Description
Brown Sugar Bacon Wrapped Little Smokies are an irresistible appetizer featuring smoky sausages wrapped in crispy bacon and caramelized with brown sugar. Perfect for parties, game days, or holiday gatherings, this easy make-ahead recipe is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser with minimal effort.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 package (14 oz) little smokies sausages
- 1 pound bacon (thin-cut, cut into thirds)
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional, for a spicy kick)
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika (optional, for extra depth)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil for easy cleanup.
- Prepare the bacon: Cut each strip of bacon into thirds, making them the perfect size to wrap around each little smokie.
- Wrap the sausages: Take each little smokie and wrap it snugly with a piece of bacon. Secure the bacon in place with a toothpick to prevent it from unraveling during baking.
- Coat with brown sugar: Roll each bacon-wrapped smokie in brown sugar, ensuring it’s well coated for a sweet caramelized finish. If you prefer a spicy kick, mix the brown sugar with cayenne pepper and smoked paprika before coating.
- Arrange on the baking sheet: Place the wrapped smokies on the prepared baking sheet, making sure they are not touching to allow for even cooking.
- Bake to perfection: Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the bacon is crispy and the sugar has caramelized. For extra crispiness, broil for the last 2-3 minutes, keeping a close eye to prevent burning.
- Cool and serve: Let them cool slightly before serving, as the caramelized sugar will be extremely hot. Serve warm with your favorite dipping sauces.
Notes
- For extra crunch: Use a wire rack over the baking sheet so the bacon crisps evenly on all sides.
- To reduce sweetness: Skip rolling in sugar and instead brush with a light maple syrup glaze.
- Make ahead tip: Assemble the smokies and refrigerate for up to 24 hours before baking, or freeze them for up to one month and bake directly from frozen.
- Air fryer instructions: Cook at 375°F for 10-12 minutes, shaking halfway through, until crispy.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3 pieces
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 480mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 10g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 7g
- Cholesterol: 25mg