These Bacon Wrapped Smokies are the perfect game day appetizer. There’s no wrong way to make this easy cocktail wiener recipe. You can stick with the original bacon-wrapped smokies with brown sugar or spice things up by adding pineapple or jalapeno slices.
Bacon wrapped smokies are a beloved appetizer for any party or game day gathering. The combo of sweet, salty bacon enveloping bites of savory sausage is irresistible But can you prep these tasty bites ahead of time?
As an experienced home cook and party planner, I’ve made bacon wrapped smokies more times than I can count. Over the years, I’ve perfected the method for making them in advance.
In this comprehensive guide I’ll share my tips and tricks for prepping bacon wrapped smokies ahead of time. Whether you want to make them a day or two before or need to prep a large batch in the freezer, this guide has you covered!
Can You Make Bacon Wrapped Smokies Ahead of Time?
The good news is yes, you can absolutely make bacon wrapped smokies ahead of time! Here are the different ways you can prep them in advance:
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Refrigerate – Make completely and refrigerate overnight up to 2-3 days before baking
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Par-cook – Partially cook bacon and prep smokies, then refrigerate overnight before finishing
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To freeze, put all of the smokies together raw, freeze them on a baking sheet, and then move them to a freezer bag.
No matter which method you choose, you’ll save time and stress by preparing the smokies in advance versus day-of. Now let’s look at each approach.
Refrigerating Overnight
One of the easiest ways to prep smokies in advance is to construct them fully the day before and refrigerate overnight.
Here is the process:
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Wrap sausage in bacon strips and secure with a toothpick.
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Lay smokies on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
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Generously sprinkle brown sugar over the tops.
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Cover pan tightly with plastic wrap or foil and refrigerate 8-24 hours.
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When ready to bake, uncover and bake at 350°F for 30-40 minutes until bacon is crispy.
The brown sugar may dissolve a bit as it absorbs moisture in the fridge. But the sugar reforms into a lovely glaze when baked, so no need to add more.
This is by far the most convenient option if you’re short on time. Simply assemble, refrigerate, then bake off right before guests arrive!
Par-Cooking Bacon Ahead of Time
For even better results, I recommend par-cooking the bacon before assembling and refrigerating the smokies. Here’s how:
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Cut bacon slices in half width-wise. Partially cook for 1-2 minutes per side in a skillet until slightly stiffened but still flexible. Drain on paper towels.
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Wrap par-cooked bacon around sausages and secure with toothpicks.
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Refrigerate overnight on a baking sheet as above.
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Bake at 375°F for 25-30 minutes until bacon is fully cooked and crispy.
Par-cooking the bacon gives it a head start on getting crispy. Refrigerating overnight firms it back up perfectly for wrapping. Then a quick final bake in a hot oven yields crunchy bacon and juicy sausages.
Freezing Raw Bacon Wrapped Smokies
Want to prep a big batch in advance? Simply wrap the sausages, arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet, and freeze until solid. Then transfer to freezer bags or containers.
To bake frozen smokies:
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Thaw overnight in the fridge or let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes.
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Preheat oven to 375°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
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Arrange smokies on the sheet and bake for 35-40 minutes, until bacon is crisp and sausages are heated through.
Letting them thaw slightly before baking prevents the bacon from getting too stiff and underdone. Then they just need a bit more time in the oven to cook through.
Tips for Prepping Smokies in Advance
Follow these handy tips for bacon wrapped smokies that are perfectly prepped ahead of time:
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Use good quality bacon – Go for thick, artisanal bacon that won’t fall apart when wrapped and baked.
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Cut bacon width-wise – Shorter pieces wrap better around the sausages.
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Soak toothpicks first – Prevent burning by soaking picks in water for 30 minutes.
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Generously coat in brown sugar – Provides a sweet, sticky coating and balances saltiness.
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Chill thoroughly – Make sure assembled smokies are chilled before baking for best results.
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Bake at 375°F – Higher heat yields crispy bacon without overcooking sausages.
With these simple tricks, your make-ahead bacon wrapped smokies will impress every time!
Serving Suggestions for Bacon Wrapped Smokies
These crowd-pleasing bites are fantastic served warm right out of the oven. Here are some easy serving ideas:
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Arrange on a platter and serve with cocktail sauce, honey mustard, or BBQ sauce for dipping.
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Skewer 3-4 smokies on frilly toothpicks for elegant hors d’oeuvres.
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Nestle in a bowl surrounded by sliced pineapple chunks.
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Spear with pickle slices for a hit of sour contrast.
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Sprinkle with minced chives or snip chive tops over the tops for color.
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Substitute chopped candied bacon for additional sweetness and crunch.
However you serve them, bacon wrapped smokies never last long at a party!
Storing and Reheating Leftover Smokies
Bacon wrapped smokies are best enjoyed freshly baked and warm. But leftovers can be stored and reheated using these tips:
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Allow cooked smokies to cool completely, then refrigerate in an airtight container up to 4 days.
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Reheat chilled smokies in a 300°F oven for 10-15 minutes until warmed through.
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For quicker reheating, microwave individual smokies in 20 second bursts, checking between.
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Frozen leftovers can be reheated straight from the freezer – just increase oven time by 5 minutes or so.
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Add a squeeze of lemon or lime juice to brighten up reheated smokies.
With proper storage and reheating, you can enjoy leftover bacon wrapped smokies for several days after party time.
Can You Make Other Types of Wrapped Sausages Ahead?
While this guide focuses on bacon wrapped smokies, the same tips apply to other types of small sausages. Here are some more wrapped appetizers you can prep in advance:
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Piggies in a blanket – Wrapped in crescent roll dough instead of bacon.
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Little sausage balls – Meatballs made of sausage and cream cheese.
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Sausage cheese balls – Cheese, sausage, and seasoning formed into bites.
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Jalapeño popper sausages – Sausages wrapped in bacon and jalapeños.
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BBQ little smokies – Smokies brushed with BBQ sauce before baking.
The sky’s the limit for party-ready wrapped sausages! Prepare them in advance using the same refrigerating or freezing techniques.
Favorite Appetizer for Effortless Entertaining
Bacon wrapped smokies check all the boxes for a crowd-pleasing appetizer. They taste amazing, are easy to make ahead, and satisfy any bacon-loving guest!
For the regular bacon wrapped smokies with brown sugar:
- When it comes to beef cocktail wieners, I like the Ambassador brand of naturally smoked beef smokies the best, but you can also use Hillshire Farms Lit’l Smokies or your own favorite brand.
- Onion: Use thin-sliced bacon instead of thick-sliced bacon. Cut each slice into thirds.
- Brown sugar—The brown sugar turns into caramel in the oven, which makes these the tastiest sweets ever.
3 Ways To Make Bacon Wrapped Smokies
- The original bacon wrapped little smokies. Beef cocktail weiners, bacon, and brown sugar are all you need for this recipe. Low heat in the oven turns this mix into the yummiest little bites of sweet and savory. In other words, bacon grease works its magic!.
- Jalapeno & peach jam smokies. Then I played around with heat by adding fresh jalapeño pepper slices to the bacon-wrapped smokies. Instead of brown sugar, I put on some peach jam this time. You can’t go wrong with this combination. If you like heat, I suggest adding bigger jalapeño slices for extra heat.
- Bacon wrapped smokies with pineapple. For our family, the bacon-wrapped smokeies with a piece of fresh pineapple on the end are the clear winner. With a simple mix of chili powder and cumin spiced brown sugar on top, these babies are incredibly tasty.
Have you ever seen bacon wrapped smokies look so beautiful?! 🙂
There is just a little difference between each version of these little smokies, but they all start with cocktail weiners and bacon.
Bacon Brown Sugar Smokies
How do you make bacon wrapped Smokies?
Bacon Wrapped Smokies are the best sweet and savory appetizer you could make. Lil Smokies wrapped in bacon and then baked in brown sugar and butter. Wrap each smokie with a “half” of bacon slice. Place in 9×13 baking dish. Melt the butter and mix with 1 cup of brown sugar. Pour the butter/brown sugar mixture over the wrapped smokies.
Can you make bacon wrapped Smokies a day in advance?
Yes, you can make bacon-wrapped smokies a day or two in advance. Follow the storage directions below and reheat them in the oven until heated through. Allow the bacon-wrapped smokies to cool completely, then transfer them to an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for up to three days. Can You Freeze Bacon-Wrapped Smokies? Yes!
How do you eat bacon wrapped Smokies?
The cheddar cranks the flavor of these bacon wrapped weenies up a notch! Then, wrap each of the little smokies in one piece of bacon. Place the smokies wrapped in bacon in a single layer in a baking dish. It’s best to place them with the bacon seam side down so the bacon stays on the sausages while cooking.
How long do you cook bacon wrapped Smokie?
Bake in a preheated 400 degree oven for 15 minutes, or until the bacon is crispy and the sugar mixture has caramelized. Serve . Remove from the oven and let cool for a couple of minutes, then place each Bacon Wrapped Smokie onto a piece of pineapple to serve. Enjoy! Cutting the bacon into thirds ensures that it will get nice and crispy!