Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Smokies are hands down one of the most irresistible appetizers you can make! Imagine succulent mini sausages, often called ‘little smokies,’ lovingly enveloped in crispy bacon, then glazed with a delightful blend of sweet and savory barbecue sauce and brown sugar. Every single bite offers a burst of flavor and texture that makes them an instant crowd-pleaser. Whether you’re hosting a game day party, a casual get-together, or simply craving a delicious snack, these bacon-wrapped delights are incredibly simple to prepare in your Ninja Foodi or Cosori air fryer, delivering perfectly crispy results every time.
These Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Smokies are notoriously addicting, and once you try them, you’ll understand why! They are a must-try easy air fryer recipe, ideal for serving as an appetizer at any party or while enjoying your favorite football game. Perfectly bite-sized and bursting with flavor, you can just pop them in and savor the deliciousness. The magic of the air fryer truly elevates this classic snack, making the bacon wonderfully crispy without the need for excessive oil or deep frying.
Why Air Fryer Smokies are a Game Changer
If you haven’t experienced the sheer delight of these air-fried bacon-wrapped little smokies, you are truly missing out! This air fryer bacon wrapped little smokies recipe is beyond amazing, delivering a crispy texture and deep flavor that oven-baked versions simply can’t match. The air fryer circulates hot air, cooking the bacon evenly and rendering it perfectly crisp, while keeping the mini sausages juicy on the inside. You’ll wish you could smell them through the screen – that’s how good they are!
We’ve been exploring and creating a plethora of air fryer appetizers lately, and for good reason. This incredible kitchen appliance has revolutionized the way we prepare snacks and meals. It allows us to achieve maximum crispiness without any deep frying or the added oil, making our favorite comfort foods a little lighter and much easier to clean up after. It’s perfect for everything from chicken wings to these incredible smokies.
Expert Tip: For the best results, always preheat your air fryer before adding food. This practice ensures that your ingredients hit a hot surface immediately, leading to a crispier exterior and more even cooking. My favorite models for this recipe are the Cosori and Ninja Foodi, especially those with an attached lid for convenience. Learning how to preheat your air fryer effectively is a simple step that makes a huge difference in the final outcome of your dishes. For a handy reference, grab our printable free air fryer cooking time chart to keep on your fridge!
Crafting Your Perfect Bacon Wrapped Smokies in the Air Fryer
You’ve likely mastered making air fryer bacon and perfected air fryer hot dogs separately. Now, prepare to unite these two fantastic ingredients in a way that creates an unforgettable appetizer. When combined, they become a true game changer! I promise you, if you make these for a crowd, there won’t be a single one left. The preparation is straightforward, starting with a simple cutting board for prepping. You’ll use toothpicks to keep everything securely in place, preventing the bacon from unraveling during cooking.
Essential Ingredients for Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Smokies
Gathering your ingredients is the first step to creating these delightful bites:
- One package of little smokies (mini sausages)
- Strips of your favorite bacon
- Your preferred brand of sweet and tangy barbecue sauce
- A touch of rich brown sugar
While toothpicks are highly recommended for keeping the bacon snug around each smokie, especially when serving guests during the big game for easy picking, you can technically make these without them. If you opt out of toothpicks, simply ensure the loose end of the bacon strip is tucked securely underneath the smokie. However, for guaranteed neatness and convenience, particularly for parties, I prefer using the longer toothpicks that sometimes come with small forks at the end – they really help keep everything intact. These truly are a family favorite, always disappearing quickly!
Air Frying Bacon Wrapped Smokies in Your Ninja Foodi (or other Air Fryer)
If you’re new to these delightful mini wieners, you’ll find them readily available alongside standard hot dogs in most grocery stores. Their distinct smoky flavor, as their name suggests, is what makes them so unique and appealing. When using a Ninja Foodi to prepare these, you’ll utilize the air crisp function with the specific air frying lid (if your model has an interchangeable lid) to ensure that signature crispy bacon finish.
Exploring Little Smokies: Cooking Methods and Pre-cooked Status
Many wonder about the best ways to cook little smokies and if they come pre-cooked. Let’s dive into these common questions to ensure your appetizer experience is as smooth as possible.
How do I cook smokies?
Beyond the air fryer, there are other fantastic ways to prepare these versatile mini sausages. We often enjoy them with two other popular methods: our Instant Pot cocktail wieners recipe offers a quick and flavorful option, perfect for keeping them warm in a savory sauce. Additionally, we have a detailed guide on how to cook these in the oven in our dedicated bacon wrapped little smokies with brown sugar post, showcasing their deliciousness through traditional baking.
Are little smokies already cooked?
Yes, similar to their larger hot dog counterparts, little smokies are typically bite-sized, fully-cooked smoked sausages. This means they only require reheating to be thoroughly enjoyed. When you wrap them in bacon and cook them in the air fryer, your primary goal is to ensure the bacon gets wonderfully crispy and cooked through, while the smokies themselves are simply brought up to a warm, appetizing temperature. This makes them a fantastic choice for quick and easy meal prep or last-minute appetizers.
The cooking time for bacon-wrapped smokies in an air fryer can vary slightly based on the thickness of your bacon and your desired level of crispiness. Generally, for regular-cut bacon, you’re looking at about 6-8 minutes at 350°F (175°C). This duration typically results in perfectly cooked, crispy bacon and warmed smokies. Always keep an eye on them during the last few minutes to prevent overcooking, especially if you prefer extra crispy bacon.
The quantity of bacon-wrapped smokies you can cook in one batch depends directly on the size of your air fryer and its basket. It is crucial to arrange them in a single layer without any overlapping. Overlapping can prevent the hot air from circulating properly, leading to uneven cooking and less crispy bacon. Therefore, if you have a larger air fryer basket, you’ll be able to prepare more at once. For bigger gatherings, you might need to cook them in multiple batches, keeping the earlier batches warm under foil.
What do you eat with little smokies?
In the context of this recipe, bacon-wrapped smokies are primarily enjoyed as a fantastic appetizer or snack rather than a main meal. They are perfect on their own, but if you were to serve the small hot dogs as part of a meal, you might consider pairing them with air fryer vegetables like roasted broccoli or asparagus, or perhaps a simple side of pasta salad or creamy mashed potatoes. For these bacon-wrapped versions, simple dipping sauces like ranch, honey mustard, or an extra side of barbecue sauce would be a wonderful addition.
Can you reheat sausages wrapped in bacon?
Absolutely, you can reheat leftover bacon-wrapped mini sausages! While fresh is always best, these reheat surprisingly well. To bring them back to life, gather a bunch of the mini sausages and wrap them loosely inside aluminum foil. Place the foil-wrapped package into a hot oven (around 350°F or 175°C) for approximately 10-15 minutes, or until they are warmed through and the bacon crispness is revived. You can also briefly pop them back into the air fryer for a few minutes to regain crispness, just be careful not to dry them out.
If you’re looking for a similar comforting appetizer but prefer to use your slow cooker, our Crockpot little smokies recipe is an excellent alternative. It offers a different but equally delicious experience with minimal effort. Below, you’ll find a complete, printable recipe card with all the details, but here’s a quick and easy step-by-step guide to get you started. Make sure your strips of bacon are prepped and ready to go!
Simple Steps to Cook Air Fryer BBQ Little Smokies
- Step 1: Preheat. Begin by preheating your air fryer to 350 degrees F (175°C) for 5 minutes. This ensures optimal crisping.
- Step 2: Prepare the Bacon and Smokies. Take each strip of bacon and cut it into four smaller pieces. Carefully wrap one of the little smokies inside each bacon piece, ensuring the ends overlap. Use a toothpick to securely fasten the bacon around the smokie, preventing it from unraveling during cooking.
- Step 3: Air Fry. Lightly spray the air fryer basket with a non-stick cooking spray. Arrange the prepared smokies in a single layer within the basket, making sure they do not touch or overlap. Air fry the lil smokies at 350°F (175°C) for approximately 6-8 minutes, or until the bacon reaches your desired level of crispiness. Cooking time may vary slightly depending on your air fryer model and bacon thickness.
- Step 4: Glaze and Serve. Once cooked, remove the smokies from the air fryer. Brush each one with barbecue sauce, then lightly sprinkle brown sugar over the top for that perfect sweet and savory finish. Serve immediately to enjoy them at their best!
If you happen to have any leftovers (which is rare with this recipe!), consider transforming them into our delightful pigs in a blanket pull-apart bread for another incredible snack.
Achieving Perfect Crispiness: How Long to Cook Bacon Wrapped Little Smokies in the Air Fryer
Observing the images, you can clearly see just how incredibly crispy the exteriors of these bacon-wrapped little smokies become in the air fryer. The precise cooking time will largely depend on your personal preference for how brown and crispy you like the bacon. Typically, with regular-cut pork bacon (not thick-cut), each batch will take between 6-8 minutes. Remember, air fryers cook quickly, so it’s always a good idea to monitor them during the last few minutes. If you’re preparing a large quantity for a crowd, you can easily keep the cooked batches warm by covering them loosely with foil until ready to serve.
Below, you’ll find a detailed recipe card with estimated nutritional information. Yes, these delightful bites contain calories and saturated fat, but seriously, they are pure comfort food. Sometimes, you just need to indulge and enjoy them without worry! They are worth every delicious bite.
Other Delicious Recipes Featuring Bacon You Must Try:
- One irresistible dish we constantly crave is our Instant Pot Bacon Potatoes, a creamy and flavorful side.
- For a more substantial meal, our Smoked Bacon Wrapped Pork Chops are truly out of this world delicious.
- And if you haven’t yet tried our Smoked Bacon Stuffed Meatloaf, you’re missing out on an incredible savory experience!
For all you air fryer enthusiasts, your next culinary adventure should definitely be making bacon wrapped air fryer steak in your machine. It’s a revelation! Bacon truly makes everything better. I particularly recommend uncured center-cut bacon. While it might be a bit pricier, the difference in quality and flavor is phenomenal. Center-cut bacon also tends to have a higher meat-to-fat ratio, giving you more to savor.
A close second in my bacon preferences is smoked bacon, especially if you can’t find uncured center-cut. The smoky notes add another delightful layer of flavor to any dish, and when it comes to cooking, it’s all about creating bold, mouth-watering experiences, isn’t it? Jump to the recipe below, my friends, and let us know what you think!
Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Smokies Recipe
Justine
15 mins
8 mins
12 Servings
Equipment
-
1 Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 20 Little Smokies (mini sausages)
- 5 strips Bacon (regular cut)
- 2 tbsp Barbecue Sauce
- 1 tbsp Brown Sugar
Instructions
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Preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees F (175°C). Slice each bacon strip in half lengthwise, then cut those pieces in half again, resulting in 4 smaller strips per original bacon slice.
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Wrap each smokie in one of the cut bacon pieces. Secure the bacon by tucking the loose end underneath or by using a toothpick. Lightly spray the inside of your air fryer basket with non-stick cooking spray.
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Place the bacon-wrapped sausages into the air fryer basket in a single layer, ensuring they do not overlap. Cook for 6-8 minutes, or until the bacon is crispy to your liking.
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Once cooked, remove them from the air fryer. Brush barbecue sauce over each smokie, then sprinkle a bit of brown sugar on top of each one. Serve immediately for the best taste.
Nutrition (Approximate)
Calories: 74kcal,
Carbohydrates: 3g,
Protein: 4g,
Fat: 5g,
Saturated Fat: 2g,
Cholesterol: 18mg,
Sodium: 251mg,
Potassium: 25mg,
Fiber: 1g,
Sugar: 2g,
Vitamin A: 7IU,
Calcium: 8mg,
Iron: 1mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should only be used as an approximation.
Additional Information
Appetizer, Snack
American
