Party appetizers have always been my go-to for keeping people happy. I’ve served these bacon-wrapped cocktail sausages at game day parties, holiday gatherings, and pretty much every potluck I’ve been invited to. They disappear faster than anything else on the table.
The best part? You only need two ingredients and about five minutes of prep time. No fancy techniques or special equipment required. I make a big batch, pop them in the oven, and let them do their thing while I focus on everything else.
Want something salty and savory? These are for you. Need an appetizer that feeds a crowd without breaking the bank? Same. They’re the kind of food that makes everyone come back for seconds and ask for the recipe.
Why You’ll Love These Bacon-Wrapped Cocktail Sausages
- Only 3 ingredients – You just need cocktail sausages, bacon, and brown sugar to make these crowd-pleasers. No complicated shopping list or hard-to-find items required.
- Perfect party appetizer – These little bites disappear fast at gatherings, and everyone always asks for the recipe. They’re great for game day, holidays, or any get-together.
- Sweet and savory combo – The brown sugar caramelizes on the bacon while it cooks, creating that irresistible sweet-salty flavor that keeps people coming back for more.
- Make-ahead friendly – You can wrap these ahead of time and pop them in the oven when your guests arrive, making hosting so much easier.
What Kind of Bacon Should I Use?
For this recipe, lean bacon is your best bet since it won’t release too much grease while cooking. Regular-cut bacon works better than thick-cut here because it wraps around the little sausages more easily and crisps up nicely in the oven. If you only have thick-cut bacon on hand, you can still use it, but you might need to cook them a bit longer to get that bacon fully crispy. Some people like to use turkey bacon as a lighter option, and while it’ll work in a pinch, it won’t get quite as crispy or have that same rich, smoky flavor as regular pork bacon.
Options for Substitutions
This simple recipe works great with a few easy swaps if you need them:
- Little Smokies cocktail sausages: If you can’t find Little Smokies, regular hot dogs cut into thirds work perfectly. You can also use turkey or chicken cocktail sausages for a lighter option.
- Lean bacon: Regular bacon works fine here – just drain off extra grease after cooking. You can also use turkey bacon, though it won’t crisp up quite as much. Cut each slice into thirds so it wraps around the sausages nicely.
- Brown sugar: Light or dark brown sugar both work great. In a pinch, you can mix white sugar with a tablespoon of molasses, or use maple syrup instead (about 1/2 cup, and expect them to be a bit stickier).
Watch Out for These Mistakes While Cooking
The biggest mistake people make with bacon-wrapped cocktail sausages is using thick-cut bacon, which won’t crisp up properly in the time it takes to cook the sausages – stick with regular or thin-cut bacon and cut each slice in half or thirds so it wraps around once without overlapping too much.
Another common error is skipping the step of placing the wrapped sausages seam-side down on the baking sheet, which causes the bacon to unravel during cooking and creates a messy situation.
To get that perfect caramelized coating, pat the brown sugar firmly onto the bacon before baking rather than just sprinkling it on top, and if you want extra crispy bacon, try broiling them for the last 2-3 minutes while keeping a close eye so the sugar doesn’t burn.
Finally, let them cool for a few minutes before serving since the sugar gets extremely hot and can burn mouths easily.
What to Serve With Bacon-Wrapped Cocktail Sausages?
These little guys are perfect party food, so I like to set them out alongside other finger foods like cheese and crackers, veggie sticks with ranch dip, or some spinach artichoke dip with tortilla chips. Since they’re pretty rich and savory, something fresh and crunchy helps balance things out – try a simple coleslaw or a fruit tray with grapes and pineapple chunks. If you’re serving them as an appetizer before dinner, keep the rest of your meal on the lighter side since these are pretty filling. They also work great at game day spreads next to buffalo chicken dip, mozzarella sticks, or loaded potato skins.
Storage Instructions
Store: Keep any leftover bacon-wrapped sausages in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. They’re great for snacking straight from the fridge, or you can warm them up again before serving.
Make Ahead: You can wrap the sausages in bacon up to a day before your party and keep them covered in the refrigerator. Just add the brown sugar and bake when you’re ready to serve. This is a huge time-saver when you’re prepping for guests!
Reheat: Pop them back in a 350°F oven for about 10 minutes until they’re warmed through and the bacon crisps up again. You can also use the microwave for about 30 seconds, but the oven keeps them crispier.
| Preparation Time | 10-15 minutes |
| Cooking Time | 40-45 minutes |
| Total Time | 50-60 minutes |
| Level of Difficulty | Easy |
Estimated Nutrition
Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):
- Calories: 2050-2250
- Protein: 75-90 g
- Fat: 160-180 g
- Carbohydrates: 100-110 g
Ingredients
- 1 package (12 oz) bacon (thick-cut preferred)
- 3/4 cup brown sugar (packed)
- 1 package (14 oz) cocktail sausages
Step 1: Prepare the Oven and Ingredients
- 1 package (12 oz) bacon (thick-cut preferred)
Preheat your oven to 325°F and line a baking sheet with aluminum foil for easy cleanup.
Using kitchen shears, cut the bacon into thirds to make smaller strips suitable for wrapping around the sausages.
Step 2: Assemble the Bacon-Wrapped Sausages
- bacon, cut into thirds (from Step 1)
- 1 package (14 oz) cocktail sausages
Wrap one third of a bacon slice around each cocktail sausage, then secure each one with a toothpick to hold the bacon in place.
Arrange the wrapped sausages evenly on the prepared baking sheet.
Repeat until all the sausages and bacon have been used.
Step 3: Add Brown Sugar and Bake
- 3/4 cup brown sugar (packed)
- bacon-wrapped sausages (from Step 2)
Sprinkle the packed brown sugar evenly over the bacon-wrapped sausages.
Bake in the preheated oven for 40-45 minutes, or until the bacon is cooked through and beginning to brown.
I like to use dark brown sugar for a deeper caramelized flavor—it makes a noticeable difference!
Irresistible Bacon-Wrapped Cocktail Sausages
Ingredients
- 1 package (12 oz) bacon (thick-cut preferred)
- 3/4 cup brown sugar (packed)
- 1 package (14 oz) cocktail sausages
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 325°F and line a baking sheet with aluminum foil for easy cleanup. Using kitchen shears, cut the bacon into thirds to make smaller strips suitable for wrapping around the sausages.
- Wrap one third of a bacon slice around each cocktail sausage, then secure each one with a toothpick to hold the bacon in place. Arrange the wrapped sausages evenly on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat until all the sausages and bacon have been used.
- Sprinkle the packed brown sugar evenly over the bacon-wrapped sausages. Bake in the preheated oven for 40-45 minutes, or until the bacon is cooked through and beginning to brown. I like to use dark brown sugar for a deeper caramelized flavor—it makes a noticeable difference!
