When it comes to appetizers, these bacon-wrapped cocktail sausages are about as easy and crowd-pleasing (and completely addictive) as they come. I also love them because you can pop them in a slow cooker set to low and keep them warm all evening.
Ingredient and Recipe Notes
- Lit’l Smokies – AKA cocktail sausages. You will find these in a couple of varieties. All beef will taste like tiny hot dogs. Traditional will be a mix of pork and chicken. Either variety works well. Just like Hot dogs, quality and flavor can vary depending on brand. I prefer name brands that I’m familiar with (like Hillshire Farms) or ones I’ve at least tried before.
- Bacon – Use whatever your favorite regular bacon is, as long as it’s not turkey bacon. Use the real stuff here, original thickness, not thick cut, or it won’t get crispy in the oven. With good old standard bacon, you can wrap 3 little smokies per piece. Center cut will probably only wrap 2 per piece.
- Brown sugar – Light or dark, doesn’t matter, either one will work!
How to Make Bacon Wrapped Cocktail Sausages
- Preheat your oven to 325 and line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Using a pair of kitchen shears, cut the slab of bacon into thirds.
3. Sprinkle brown sugar over sausages
4. Bake at 325 for 40-45 minutes or until bacon has cooked and is starting to brown.
If you’re serving these at a party, they taste even better after a little time in the slow cooker on low heat. And that bacon grease that has co-mingled with the brown sugar? That salty-sweetness is a perfect glaze for these little suckers.
FAQs
- Can I make these ahead of time? These are actually at their very best when they’ve had a chance to hang out in a slow cooker for a bit. Feel free to make them a few hours ahead and transfer to a slow cooker set to low to hang out before serving. I would still make them the day of serving, though.
Related Recipes
Looking for some other appetizer recommendations? Check out these Our Best Bites favorites:
- Sweet and Sour Meatballs {Easy!}
- Cranberry Orange Goat Cheese Bites
- Honey Cranberry Orange Baked Brie
- Mini Pastry Wrapped Brie Bites
- Pastry Wrapped Asparagus With Prosciutto
- Bacon Wrapped Green Bean Bundles
Did You Make This?
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Bacon-Wrapped Cocktail Sausages
Ingredients
- 1 14- ounce package Little Smokies cocktail sausages
- 1 12- ounce package lean bacon
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 325 and line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Using a pair of kitchen shears, cut the slab of bacon into thirds.
- Wrap 1/3 of each slice of bacon around each sausage, secure with a toothpick and place on the baking sheet. Repeat with remaining sausages and bacon.
- Sprinkle brown sugar over sausages and bake at 325 for 40-45 minutes or until bacon has cooked and is starting to brown.
Questions & Reviews
So yummy–these have been a new year's tradition for us since we got married!
These are delish! 🙂 I usually add more brown sugar and a little pinepple juice about half way through cooking. The juice adds just a little more flavor/sweetness, and yes, these are better when served out of a slow cooker. Happy New Year!
Have you made bacon wrapped water chestnuts? So yummy…everyone kind of frowns when I say what it is but they absolutely love them! Wrap bacon around the water chestnuts and hold together with a toothpick and bake for an hour. Pour the sauce over (1 cup sugar and 1 cup ketchup mixed) and change the toothpicks so they are clean and back for another hour. It's my favorite appetizer for Christmas time and New Year's!
I've been making these for a few years and my family can't get enough of them. They're requested for nearly every potluck and get together. Unfortunately, I've probably single-handedly shortened all our life spans. =P
I won!!! How awesome! I emailed you guys yesterday. These look so good. My sister and her boyfriend are coming over for NYE and I think we may have to try these! We made the pretzel/rollos over Christmas and they were a HUGE hit, yummy!
looks good, but the only thing i fear is it being too salty. lil smokies alone are already salty for me. plus bacon too? i can see how brown sugar may balance out the saltiness, but we'll see! 🙂 thanks for the inspiration.
My husband loves these. They are delish.
These have been a long-time New Year's tradition in my family. So delicious!
OOOOOHH I love those! We had them in the dutch oven and you CAN NOT just eat one–very bad for the waistline!
I'll take a few 🙂