Crock Pot Bacon Wrapped Little Smokies are the perfect solution when you need a quick and easy game day appetizer! These tasty party bites feature savory, smoky bacon wrapped around cocktail sausages for a flavor experience your friends & family will love!
Football season is just around the corner, and that means party time! You want to make something special, but you don't have much time. Enter Crock Pot Bacon Wrapped Little Smokies! This easy appetizer recipe takes less than 10 minutes to prepare, and the crock pot takes care of the rest.
Little smokies are a party food staple. They're miniature smoked sausages, usually made from pork or beef and flavored with spices like garlic and onion powder. They're great by themselves and are even better when wrapped with pieces of salty, smoky bacon.
This party appetizer couldn't be easier to make! Simply wrap each sausage in a piece of bacon, then brush them with Dijon mustard. Sprinkle brown sugar and black pepper over the top and let them slowly cook until they're warm and tasty!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- The entire recipe is made with just five ingredients and is an easy party appetizer that can be made in advance.
- The bacon-wrapped little smokies are sweet, savory, smoky, and delicious!
- You can customize the recipe with different mustards & seasonings.
- The crock pot does all the work while you prepare other party food & drinks!
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Bacon - Each piece of bacon will be cut into thirds to wrap around the sausage. This gives them an additional layer of smoky, salty flavor and texture.
- Little Smokies - You can find these in the cured meat section of your grocery store. Canned sausages will work as well.
- Dijon Mustard - Helps the dry seasonings stick while adding a contrasting tangy flavor to the sausages.
- Brown Sugar - Helps caramelize the bacon and adds a sweet flavor that pairs well with the smokiness.
- Black Pepper - Adds a kick of heat and spice to this easy appetizer.
How To Make Bacon Wrapped Little Smokies In The Crock Pot
Prepare the bacon: Remove the bacon from the package and cut each strip into three even pieces.
Wrap the sausages: Take each small sausage and wrap it evenly with a piece of bacon. Place them seam-side down at the bottom of the crock pot.
Season: Brush the tops of each with Dijon mustard, then sprinkle the top with brown sugar and black pepper evenly.
Slow cook: Add the lid to the top and cook on HIGH for 4 hours. At the 2-hour mark, use tongs to rotate the sausages in the middle to the edges for even cooking.
Serve warm: Once finished, turn the crock pot to WARM for 3 hours while serving. Enjoy!
Recipe Tips
- If you can't find little smokies or small sausages, you can use your favorite hot dogs to make this recipe. Cut them into thirds or fourths, depending on their size.
- For crisper bacon, leave the lid off during the last 15 minutes of cooking. The water will evaporate, and the bacon will get a nice crunchy texture! You can also par-cook the bacon before wrapping it.
- Ensure that you place the bacon seam side down, as the bacon will shrink while it cooks in the slow cooker.
Variations
- You can switch up the seasonings in this recipe by using other mustards, like spicy brown or honey.
- For an extra kick of flavor, add cayenne pepper or chili powder to the top of the bacon-wrapped smokies.
- For a lighter version, use little turkey sausages or your favorite turkey hot dogs.
- Instead of wrapping your sausages with bacon, use slices of ham or prosciutto.
- Try using maple syrup, honey, or agave nectar in place of the brown sugar.
Storing & Freezing
Storing: If you have any leftovers, they can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Freezing: Bacon-wrapped sausages can be frozen, but they may not taste as good after thawing. To freeze them, place the sausages on a lined baking sheet and freeze them until solid. Once frozen, transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or container for up to 2 months.
Reheating: To reheat, place the sausages in a shallow baking dish and bake at 350°F for 10 minutes or until warm.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, you can wrap the sausages in bacon and season them a day before you plan to cook them. Place them in the refrigerator until ready to cook.
Yes, if you need more party appetizers, you can easily double or even triple this recipe! The cooking time will remain the same, but you may need a larger crock pot in order to fit them all.
These bacon-wrapped party appetizers are perfect for game day spreads or as party snacks! Serve them up with toothpicks and extra BBQ sauce, honey mustard, or your favorite dipping sauce.
More Game Day Appetizers
- Best Crock Pot Pizza Dip
- BBQ Chicken Sliders
- Crock Pot Little Smokies (without bacon)
- Crock Pot White Queso Dip
- Crock Pot Ham and Cheese Sliders
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Crock Pot Bacon Wrapped Little Smokies
Ingredients
- 1 lb bacon (cut into thirds)
- 16 oz package of little smokies (or small cooked sausages)
- 3 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1½ tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Cut bacon into thirds lengthwise. Then, tightly wrap each little smokie with one piece of bacon. Lay the wrapped sausages with the bacon seam down in a 6-quart crock pot.
- Brush the Dijon mustard over the bacon-wrapped smokies.
- Evenly sprinkle the brown sugar and black pepper over the sausages.
- Cover and cook on high for 4 hours! Halfway through, rotate the center sausages to the outside to help them cook evenly.
- Serve immediately or turn Crock Pot to warm for up to 3 hours.
Notes
Nutrition
*Nutrition information is an estimate. It may vary based on ingredients, brands, and changes in cooking methods listed in the recipe. If you need exact ingredient numbers, I recommend calculating them with your preferred nutrition calculator.
Jeff
Is it possible to cook this recipe without a crockpot or slow cooker?
Ryan Allen
Yes, just bake them for 40-45 or until the bacon is crisp and the brown sugar has caramelized and created a sauce.