Bacon Wrapped Smokies are salty, sweet, and insanely addictive. The homemade barbecue sauce is just two ingredients and everything is baked to succulent perfection!
I am convinced there is no better appetizer than Bacon Wrapped Little Smokies.
You get salty bacon with sweet barbecue sauce (2-INGREDIENT BARBECUE SAUCE) combined with chewy little sausages. They are so easy to make and always a hit.
You are pretty much guaranteed Party Rockstar Status if you make these.
Barbecue Wrapped Little Smokies actually started out as Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts. However, sometimes people on planet Earth don’t like water chestnuts. A’hem, my husband.
So, I set out to find something else I could wrap in bacon and douse in [SPOILER ALERT] brown sugar and ketchup.
They are darn easy to make, too. The trick is to bake the meat first so you can pour off the grease before brushing on the barbecue sauce.
After you add the sauce, bake them again until everything is sticky, chewy, and positively caramelized.
Then just sit back and watch the little smokies wrapped in bacon disappear.
I’ve also heard of bacon wrapped smokies with brown sugar AND BUTTER, so that’s on my list to try next.
Bacon Wrapped Smokies
Ingredients
- 1 (14 ounce) package Little Smokies (about 40 links, see note 1)
- 1 pound bacon each strip cut into thirds (see note 2)
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup ketchup
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Prepare a rimmed baking sheet with foil and a baking rack.
- Working with one Smokie at a time, wrap in bacon and secure with a toothpick. Place on prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining smokies and bacon.
- Bake for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, whisk brown sugar and ketchup together in a small bowl.
- Brush or pour barbecue sauce over the Smokies. Return to oven and bake until hot and sticky, about 15 minutes longer. Serve warm.
Notes
- Little Smokies: Theses are sold at most major supermarkets near the deli meat. Alternatively, swap in regular hot dogs cut into three smaller "nuggets." For the same-sized batch, you'll need 14 full hot dogs.
- Bacon: Slice each strip in thirds and it will wrap around the sausages nicely (without overwhelming the flavor and size of the smokies).
- Yield: This easy appetizer recipe makes eight 5-link servings of Bacon Wrapped Smokies. I find this to be a satisfying portion for a game day snack or potluck menu addition, but feel free to scale up or down as needed to feed your crew.
- Storage: Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Make ahead: The smokies can be wrapped in bacon a day in advance. Store covered in the refrigerator until you're ready to bake them.
Nutrition
These are absolutely delicious!! Very easy to make. I make them to take to parties. They are alway a big hit!!
Great recipe I will make again !!
Hi Bryan, glad you loved them! – Meggan
I have not tried the smokies yet, but college football parties are coming up soon.
I have also made the wrapped chestnuts, with bacon. My recipe also called for mayo. I’m excited to try with the BBQ sauce instead. (Catsup and brown sugar). I’m sure it will be a favorite with the football fans.
Thank you
Hi Cathi, that all sounds great. I hope everyone enjoys at your party! – Meggan
Hi
On your Pigs in a Blanket recipe, you mention the bacon wrapped smokies, but say to bake at 400 for 40 mins – Just wondering what the correct temperature is
Hi Karen, Thank you for the question, it’s a mistake on the post. The correct temperature for Bacon Wrapped Smokies is 400 degrees. It will be corrected in the post. Thank you! – Meggan
Just what I needed for my New Year’s Dinner . All the other recipes did not bother to remove the grease and were super loaded with so much brown sugar! I’d never be able to eat them. Thanks for posting.
Do you think you could bake the smokies and then refrigerate them overnight. The next day cover them with the brown sugar mixer and bake again?
Hi Karla! Yes, I think that would work just fine! I’ll be sure to test that variation when I get a chance so we know for sure. Thank you for the question!
What are smokies?
Hi Heather! “Lil Smokies” are a brand of miniature smoked sausage links created by Hillshire Farms. There are also some store brands of the same thing. Smoked sausage tastes similar to polish sausage – like a butcher-style hot dog with a smoky flavor. I hope this helps! You can find them in the grocery store typically in the area of deli meats, hot dogs, bacon, breakfast sausage, that sort of thing. If you have any other questions just let me know. Thanks for the question.
I love the recipes here when I encountered this wrbsite.Thank you
Oh, my! I think I just found this year’s Christmas appetizer. Thanks for sharing! ?