Get ready for a flavor sensation that’s simply irresistible! These Sweet and Savory Bacon Wrapped Smokies are a delightful combination of salty, smoky bacon and tender cocktail sausages, all coated in a luscious, caramelized brown sugar glaze. They’re the perfect bite for any gathering, promising smiles and seconds.
Imagine perfectly crisp bacon clinging to juicy, flavorful sausages, with a hint of sweet spice that makes each bite utterly addictive.
Recipe Details
- Flavor Profile: Sweet, savory, smoky, with a touch of spice.
- Texture: Crispy bacon, tender sausage, sticky glaze.
- Total Active Time: 20 minutes
- Total Cook Time: 20-25 minutes
- Difficulty Level: Easy. This recipe involves simple wrapping and glazing, perfect for beginners and busy hosts alike.
What You’ll Need
To create these crowd-pleasing bacon wrapped smokies, you’ll need your star players: mini cocktail sausages, strips of bacon, and a sweet and sticky glaze made from dark brown sugar, melted butter, and a hint of chili powder for warmth.
Ingredient Notes
- Mini Cocktail Sausages – You can choose between beef or turkey cocktail sausages, depending on your preference. Ensure they are fully cooked and ready to be heated through.
- Bacon – Turkey or beef bacon works beautifully here. The key is to cut it into thirds so it perfectly wraps around each little sausage.
- Dark Brown Sugar – This is crucial for that deep, rich caramelization and sweetness that balances the savory bacon and sausage. Make sure it’s packed for accurate measurement.
- Unsalted Butter – Melted butter helps create a smooth, luscious glaze that coats the bacon-wrapped smokies beautifully.
- Chili Powder or Cayenne Pepper (Optional) – A little pinch adds a subtle warmth and complexity to the glaze, enhancing the overall flavor without being overpowering. Feel free to adjust or omit if you prefer a purely sweet and savory profile.
Add-ins and Substitutions
While these smokies are perfect as they are, you can certainly get creative! For a touch of tang, a tiny splash of apple cider vinegar could be whisked into the glaze. If you love a bit more heat, a pinch more cayenne pepper will do the trick. Some folks also like to add a sprinkle of smoked paprika to the glaze for an extra smoky dimension.
How to Make Sweet and Savory Bacon Wrapped Smokies
This recipe is delightfully straightforward, focusing on bringing together simple ingredients for maximum impact. You’ll be amazed at how quickly these come together and disappear!
- Prepare for Baking: Start by preheating your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. While the oven warms up, prepare a baking sheet by placing a wire rack on top. This helps the bacon crisp up evenly on all sides.
- Wrap the Sausages: Take each mini cocktail sausage and carefully wrap it with a piece of bacon, securing it in place with a toothpick. This simple step ensures everything stays together during baking.
- Create the Glaze: In a small bowl, whisk together the dark brown sugar, melted butter, and the optional chili powder or cayenne pepper until you have a smooth, cohesive glaze.
- Glaze and Bake: Arrange the bacon-wrapped smokies on the prepared wire rack. Generously brush or spoon the brown sugar glaze all over them. Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven.
- Bake to Perfection: Bake for about 20 to 25 minutes, or until the bacon is wonderfully crispy and golden brown, and the glaze has caramelized into a sticky, delicious coating. Keep an eye on them towards the end to prevent burning.
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Serve Warm: Once they’re perfectly cooked, carefully remove them from the oven. Let them cool just slightly before serving warm, so everyone can enjoy that delightful sticky, crispy, savory goodness.
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Pro Tip: Using toothpicks to secure the bacon is essential! It ensures your little smokies stay perfectly wrapped and don’t unravel in the oven, allowing for even cooking and beautiful presentation.
Recipe Tips
- Bacon Thickness: While the recipe calls for cutting bacon into thirds, the thickness of your bacon strips can vary. If your bacon is particularly thin, you might need to adjust the cut slightly to ensure good coverage.
- Toothpick Placement: Insert toothpicks firmly but not too deeply, just enough to hold the bacon in place without making it difficult to remove later.
- Glaze Application: Apply the glaze evenly over each smokie. You can use a pastry brush for a light coating or a spoon for a more generous application, especially over the top and sides.
- Crispiness Check: The sign of perfectly cooked bacon wrapped smokies is when the bacon is firm and crisp to the touch and the glaze is bubbly and deeply caramelized. If the glaze is browning too quickly, you can tent the baking sheet loosely with foil.
- Cooling for Serving: While they are best served warm, allowing them to rest for a few minutes after coming out of the oven helps the glaze set slightly, making them easier to handle and less messy.
FAQs
- Can I use different types of cocktail sausages?
Absolutely! While beef and turkey are specified, any fully cooked mini cocktail sausage will work wonderfully in this recipe. Just ensure they are bite-sized. - How do I prevent the brown sugar glaze from burning?
Keep a close eye on the smokies during the last 5-10 minutes of baking. If the glaze is caramelizing too quickly before the bacon is crisp, you can loosely tent the baking sheet with aluminum foil to shield them from direct heat. - What if I don’t have a wire rack?
If you don’t have a wire rack, you can place the bacon-wrapped smokies directly onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. However, a wire rack is highly recommended for achieving the crispiest bacon all around.
Serving Suggestions
These Sweet and Savory Bacon Wrapped Smokies are incredibly versatile and make a fantastic appetizer or party snack. They pair wonderfully with a variety of dipping sauces if you fancy something extra. Consider serving them alongside:
- A simple ranch dip for a cooling contrast.
- A zesty honey mustard for a sweet and tangy kick.
- A BBQ sauce for an extra layer of smoky, sweet flavor.
- Alongside a cheese board for added variety.
Make This Recipe in Advance
You can prepare the components of this recipe ahead of time to make assembly even quicker on the day of your event.
- Bacon Wrapping: You can wrap the smokies in bacon a few hours before you plan to bake them. Store them on a plate or baking sheet, covered loosely with plastic wrap, in the refrigerator.
- Glaze Preparation: The glaze mixture can also be made a day in advance and stored in an airtight container at room temperature.
- Baking: It’s best to bake these just before serving to ensure optimal crispness and caramelization. However, if you need to bake them a little earlier, you can gently reheat them in a low oven (around 250-300 degrees Fahrenheit) for about 5-10 minutes, or until warmed through. Be mindful that reheating may slightly alter the crispness of the bacon.
Sweet and Savory Bacon Wrapped Smokies
- Total Time: 40-45 minutes
- Yield: Approximately 24-30 smokies 1x
Description
These Sweet and Savory Bacon Wrapped Smokies are a crowd-pleasing appetizer featuring tender cocktail sausages wrapped in crispy bacon and coated in a luscious, caramelized brown sugar glaze with a hint of spice.
Ingredients
1 package (12 oz) mini beef cocktail sausages or turkey cocktail sausages
1 lb turkey bacon or beef bacon, cut into thirds
3/4 cup dark brown sugar, packed
1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
1/2 tsp chili powder or cayenne pepper (optional)
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and prepare a baking sheet with a wire rack.
Wrap each mini sausage with bacon, securing it with a toothpick.
Mix the brown sugar, melted butter, and chili powder to create a glaze.
Coat the wrapped smokies with the glaze.
Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the bacon is crispy and the glaze is caramelized.
Serve them warm.
Notes
Using toothpicks to secure the bacon is essential! It ensures your little smokies stay perfectly wrapped and don’t unravel in the oven, allowing for even cooking and beautiful presentation.
Bacon Thickness: While the recipe calls for cutting bacon into thirds, the thickness of your bacon strips can vary. If your bacon is particularly thin, you might need to adjust the cut slightly to ensure good coverage.
Toothpick Placement: Insert toothpicks firmly but not too deeply, just enough to hold the bacon in place without making it difficult to remove later.
Glaze Application: Apply the glaze evenly over each smokie. You can use a pastry brush for a light coating or a spoon for a more generous application, especially over the top and sides.
Crispiness Check: The sign of perfectly cooked bacon wrapped smokies is when the bacon is firm and crisp to the touch and the glaze is bubbly and deeply caramelized. If the glaze is browning too quickly, you can tent the baking sheet loosely with foil.
Cooling for Serving: While they are best served warm, allowing them to rest for a few minutes after coming out of the oven helps the glaze set slightly, making them easier to handle and less messy.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20-25 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Calories: N/A
- Fat: N/A
- Carbohydrates: N/A
- Protein: N/A
