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