You know I love a slow cooker appetizer, like buffalo chicken dip or spinach & artichoke dip, but these bacon wrapped smokies are a new one to add to the rotation.
You only need four ingredients to make them and they come out nearly tasting like candy thanks to the brown sugar.
They have toothpicks holding them together but I recommend serving them with a fork because of the sticky factor!
Equipment needed to make bacon wrapped little smokies
- Slow Cooker – this has been my slow cooker of choice for years & I highly recommend it.
- Toothpicks – to hold the bacon onto the lil smokies.
- Kitchen scissors – they make cutting the bacon easy.
Ingredients for bacon wrapped smokies with brown sugar
- Cocktail Sausages – The brand name is Li’l Smokies and they come in a variety of types. Pork, beef, chicken, smoked, etc.
- Bacon – I like to use nitrate free, thick cut bacon.
- Brown Sugar – Light or dark brown sugar will work. The brown sugar melts and creates a sticky, candy-like bacon.
- Paprika – Paprika has a sweet pepper flavor, without any heat.
How to make bacon wrapped little smokies in the crock pot
- STEP ONE: First, cut each slice of bacon into three pieces, then wrap one piece of bacon around one cocktail sausage. Secure it with a toothpick.
- STEP TWO: Next, to a small bowl, stir together the brown sugar and paprika, then pour 1 cup of the mixture into the bottom of your slow cooker bowl. Load the wrapped smokies into the bowl and sprinkle the remaining mixture over the top.
- STEP THREE: Finally, cover and set to HIGH for 3 hours. You’ll want to stir every so often to make sure all the smokies get some time near the edges of the slow cooker – that is where they really brown.
What to serve alongside your little smokies
If you are making this bacon wrapped smokies recipe as an appetizer for a party you are hosting, it pairs nicely with sweet & spicy meatballs, buffalo cauliflower bites, and my buffalo chicken pinwheels!
If you need even more pairing ideas, try these:
Appetizers
- Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Meatballs
- Pineapple Teriyaki Meatballs
- Cajun Chex Mix
- BLT Pizza
- Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
- Ranch Cocktail Crackers
Desserts
- Sriracha Peanut Butter Cookies
- Candied Pecans or Cashews
- Chocolate Cream Pie
Drinks
- Christmas Morning Cocktails (good ANYtime)
- Cranberry Prosecco Spritzers
- Fuzzy Navels
- Slow Cooker Hot Chocolate
Storage/Freezing/Reheating
How to store leftovers
Leftovers should be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Can I freeze bacon wrapped smokies?
You sure can! If you happen to have leftovers, or if you make them ahead of time and want to freeze for later, cook them as directed then place them on a foil lined baking sheet to freeze. Once they’re fully frozen (just a couple hours), move them to a freezer bag, press out extra air, and store for up to 3 months.
How to reheat bacon wrapped smokies
If you’re reheating from the fridge, preheat the oven to 325°, place the lil smokies on a parchment paper or foil lined baking sheet (don’t skip this step, otherwise your pan will be a sticky mess), and heat for around 20 minutes.
If you’re heating from frozen, ideally you would have moved the frozen smokies to the fridge the night before to thaw, then heat as directed above.
Bacon Wrapped Smokies FAQs
Can I make bacon wrapped smokies in the oven?
Yes. If you don’t want to use the slow cooker, you can easily bake them in the oven.
Follow the recipe as directed but instead of placing in the slow cooker, line the smokies onto a lipped, foil lined baking sheet (make sure you line your pan well, otherwise your pan will be a sticky mess), and bake for around 15-20 minutes at 375°.
If you want your bacon to be crispier, put them under the broiler to crisp for just a few minutes.
How can I make them spicy?
Add a sprinkle of cajun seasoning to the brown sugar mixture to add some heat!
Need more appetizer recipes? Try these:
Rotel Dip with ground beefEasy Taco DipGarlic Herb Dip
Click here for my entire collection of appetizer recipes.