, depending on how cooked you like your bacon.
No baking temperature mentioned
It’s listed down on the recipe card with the instructions. 🙂 Preheat oven to 325.
The best appetizer ever!! I take these to every get together, they’re always a hit!!
These were a huge hit at Thanksgiving. My picky eater kids won’t eat Turkey but they devoured these!
These are the best. Everyone loves these! Perfect for New Year’s
I bring these to every get together everyone LOVES them and they are so easy!!
These are amazing…I don’t always put the brown sugar on them, so they’re more savory.
These are amazing!!! Our new favorite appetizer ❤️
Glad to hear that!! These are my favorite! Thank you!
These are a must at any gathering we have! They are usually gone within minutes! So tasty!
Anything wrapped in bacon is delicious! Such a simple appetizer to put together for any party.
These sound delicious! Are they still good without the brown sugar and if I use the lil smokies with cheddar?
I haven’t left the brown sugar off, but smokies alone are delicious, so I am sure they will be good 🙂
Tried these for thanksgiving! OMG!!! They were gone in less than 15 minutes! https://greensowing.vn/ Love them!
That’s what I love to hear! Thank you for sharing that!
Trying these today on the crockpot. Hope they turn out delish!
Delicious, simple and quick. Who doesn’t love bacon.
One of our family favorites!
Two of my hubby’s favs together…couldn’t be more perfect!
These are delicious!!! They always go first at parties.
Tried these for thanksgiving! OMG!!! They were gone in less than 15 minutes! Love them!
Love these for Christmas parties. Perfect amount of sweet and savory.
So delicious! One of our favorite holiday appetizers!
Bacon – what else do you need in your life!
Bacon – how can you go wrong!
One of the best appetizers!!
Quick, easy, delish!
Delish!
These are the best!!!
Quick, easy, and delish! Total winner!!
We have made these many times. Always on new years eve. Yum!
These little appetizers are a big hit with my family! I love the salty and sweet taste.
These were so good and easy to make! My kids loved them and ate them up!
I have been looking for a great New Year’s Eve snack. I can’t wait to try this one out. The recipe looks really easy to follow.
So easy and always a hit at my work potluck!
These were a hit at our adult Christmas party.
These are delicious! Super easy to make which is a huge plus!!
I have made these several times and they are always a crowd pleaser. Easy.Fast. Delicious.
So good!
Go to appetizer that the whole family loves!
These are such a great but easy party snack! They cook up so well and the flavors are great.
We love these at our house!
These are the best! Always the first thing to go when I take to a party! Plan on making again for New Years.
No better combo and a crowd pleaser
I would like to bake these the night before Thanksgiving, and serve them on my app table in an electric frypan on warm to keep them hot. Do you think this will work? And how long prior should i set them up and at what temp would you recommend? I just don’t have any more crockpots to use.
I personally haven’t tried that. You could keep them in a crock pot on the warm setting or possibly on low.
LOOKS REALLY AMAZING AND DELICIOUS THANKS FOR RECIPE 🙂
You are so welcome! They are! Hope you think so, too 🙂 Thank you!
Are you suppose to use toothpicks if you’re using the slow cooker instead of the oven?
Yes, the toothpicks secure the bacon & are perfect for picking up 🙂
My boys are so excited about these!! LIl smokies and BACon together= YUMMY. thanks for the recipe!
These are the best tasty appetizer EVER!
I first has these about 15 years ago at a Bridal brunch. Ive always wanted to make them but wasnt sure on the cook time. Thanks for sharing the recipe!
These little appetizers never last in our house! They are so good!!!
We can never make enough of these! There always The first to go and have the best taSte ever. You can make these ahead of time too. An added plus in my opionion.
Made these for christmas eve and they were a huge hit. Not one was left on the plate after the party.
One of my favorite appetizers! So easy and so much flavor
These are a classic and i also come Back to your recipe when making these. So good!
My husband’s favorite thing ever!
These are the tastiest little appetizers! Anything wrapped in bacon is the bomb! We made these for New Year’s & they were gone so fast!
New Years Eve is my favorite because we get to eat all the yummy appetizer’s! These bacon wrapped smokies were amazing!!
We love these for New Year’s!! Thank you!
these are the best! late comer to trying them and now this Christmas day will be the 3rd time in December 2018. used them as appetizers twice and once as a treat to go along with a potato bar. delicious!!! if you have not tried them go for it and you will be the hit of the gathering. they a definitely best warm or hot.
Thanks for sharing that!! I know what you mean..we make them quite a bit!
One of the best recipe. I really want to try this in my kitchen.It will be the very delicious snacks.
Yes, you need to! It’s the best appetizer or snack! So yummy!!
I had these at a party a couple of years ago and yes they are just that good. I have not been able to get them out of mind since. I have bought everything and will be making them for Christmas! I am so excited.
Aren’t they the best! I’m glad you have the recipe now 🙂
Thank you for sharing the recipe! I’ll have a small party this weekend, these Smokies will be a great dish.
You are so welcome! They will be a hit! Have fun!
Plan on taking this to a potluck party, They will sit out about 2 hrs by the time i make them and arrive. can they be eaten cold. Or is this a bad idea. plz help
They definitely taste better warm. You could keep them in a crock pot on the warm setting, so they don’t get cold or a low setting. Hope that helps!! They’ll be a hit!
Can you make these up,the night before and then just put in the oven in the morning
You sure could 🙂
A winter holiday gathering is not the same without these little meat candy pops. They are a labor of love.
I bake them on a disposable broiler pan at 375 for 25 minutes. Using a baster to remove the fat and melted sugar, I then reapply the melted sugar and bake again for another 25 minutes. Repeat this process a few times until most of the fat is rendered off and you are left with a deliciously gooey meat candy.
We call these Pig Candy! Easy and delicious.
That’s a great name for them!!! 🙂
I think I would love these more than the crescent roll wrapped ones! YUM!
Oh man, I haven’t tried the crescent roll ones… better go find that recipe! 😉
Well I’m convinced I need to try these! We always have snack night for dinner around the holidays and being the bacon loving family that we are, I suspect these we be the first thing to get eaten!
You will have to let me know how you like them. They are seriously SO good!