Meat Candy (Bacon Wrapped Smokies)
We call these three ingredient Bacon Wrapped Smokies “Meat Candy,” because they’re sweet, smoky, and impossible to resist! Don’t skip the dip recipe! It really puts this easy appetizer over the top!
The first time I made bacon wrapped smokies was back in 2011. No one I knew had a Pinterest account. It was practically the stone ages.
Back then, I wasn’t exactly known for my cooking skills, unless of course you count boxed mac and cheese. I could make a mean blue box mac.
In 2011, if you wanted to find a new recipe, you Googled it, and nine times out of ten, you’d be taken straight to allrecipes.com.
I spent many hours in those first years of marriage clicking through tiny, grainy photos of food, looking for our next dinner.
I had some successes. I had some failures. And then I discovered Meat Candy.
The recipe seemed simple enough for a newbie cook. It was essentially bacon wrapped little smokies smothered in brown sugar. A little odd, perhaps, but bacon was having a moment back in 2011, so bacon-anything seemed like a sure fire win.
I expected this combo to be good. I didn’t expect it to be this good. I’m pretty sure if we hadn’t already been married, the Mr. would’ve proposed after the first bite.
I realize you may be skeptical. Can three ingredients really be that good?
Answer: Yes. Yes, they can. Pork wrapped pork + brown sugar = magic. It’s basic math.
Besides, it can’t be pure coincidence that one package of bacon happens to be the perfect amount to wrap all the sausages in a package of Lit’l Smokies.
How to Make Bacon Wrapped Smokies
- Start with a 1 lb. package of bacon. I like using a thinner cut bacon, because it’s easier to wrap.
- Slice each strip of bacon into three pieces. You can easily stack several pieces and use a knife or scissors to slice them up.
- Wrap each piece of bacon around a single smoky and secure with a toothpick. Place on a foil lined baking sheet, and repeat until the entire package of Lit’l Smokies is wrapped.
- Smother the bacon wrapped smokies with brown sugar. I’ve included measurements in the recipe below, but I rarely measure the sugar. Just make sure there’s a good amount of sugar on each smoky.
- Bake until the bacon is cooked and crispy and serve with the best ever dipping sauce (recipe below)!
Easy Dipping Sauce for Bacon Wrapped Smokies
I didn’t think this appetizer could get any better. Then we added a dipping sauce. YOU. GUYS.
I could write an entire post just about this sauce. It’s a simple mixture of mayo, ketchup, maple, and Sriracha. Like the meat candy, it might sound a little strange, but my GOODNESS, is it ever tasty.
It’s obviously the perfect dipping sauce for the meat candy, but it also happens to be excellent with, oh, I don’t know, every single other thing you can think of.
If you happen to have leftover sauce, smear it on sandwiches, use it as a dip for french fries, or serve it as a side with scrambled eggs.
Meat Candy in the Slow Cooker
One last tip: If you’re making this for a party and need to keep it warm, simply drizzle a little maple syrup in the bottom of a slow cooker and layer the meat candy on top. The warm setting will keep them hot and crispy for as long as they last, which I promise you won’t be very long.
More Tailgating Recipe Ideas
Since we first tried meat candy, we’ve taken this appetizer to multiple parties, and they always, ALWAYS disappear. We’ve gotten a few raised eyebrows over the term “meat candy” (one friend guessed it was a bacon wrapped Snickers), but one bite is all it takes to win people over.
Beware, scoffers. No one can resist the power of crispy, chewy, juicy, savory, sweet Bacon Wrapped Smokies.
If you loved these, you might also want to try these Little Smokies Pigs in a Blanket. Our other go-to appetizers for tailgating are this Three Cheese Lasagna Dip, Hot Crab Dip, and Slow Cooker Queso.
If you need to feed a crowd, Slow Cooker Shredded Beef and Pulled Roast Beef Sliders are always a hit! And of course you can never go wrong with classic Slow Cooker Steak Chili served up with all the fixings!
Bacon Wrapped Smokies (Meat Candy)
Savory Lit'l Smokies are wrapped in bacon and smothered in brown sugar for an easy appetizer that is truly irresistible! This Meat Candy is always the first thing to be gobbled up at parties!
Ingredients
For the meat candy:
- 1 lb bacon (see note 1)
- 1 14 oz. package Lit'l Smokies (see note 2)
- 1/3-1/2 cup brown sugar
For the dipping sauce:
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 1 Tablespoon maple syrup
- 1 Tablespoon Sriracha
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Cut the bacon strips into thirds.
- Wrap one (third) piece bacon around one smokie and secure with toothpick. Place on foil lined baking sheet. Repeat until smokies and/or bacon runs out.
- Smother with brown sugar. Really. I usually don't measure, but you'll likely need between 1/3 and 1/2 cup. Just make sure all the pieces have a good amount of brown sugar on them.
- Bake for 35-40 minutes or until bacon is cooked through and crispy. Serve immediately OR keep warm by pouring a thin layer of maple syrup on the bottom of a crockpot, set on WARM, and layer meat candy on top.
- To make the dipping sauce, whisk all ingredients together. Serve with the smokies. Leftovers can be used for sandwiches or as a dipping sauce for vegetables or French fries.
Notes
- I find that thin sliced bacon works best for these. If you have thicker bacon, feel free to give it a little stretch before you cut them so the pieces are a bit longer. This makes for easier wrapping.
- Make sure you get the smoked sausage kind and not the cocktail weiner kind.
- If you'd like to add some heat to these, feel free to stir a few pinches of cayenne pepper into the brown sugar before sprinkling it on.
Recipe adapted from Allrecipes.com
Can you make ahead and reheat in the microwave??
These would probably get a little rubbery in the microwave. My preferred method for reheating is to coat the bottom of a slow cooker with maple syrup, add the meat candy, and place on low for about 30 minutes-1 hour.
Can I assemble the day before & bake before needing them?
Yes, these can be assembled the day before.
So easy to make. I added a 1/4 tsp cayenne to the brown sugar for an extra pop…love, love, love this recipe. Dinner guests raved about how tasty they were.
I used mini pepperonis because our store didn’t have mini smokies and they were awesome! I had so many compliments on them and they’re easy peasy. I will definitely be making those again!!
Thanks
You can get a mesh sheet to put into the cookie sheet or lasagna pan, or whatever you use and that will prevent the smokies from lying in the grease, which is what happened to me the first time I made these. I got my mesh ‘sheet’ at Bed Bath & Beyond. Worth it!
When I do mines it be so Greasy. What am I doing wrong?
Do you cover the pan when you bake them.
Nope! Leave the pan uncovered so the bacon can crisp up!
Why wouldn’t cocktail wieners work?
They’ll work just fine, but they’ll taste a little different. More like a hot dog than sausage. 🙂 Either is good though!
Oh my gosh!!! I know what to take to the next potluck at work now. Thanks for posting this.
Yay! I love finding other food and Buckeye lovers! Two of my favorite things (besides bacon) which I know you also enjoy so win, win, and win!
My husband would love these! He loves the smokies, bacon, and the Bucks! You know what we’ll be doing tonight, and I’ll have to try this recipe.