Bacon Wrapped Sausage Bites: The Ultimate Football Season Appetizer
When it comes to football season, there’s nothing better than an easy appetizer that can be made ahead, travels well, and disappears almost as quickly as you put it on the table. These Bacon-Wrapped Sausage Bites check every box. They’re one of my absolute favorite recipes for tailgates, game-day gatherings, and watch parties.
Made with just three simple ingredients: bacon, smoked sausage, and brown sugar, these bite-sized appetizers are sweet, savory, smoky, and completely irresistible. The bacon gets crispy around the edges while the brown sugar caramelizes in the oven, creating the perfect combination of salty and sweet.
And a little advice from experience: if you’re feeding a crowd, go ahead and double the recipe. These tend to disappear fast!
What You’ll Need
One of the best things about this recipe is how simple the ingredient list is. You only need:
Bacon
Smoked sausage
Brown sugar
I love using Conecuh Sausage for this recipe. It has so much flavor and is a favorite around my house, but if Conecuh isn’t available where you live, simply substitute your favorite smoked sausage.
A Note About the Bacon
The type of bacon you use really does make a difference. Do not use thick-cut or center-cut bacon for this recipe. Because each slice is cut into thirds and wrapped around the sausage, traditional regular-cut bacon works best. It’s thin enough to wrap easily and will cook up nice and crispy in the oven.
Gather Your Kitchen Tools
Before you get started, gather everything you’ll need. I recommend having:
Sharp knife and/or kitchen shears
Cutting board
Toothpicks
Rimmed sheet pan
Aluminum foil
Wire rack
Cooking spray
Line your sheet pan with foil for easy cleanup, then place a wire rack on top. Lightly spray the rack with cooking spray. The rack allows the heat to circulate around the sausage bites as they bake and helps keep the bacon from sitting in excess grease.
How to Make Bacon-Wrapped Sausage Bites
1. Cut the Bacon
Start by cutting the bacon into thirds crosswise. I find that kitchen shears make this step especially quick and easy, but a sharp knife works just as well.
2. Cut the Sausage
Next, cut the smoked sausage into approximately 1-inch pieces. Try to keep the pieces relatively uniform in size so they cook evenly.
3. Wrap the Sausage
Take one piece of bacon and carefully wrap it around a piece of sausage. Secure the bacon with a toothpick, making sure the toothpick goes through the bacon and sausage so everything stays together while baking. Repeat until all of the sausage pieces have been wrapped.
4. Roll in Brown Sugar
Now comes the sweet part! Gently roll each bacon-wrapped sausage bite in brown sugar, making sure it is lightly coated on all sides. Place each piece onto your prepared wire rack, leaving a little space between the bites so the bacon can crisp up as they bake.
5. Bake
Bake according to the recipe directions until the bacon is cooked through and crisp and the brown sugar has melted and caramelized around the edges. The smell that fills your kitchen while these are baking is reason enough to make them!
Make-Ahead & Tailgate Tips
One of the reasons I love these Bacon-Wrapped Sausage Bites for entertaining is that they can be prepared a day ahead of time. Simply assemble the bites, cover them, and store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator until you’re ready to bake.
If you’re taking them to a tailgate or watch party, they’re also easy to transport. Just bake them shortly before heading out, or reheat them once you arrive.
And don’t forget the dipping sauce! I love serving these with spicy mustard. The tangy heat of the mustard is the perfect contrast to the sweet brown sugar and smoky sausage.
The Perfect Game-Day Appetizer
Whether you’re hosting the crowd at your house, heading to a tailgate, or gathering around the TV to cheer on your favorite team, these Bacon-Wrapped Sausage Bites are guaranteed to be a hit.
They’re easy enough for a casual Saturday afternoon but delicious enough to earn a spot on any party table. With only three ingredients and minimal prep, this is one of those recipes you’ll find yourself making again and again all football season long.
Just remember: make extra. You’ve been warned! Grab the Printable version of the recipe below!
Bacon-Wrapped Sausage Bites
Conecuh Sausage and bacon join forces in this mouthwatering appetizer that’s easy to make and travels well!
Ingredients
- 16oz Original Conecuh Sausage
- 8 slices of regular uncooked bacon
- 1 cup brown sugar
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil and fit it with a wire rack. Spray the wire rack with cooking spray and set aside.
- Using kitchen scissors or a sharp knife, cut each slice of bacon crosswise into three equal pieces. Using a sharp knife, cut the Conecuh Sausage into 1-inch pieces.
- Wrap one piece of bacon tightly around each piece of sausage and secure with a toothpick. Repeat until all of the sausage pieces are wrapped.
- Roll each bacon-wrapped sausage piece in brown sugar, coating it evenly. Place the pieces on the prepared wire rack, leaving a little space between each one.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the bacon is browned and the brown sugar is caramelized. For extra-crispy bacon, broil for an additional 2–3 minutes, watching closely to prevent burning.
Notes
Recipe Notes: This recipe yields about 24 pieces of pork wrapped pork. These mouthwatering bites will be gone before the first quarter is over. If you're headed to a party or tailgate that is going to be well attended, I suggest you double this recipe. Serve with spicy mustard.