Smoked Bacon-Wrapped Little Smokies: Sweet and Smoky Party Bites

Salty, sweet, and spicy combine in this crowd-pleasing appetizer. Little smokies wrapped in bacon get tossed in Buffalo sauce, rolled in brown sugar and a sweet rub, then smoked to develop a deep, savory flavor.

Bacon Wrapped Little Smokies

Little smokies are perfectly sized bite‑sized sausages that everyone seems to love. While you can always heat them and serve with a standard BBQ sauce, wrapping them in bacon, glazing them, and finishing them in a smoker turns them into an unforgettable appetizer.

You don’t need complicated ingredients to make a memorable party snack. A little extra prep — wrapping each smoky with bacon, saucing, and applying a sugar rub — delivers great contrast between smoky, sweet, and spicy. Smoking adds a layer of barbecue flavor that makes these irresistible.

Ingredients for Bacon Wrapped Little Smokies

These smoked, bacon-wrapped little smokies need just a handful of ingredients:

• Little smokies. One package of pre-cooked little smokies (pork and chicken suggested).
• Bacon. Regular-thickness bacon works best so it renders evenly during smoking.
• Buffalo sauce. Use your favorite brand; Frank’s is a classic choice.
• Brown sugar. Light or dark brown sugar both work for the sweet coating.
• Sweet rub. A sweet BBQ rub pairs well here — use a store-bought sweet rub or make a simple blend of brown sugar, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and a touch of chili powder.

How to Cook Bacon Wrapped Little Smokies

With ingredients ready, follow these steps to assemble and smoke the little smokies. For exact ingredient amounts and a printable format, use the recipe card below.

1. Preheat. Preheat your smoker to 275°F. While it comes up to temp, prepare the smokies.
2. Wrap. Cut each bacon slice into thirds. Wrap each little smoky with a third of bacon and secure with a toothpick.
3. Season. Place the wrapped smokies in a large bowl and toss with Buffalo sauce to coat. In a separate bowl, mix brown sugar with the sweet rub. Roll each sauced, wrapped smoky in the sugar-rub mixture, then arrange them on a roasting rack set over a baking sheet.
4. Smoke. Place the roasting rack directly on the smoker grates and close the lid. Smoke for about 45 minutes to 1 hour, until the bacon is rendered and the smokies are hot throughout.
5. Serve. Transfer the finished smokies to a platter and serve immediately. Leave the toothpicks in for easy handling.

How Long to Smoke Little Smokies

Plan on 45 minutes to 1 hour of smoking. The main goal is rendered bacon — the fat should have melted and the bacon should be nicely cooked without burning. Start checking around 45 minutes and remove them once the bacon looks done and the sausages are heated through. Total time can vary with smoker temperature stability and bacon thickness, so use visual cues as your guide.

Tips for Making Smoked Little Smokies

Use these tips to get the best results:

• Make extra for a crowd. The recipe as written serves about 4–6 as an appetizer, but these disappear fast — double the batch for larger gatherings.
• Keep them warm. If you need to transport or hold them for a while, smoke them at home and keep them in a crockpot on the “warm” setting so they stay hot without overcooking.
• Substitutions. If you can’t find little smokies, pre-cooked hot dogs, kielbasa, or pre-cooked brats work well. For thicker sausages, allow up to an hour to ensure the bacon renders fully.

What to Serve with Little Smokies

These smoky bites pair well with many sides to create a fuller meal. Consider grilled vegetables, skillet cornbread, or smoked mac and cheese to round out a BBQ spread.

• Grilled Vegetables
• Skillet Cornbread
• Smoked Mac and Cheese

More Awesome Shareable Recipes

If your guests love smoky snacks, these little smokies are just the start. Try other easy appetizer recipes for your next gathering — options like deep-fried burnt ends, smoked shotgun shells, sweet and sticky steak bites, or mac and cheese bites make great companions.

Sides

Deep-Fried Burnt Ends

Sides

Smoked Shotgun Shells

Beef

Sweet and Sticky Steak Bites

Sides

Mac and Cheese Bites

Little Smokies Recipe

I hope you enjoy these bacon-wrapped little smokies — they vanish fast, so make plenty. If you try the recipe, leave a review or comment to share how they turned out.

Below is the full recipe card with ingredient amounts, instructions, and notes to help you make these smoked little smokies at home.