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A close-up overhead shot of Crockpot Bacon Wrapped Smokies. The bacon is visibly crispy and caramelized, and the sausages are coated in a thick, glistening amber glaze.

The Ultimate Crockpot Bacon Wrapped Smokies with a Sticky Brown Sugar Glaze

These Crockpot Bacon Wrapped Smokies are the ultimate party appetizer! Salty bacon and savory sausages are slow-cooked in a thick, sticky dark amber brown sugar glaze until perfectly caramelized. An easy, crowd-pleasing recipe for any occasion.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours 30 minutes
Total Time 3 hours
Servings: 10 people
Course: Appetizer, Snack
Cuisine: American
Calories: 248
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 14 oz cocktail sausages (little smokies) drained
  • 12 oz regular-cut bacon Do not use thick-cut
  • 1 cup dark brown sugar packed
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper freshly cracked

Equipment

  • 1 Slow Cooker (4-quart or larger)
  • 1 Baking Sheet
  • 40 Wooden Toothpicks

Method
 

  1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Cut bacon strips into thirds and arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake for 10-15 minutes, until the fat has partially rendered but the bacon is still pliable. Drain on paper towels.
  2. Wrap each cocktail sausage tightly with a piece of the par-cooked bacon. Secure the bacon by piercing through it and the sausage with a wooden toothpick.
  3. Place all the bacon-wrapped smokies into the insert of your slow cooker. Sprinkle the packed dark brown sugar, garlic powder, and black pepper evenly over the top.
  4. Cover and cook on LOW for 2-3 hours or HIGH for 1-2 hours. Stir gently halfway through. The dish is ready when the glaze is thick, bubbly, and the bacon is fully caramelized.

Notes

Don't Skip Par-Cooking: This is the non-negotiable step to ensure the bacon gets crispy and caramelized, not soft and rubbery.
Use Regular-Cut Bacon: Thick-cut bacon takes too long to get crispy and can overwhelm the small cocktail sausages.
Keep on Warm: Once cooked, you can turn the slow cooker to the 'Keep Warm' setting for hours, making it the perfect self-serve party dish.