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Best Bourbon Glazed Bacon Wrapped Smokies: Easy Party Appetizer

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These bourbon glazed bacon wrapped smokies are the ultimate party appetizer—salty, sweet, a little boozy, and completely impossible to stop eating. With a par-cooking technique for perfectly crispy bacon and a sticky bourbon glaze, they disappear faster than anything else on the table.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 packages (14 oz each) Little Smokies
  • 1 pound thin-cut bacon
  • ½ cup packed brown sugar (light or dark)
  • ¼ cup bourbon (e.g., Bulleit or Maker’s Mark)
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • Optional: chopped chives or parsley for garnish
  • Optional: flaky sea salt for finishing

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Set a wire rack on top if available.
  2. Par-cook the bacon: Lay bacon strips on a separate baking sheet or in a large skillet. Cook for 5-7 minutes in the oven, or until just starting to render fat but still very pliable. Drain on paper towels and let cool.
  3. Cut each bacon strip in half.
  4. Wrap each little smokie with a piece of par-cooked bacon. Secure with a toothpick pushed through the center. Place seam-side down on the prepared baking sheet or wire rack.
  5. Make the bourbon glaze: In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine brown sugar, bourbon, and Dijon mustard. Whisk until sugar dissolves and mixture is smooth, about 2-3 minutes. Let simmer gently for 1 minute until slightly thickened. Remove from heat.
  6. Brush the glaze generously onto each bacon-wrapped smokie. Reserve about a quarter of the glaze for later.
  7. Bake for 20 minutes. After 10 minutes, use tongs to flip each piece. Brush with reserved glaze after flipping.
  8. Optional: Switch oven to broil for the last 2-3 minutes for extra caramelization. Watch carefully to prevent burning.
  9. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving. The glaze will set slightly as it cools.
  10. Garnish with chopped chives or parsley and a pinch of flaky sea salt if desired. Serve warm with extra toothpicks.

Notes

Par-cook the bacon first for crispy results. Use thin-cut bacon only. Soak toothpicks in water to prevent burning. Can be assembled up to 24 hours in advance. For non-alcoholic version, substitute bourbon with apple cider or apple juice plus 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. For extra glaze, double the glaze recipe.

Nutrition

Keywords: bourbon glazed bacon wrapped smokies, bacon wrapped little smokies, party appetizer, game day food, bourbon glaze, easy appetizer

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