These Sweet & Tangy BBQ Smoked Sausage Bites are a sticky, savory crowd-pleaser that requires almost zero effort. Simply tossed in a baking dish with a quick three-ingredient glaze, the sausage caramelizes in the oven until it is perfectly charred and bubbly.
With a rich, smoky flavor and a hint of sweetness, these addictive bites are the ultimate appetizer for game days, potlucks, or an easy weeknight meal.
Recipe Details
- Flavor Profile: A mouthwatering balance of savory smoked meat and sweet brown sugar BBQ sauce, with a sharp tangy kick from Dijon mustard.
- Texture: The sausage rounds get delightfully crisp and charred on the edges, coated in a thick, sticky glaze.
- Time: 5 minutes prep, 45 minutes bake time.
- Difficulty: Very Easy. It is a “dump and bake” recipe.
What You’ll Need
To make this recipe, you will need a 9×13-inch baking dish to hold the sausage in a mostly single layer for even cooking. A spatula is needed for stirring. The ingredients are incredibly simple pantry staples: your favorite smoked sausage, bottled barbecue sauce, brown sugar, and a touch of mustard.
Ingredient Notes
- Smoked Sausage – You will need two 14-oz packages. You can use kielbasa, andouille (for spice), or standard smoked turkey or beef sausage. Slicing them into 1-inch coins ensures they are bite-sized and brown nicely.
- Barbecue Sauce – Use your favorite bottle. A thick, smoky, or honey-based sauce works best to create the glaze.
- Light Brown Sugar – Packed brown sugar melts into the sauce, helping it caramelize and stick to the meat while adding a deep molasses sweetness.
- Dijon Mustard – Just a tablespoon of Dijon adds a necessary acidity and sharp flavor that cuts through the sugar and rich meat.
Add-ins and Substitutions
- Spice – If you like heat, add a pinch of cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes to the sauce mixture.
- Vegetables – You can stir in chunks of bell pepper or pineapple chunks before baking for a sweet-and-savory kabob vibe in a casserole dish.
- Mustard – If you don’t have Dijon, spicy brown mustard or yellow mustard can be used, though the flavor profile will shift slightly.
How to Make Sweet & Tangy BBQ Smoked Sausage Bites
- Prep: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray to prevent the sticky sauce from burning onto the pan.
- Slice: Slice the smoked sausage into 1-inch thick coin shapes.
- Combine: Add the sliced smoked sausage, barbecue sauce, brown sugar, and dijon mustard directly into the prepared baking dish. Stir everything together until the sausage is thoroughly coated in the sauce mixture.
- Bake: Bake for 45 minutes. You want the sauce to be bubbly, darker in color, and thickened.
- Stir: Tip: I like to stir everything together a couple of times during the cook time just to ensure that all the sausages are coated well and browning evenly.
- Serve: Serve with toothpicks as an appetizer, as a side dish, or alongside Mac & cheese for a kid-friendly dinner idea.
Pro Tip: Baking these in the oven is superior to the slow cooker because the dry heat caramelizes the sugars, creating sticky, charred edges on the sausage that you just can’t get from simmering alone.
Recipe Tips
- Don’t Slice too Thin: Keep the sausage coins about 1 inch thick. If they are too thin, they might dry out during the 45-minute bake time.
- Party Warmth: If serving at a party, bake them first to get that texture, then transfer them to a slow cooker on the WARM setting to keep them hot for guests for 2-3 hours.
- Sauce Thickness: The sauce will thicken as it cools. Let the dish sit for 5 minutes after taking it out of the oven for the perfect glaze consistency.
FAQs
- Can I use little smokies? Yes, you can use “Li’l Smokies” cocktail sausages instead of sliced sausage. You may need to adjust the baking time slightly as they are smaller.
- Is this gluten-free? Generally yes, as long as your BBQ sauce and sausage brand are certified gluten-free.
- How do I store leftovers? Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Serving Suggestions
- Appetizer: Serve with toothpicks and extra mustard for dipping.
- Dinner: This pairs perfectly with creamy macaroni and cheese or mashed potatoes.
- Sandwich: Stuff the saucy bites into a sub roll with some coleslaw for a quick BBQ sandwich.
Make This Recipe in Advance
- Prep: You can slice the sausage and mix the sauce ingredients in the baking dish, cover, and refrigerate up to 24 hours before baking.
- Reheating: Reheat leftovers in the microwave or oven until warmed through.
Sweet & Tangy BBQ Smoked Sausage Bites
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 8-10 Appetizer Servings 1x
Description
These Sweet & Tangy BBQ Smoked Sausage Bites are a sticky, savory crowd-pleaser that requires almost zero effort. Simply tossed in a baking dish with a quick three-ingredient glaze, the sausage caramelizes in the oven until it is perfectly charred and bubbly. With a rich, smoky flavor and a hint of sweetness, these addictive bites are the ultimate appetizer for game days, potlucks, or an easy weeknight meal.
Ingredients
- 2 packages (14 oz each) smoked sausage (Kielbasa, Andouille, or Turkey sausage)
- 1 cup barbecue sauce (your favorite brand)
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- Nonstick cooking spray
Instructions
Prep
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray to prevent the sugary sauce from burning onto the pan.
Slice
Cut the smoked sausage ropes into 1-inch thick coin shapes.
Combine
Add the sliced sausage, barbecue sauce, brown sugar, and Dijon mustard directly into the prepared baking dish.
Mix
Stir everything together until the sausage is thoroughly coated in the sauce mixture.
Bake
Bake for 45 minutes. Stir: Stir the mixture a couple of times during the cooking process to ensure all the sausages brown evenly.
Check
You want the sauce to be bubbly, darker in color, and thickened.
Serve
Remove from the oven and let sit for 5 minutes (the sauce thickens as it cools). Serve with toothpicks as an appetizer or over rice/mac & cheese for dinner.
Notes
Oven vs. Slow Cooker: While you can make this in a slow cooker, baking it in the oven is superior. The dry heat caramelizes the sugars, creating sticky, charred edges on the sausage that you just can’t get from simmering alone.
Slice Thickness: Keep the sausage coins about 1 inch thick. If they are sliced too thin, they may dry out during the long bake time.
Party Tip: If serving for a crowd, bake them first to get that perfect sticky texture, then transfer them to a slow cooker set to WARM to keep them hot for guests for 2–3 hours.
Variations: For a “tropical” twist, stir in pineapple chunks before baking. For heat, add a pinch of cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes to the sauce.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Appetizer / Dinner
- Method: Oven Baked
- Cuisine: American BBQ
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/10 of Recipe
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 16g
- Sodium: 980mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 10g
- Cholesterol: 50mg
Keywords: bbq sausage bites, smoked sausage recipes, game day appetizers, kielbasa bites, 3 ingredient glaze, easy party food, baked bbq sausage
