Bacon Wrapped Little Smokies are a crowd favorite and the best part is, you only need FOUR ingredients to make this easy appetizer in the crock pot.
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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!
Why you’ll love bacon wrapped smokies
- I mean, what’s not to love? Most people like things wrapped in bacon.
- They’re easy! Only four ingredients.
- They’re fast. Even though they’re made in the slow cooker, you only need 3 hours of cook time.
- If you don’t want to use the crockpot, you can also bake them in the oven.
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
Below is a list of ingredients, helpful tips, and possible substitutions. Scroll all the way down for the full recipe card with measurements.
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
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
Are Little Smokies hot dogs?
Basically, yes, they are little hot dog shaped sausages.
What are Little Smokies made of?
If you read the label, the most popular variety is made of pork and chicken. There are different varieties though like beef and chicken.
Which type of bacon should I use?
I like to use thick, uncured, sugar free, nitrate free bacon but you can try another variety for different flavors like smoked, hickory, applewood, turkey, or low sodium if you prefer.
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 beef
Easy Taco Dip
Garlic Herb Dip
Click here for my entire collection of appetizer recipes.
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Slow Cooker Bacon Wrapped Little Smokies
Equipment
- Toothpicks
Ingredients
- 16 Ounces cocktail sausages "lil smokies"
- 12 ounces bacon
- 1 ¾ cup brown sugar
- ½ tablespoon paprika
Instructions
- Cut each slice of bacon into 3 pieces.
- Wrap a piece of bacon around each sausage & secure the bacon into the sausage with a toothpick.
- To a small bowl, combine the brown sugar and paprika and sprinkle 1 cup into the bottom of a 6 qt slow cooker.
- Add the sausages to the bottom of the slow cooker and sprinkle the remaining brown sugar mixture over the top.
- Cover and cook on HIGH for 3 hours, stirring occasionally so they brown evenly.
- Remove from slow cooker and serve!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate and provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.
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Chaged to smoky paprika and added black pepper and cayenne pepper with the brown sugar. Delicious.
My favorite is doing this in the crockpot with a liner for quick clean up.