Welcome to the ultimate guide for creating the most irresistible appetizer: Brown Sugar Bacon Wrapped Smokies! This classic party favorite, requiring just three simple ingredients, is an absolute game-changer for any gathering. Whether you’re hosting a lively football party, celebrating a holiday with loved ones, or simply craving a delightful family snack, these sweet and savory bites are guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser. Prepare to amaze your guests with minimal effort and maximum flavor!
Brown Sugar Bacon Wrapped Smokies: The Irresistible 3-Ingredient Appetizer
The story of how these delectable brown sugar bacon wrapped smokies became a staple in our home is quite charming. It all started around Christmas, a time for festive gatherings and delicious food. My sister-in-law, a seasoned host, mentioned that she was already on her third batch of these appetizers, and her teenage boys couldn’t get enough of them. Intrigued, I had to ask for a picture, as I wasn’t entirely familiar with this particular treat.
As soon as I saw the photos and heard her simple preparation method, I knew I had to try them immediately. My first attempt, however, didn’t quite live up to her perfectly glazed bites. I sent her a photo, and she chuckled, explaining that I hadn’t rolled them “in the love.” I had simply sprinkled the brown sugar on top, which, while still tasty, didn’t achieve that signature sticky, caramelized coating. Her secret? You have to generously roll each bacon-wrapped sausage in brown sugar to ensure it’s fully coated. Taking her advice, I made several more batches, perfecting the technique until they were just right – a glorious balance of crispy bacon, tender smokies, and that irresistible sweet glaze.
My husband certainly didn’t complain about the numerous test batches! He happily enjoyed every single one, even the less-than-perfect early versions. These little bites have now officially joined our repertoire of easy, go-to game day favorite appetizers. They’ve also become an annual tradition for my sister-in-law’s family, serving as a delicious incentive for her boys to help decorate the Christmas tree – a tradition I’ve wholeheartedly adopted! It’s incredible how a few minutes of preparation can yield such a delightful and memorable snack.
We’re on a continuous quest to discover and share as many simple, 3-ingredient recipes as possible to make life a little easier and a lot more delicious. This particular recipe perfectly embodies that philosophy, proving that you don’t need a long list of fancy ingredients to create something truly special. The combination of savory little smokies, crispy bacon, and sweet brown sugar is a trio that simply cannot be beaten.
Essential Ingredients for Perfect Brown Sugar Bacon Wrapped Smokies
Creating these sensational appetizers requires just three foundational ingredients. Here’s a closer look at what you’ll need to gather:
- Little Smokies: These mini smoked sausages are the heart of our appetizer. You can find them in various forms, including beef, chicken, or pork. Most brands, such as Hillshire Farm, offer fully cooked varieties that only need to be heated through. Feel free to experiment with different types like mini chicken apple sausages or cheddar little wieners to find your personal favorite.
- Bacon: The crispy, savory wrapper that elevates this dish. Regular sliced bacon is recommended over thick-cut, as it renders fat more evenly and crisps up beautifully around the smokies. You can choose any flavor profile you enjoy, from classic hardwood smoked to applewood or peppered bacon, adding an extra layer of taste.
- Brown Sugar: This is where the magic happens, transforming into a sticky, sweet glaze as it bakes. While light brown sugar is typically used and works wonderfully, dark brown sugar can also be substituted for a deeper, more robust molasses flavor.
Optional Enhancements for Added Flavor
If you’re looking to elevate your bacon wrapped smokies even further, consider these optional additions:
- Spicy Kick: For those who love a bit of heat, drizzle the finished smokies with hot honey, or mix a pinch of ground chipotle, ancho chili pepper, or cayenne pepper into your brown sugar before coating. This introduces a fantastic sweet and spicy dynamic.
- Dipping Sauce: Serve these appetizers with a side of your favorite barbecue sauce for an extra layer of tangy-sweet goodness, perfect for dipping.
Tools You’ll Need for Easy Preparation
To make the preparation of your brown sugar bacon wrapped smokies as smooth as possible, gather these simple kitchen tools:
- 9×13 Baking Dish: A standard casserole dish is ideal for baking. Its size allows for the smokies to be arranged in a single layer, ensuring even cooking and crisping.
- Aluminum Foil: A true lifesaver for easy cleanup! The sticky brown sugar glaze can be challenging to scrub off a bare pan, so lining your baking dish with foil will make post-party cleaning a breeze.
- Toothpicks: Essential for securing the bacon around each mini sausage. While you can serve them without toothpicks, they are incredibly helpful during the cooking process and make for easy serving.
- Measuring Cups: For accurately portioning your brown sugar.
- Sharp Knife: A good sharp knife is crucial for cleanly cutting bacon slices into appropriate sizes.
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Make Bacon Wrapped Little Smokies
Follow these simple steps to create your own batch of irresistible brown sugar bacon wrapped smokies:
Step 1: Preheat and Prepare Your Pan
Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). While the oven heats, line a 9×13 inch casserole dish completely with aluminum foil. This foresight will save you considerable time and effort during cleanup, as the brown sugar creates a delicious, yet sticky, residue.
Step 2: Wrap the Smokies with Bacon
Take your bacon slices and cut them into halves or thirds. The exact size will depend on how much bacon coverage you prefer for each smokie. Generally, cutting each slice into three pieces works well for a good bacon-to-sausage ratio. Wrap a single piece of bacon around each Lit’l Smokies sausage, ensuring it’s snug. Secure the bacon in place with a toothpick.
Step 3: Coat in Brown Sugar and Arrange
Place your cup of brown sugar in a shallow dish or bowl. Take each bacon wrapped smokie and generously roll it in the brown sugar, ensuring it’s completely and evenly coated on all sides. This step is crucial for achieving that beautiful, sticky, caramelized glaze. Once coated, arrange the smokies in a single layer in your prepared 9×13 casserole dish. They should fit perfectly in neat rows.
Step 4: Bake to Perfection
Bake the bacon wrapped smokies in the preheated oven for approximately 30 minutes, or until the bacon is beautifully crispy and the brown sugar has melted into a golden, bubbly glaze. The exact cooking time may vary slightly depending on the thickness of your bacon and your oven’s calibration. Keep an eye on them towards the end to prevent burning the sugar.
Step 5: Serve and Enjoy
Once baked, serve your brown sugar bacon wrapped smokies immediately while they are warm and the bacon is at its crispiest. If you’re preparing them for a party and want to keep them warm for an extended period, you can transfer them to a slow cooker set to a “warm” setting. Be careful when handling, as the glaze will be hot and sticky!
Preparation and Storage Tips
These delightful appetizers are perfect for making ahead, ensuring you spend more time enjoying your guests and less time in the kitchen.
- Make Ahead: You can prepare these smokies up to 3 days in advance if storing them in the refrigerator, or up to a month if freezing. The key is to complete all the wrapping and coating steps but hold off on baking until you’re ready to serve.
- Storage of Leftovers: Any leftover baked bacon wrapped smokies should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They will remain fresh and delicious for up to 3-4 days.
- Freezing Instructions: These are excellent for freezing! After wrapping and coating the smokies, place them in a single layer on a cookie sheet and freeze for a few hours until solid. Once frozen, transfer them to a freezer-safe storage bag or container. They can be stored in the freezer for up to one month.
- How to Reheat:
- From Frozen: When reheating frozen smokies, you’ll need to add about 10 minutes to the normal baking time (bake at 350°F / 175°C for approximately 40 minutes, or until bacon is crispy and heated through).
- From Refrigerator (Leftovers): To reheat refrigerated leftovers, preheat your oven to a slightly lower temperature of 325°F (160°C) and bake for about 20 minutes, or until warmed through and bacon crisps up again. You can also microwave them for a quicker reheat, though the bacon won’t be as crispy.
Exciting Recipe Variations to Try
While the classic 3-ingredient recipe is phenomenal, these bacon wrapped smokies are incredibly versatile. Feel free to experiment with these variations to customize them to your taste:
- Spicy & Savory Twist: For an extra layer of flavor and a gentle kick, mix ½ teaspoon of garlic powder and ¼ teaspoon of cayenne pepper (or a dash of red pepper flakes) into your brown sugar before coating the smokies.
- Tangy Glaze: After baking, brush the hot smokies with a touch of barbecue sauce or ketchup and then broil for just a few minutes until bubbly and caramelized. Watch carefully to prevent burning.
- Tropical Sweet Heat: Before wrapping, place a small slice of jalapeño pepper or a piece of pineapple on top of each cocktail weenie, then proceed with the bacon wrap and brown sugar coating. The jalapeño adds heat, while the pineapple offers a burst of sweet acidity.
- Cajun Style: Infuse a smoky, spicy flavor by mixing 1 teaspoon of Cajun seasoning directly into the brown sugar before rolling. This adds a fantastic depth of flavor.
- Vegetarian Option: While finding a perfect vegetarian sausage alternative can be tricky, you can try using vegetarian bacon and mini carrots soaked in barbecue sauce for a sweet and savory, plant-based alternative.
- Adjusting Serving Size:
- Smaller Batch: If you’re cooking for a smaller group, use an 8×8 inch baking pan. Simply adjust the ingredient quantities proportionally.
- Larger Group: For bigger parties or events, easily double the recipe. You can utilize two 9×13 inch baking sheets or even prepare them in a slow cooker for convenience.
- Sweetness Control: If you prefer less sweetness, you can reduce the amount of brown sugar used for coating, or even skip rolling entirely and just sprinkle a lighter layer on top before baking.
Expert Tips for the Best Bacon Wrapped Smokies
Achieve appetizer perfection with these helpful tips:
- Quality Bacon Matters: Opt for good quality, regular-sliced bacon. The better the bacon, the more flavorful and crispy it will become, truly enhancing the overall taste and texture of your smokies.
- Monitor Cooking Time: Cooking time is flexible and will depend on the thickness of your bacon and your oven’s performance. The key indicator that they are done is when the bacon is beautifully crispy and golden brown.
- Don’t Skimp on the Sugar Roll: Remember my sister-in-law’s advice: roll them “in the love!” A thorough coating of brown sugar ensures that wonderful sticky, sweet glaze.
- Prevent Burning: If your brown sugar starts to darken too quickly before the bacon is fully crisp, you can loosely tent the baking dish with aluminum foil for the last 5-10 minutes of baking.
- Nutrition Information: Please note that nutritional values, including calories, protein, fats, and carbohydrates, will vary based on the specific brands and types of ingredients you choose.
More Crowd-Pleasing Appetizer Recipes
Looking for more fantastic appetizers to round out your party spread? Here are some other favorites that are sure to impress:
- Sausage Cream Cheese Crescent Rolls: Another incredible 3-ingredient wonder, these savory rolls are a true delight!
- Franks Buffalo Chicken Dip: A timeless classic, perfect for football season and beyond.
- 3 Ingredient Ranch Dip: Incredibly easy and endlessly versatile, this creamy dip comes together in minutes.
- Black Bean Salsa: A refreshing and flavorful alternative to traditional tomato salsa.
- BLT Dip: All the beloved flavors of a BLT sandwich transformed into a creamy, scoopable dip.
- Pizza Monkey Bread: Fun, cheesy, and packed with pepperoni, this pull-apart bread is a fantastic appetizer for any crowd.
Explore all our delightful Appetizer Recipes and chip dip recipes for more inspiration!
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Don’t forget to check out our copycat recipes, delectable dessert recipes, and our convenient CrockPot Recipes for even more culinary inspiration.
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Brown Sugar Bacon Wrapped Little Smokies
These easy 3-ingredient brown sugar bacon wrapped little smokies are the perfect party appetizer, offering a delightful blend of sweet and savory in every bite.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Servings: 30 (adjust as needed)
Calories: 131 kcal per serving
Author: Tammilee Tips
Ingredients
- 14 Ounce package Little Smokies (mini smoked sausages)
- 16 Ounce package Bacon (regular sliced recommended)
- 1 cup Brown Sugar (light or dark)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Line a 9×13 inch baking dish with aluminum foil for easy cleanup.
- Cut bacon slices in half or thirds, depending on desired bacon coverage for each smokie.
- Wrap a piece of bacon around each Lit’l Smokies sausage and secure with a toothpick.
- Generously roll each bacon-wrapped smokie in brown sugar until evenly coated.
- Arrange the coated smokies in a single layer in your prepared baking dish.
- Bake for 30 minutes, or until the bacon is crispy and the brown sugar has caramelized into a sticky glaze. Cooking time may vary based on bacon thickness.
- Serve immediately, or keep warm in a slow cooker on the “warm” setting.
Kitchen Tools
- 9×13 Inch Baking Pan
- Aluminum Foil
- Toothpicks
- Measuring Cups
- Sharp Knife
Nutrition Facts
Amount Per Serving
Calories 131 | Calories from Fat 90
% Daily Value*
Fat 10g 15%
Saturated Fat 3g 19%
Trans Fat 1g
Cholesterol 18mg 6%
Sodium 237mg 10%
Potassium 63mg 2%
Carbohydrates 8g 3%
Sugar 7g 8%
Protein 4g 8%
Vitamin A 6IU 0%
Calcium 8mg 1%
Iron 1mg 6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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