Bacon-Wrapped Little Smokies

Bacon-wrapped little smokies are a fun and easy appetizer for any party! A little spicy and a little sweet, these bites will be a big hit.

There are a few appetizers that I consider party classics. Around here, you’re likely to see at least one of these on the menu at any gathering.

I’m talking snacks like deviled eggs, cheese balls, french onion dip, and some version of little smokies.  

Whether the little smokies are in a crock pot, made into pigs in a blanket, or wrapped in bacon, they’re always a hit.

These bacon-wrapped little smokies are my current favorite. We made them for our Super Bowl party this year and they disappeared so fast. They’re a little sweet, a little spicy, and totally easy to make.

WHAT ARE LITTLE SMOKIES?

Little smokies – sometimes called “Li’l Smokies” or “Lit’l Smokies” depending on the brand – are cocktail wieners found in the refrigerated section of the grocery store. Look for them over by the hot dogs and smoked sausages.

These are the same kind of little sausages you would use to make pigs in a blanket.

There are a few different types of these cocktail wieners. I like using the beef little smokies for this recipe, although you could turkey or pork if you prefer.

Keep in mind that little smokies are not the same thing as Vienna sausages.

HOW TO MAKE BACON-WRAPPED LITTLE SMOKIES

These bacon-wrapped little smokies are such a great party appetizer. You get the smokiness of the bacon, a little heat from cayenne pepper, and a little sweetness from brown sugar.

Best of all, they’re easy to make!

Ingredients you’ll need

You only need a handful of ingredients to make these bacon-wrapped little smokies:

Brown sugar: Brown sugar adds a great sweetness to this recipe. You can use light or dark brown sugar – either works well. If you are out of brown sugar, make a simple brown sugar substitute. If it has hardened, check out my tips for how to soften brown sugar.

Ground cayenne pepper: Cayenne pepper adds some nice heat to these bacon-wrapped little smokies, similar to million dollar bacon. You can always reduce the amount of cayenne if you want less heat in this recipe.

Ground black pepper: A little black pepper also adds a nice peppery kick.

Sliced bacon: You can use your favorite bacon for this recipe. You will need about 12 ounces; you may find that you have a couple of sausages left, but I found that a full pound of bacon was far too much! 

Little smokies beef cocktail wieners: As I mentioned before, I like to use the beef little smokies for this recipe, but you can use a different type if you prefer.

Making this recipe

To start, line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or foil. I personally think that parchment does better with preventing sticking than foil does, but foil will work in a pinch!

Stir the brown sugar, cayenne, and black pepper together in a large bowl.

Cut the bacon into thirds so that each slice is now 3 equal, shorter pieces. Separate these and add them to the bowl with the sugar and spices.

Use tongs or your hands to toss the bacon to coat evenly with the sugar mixture.

Wrap each of the little smokies with a piece of the sugared bacon, securing with a toothpick. Place each one on the lined baking sheet, repeating until all of the bacon is used.

Bake for 40 minutes. The bacon should be crisp and the sugar should be bubbly.

Serve these immediately or place them in a slow cooker set on warm to keep them warm during a party.

PREP-AHEAD AND REHEATING 

If you’re prepping your appetizers and snacks ahead of time for a party, feel free to assemble these bacon-wrapped little smokies up to a few hours ahead of time. Place them on the sheet pan and pop the sheet pan in the refrigerator until ready to bake.

If you have any leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. They will reheat well in the microwave, although the bacon won’t be crispy like it was fresh out of the oven. (They’ll still takes great, though!)