Bacon wrapped little smokies are always the first thing gone at a party. This version gets a Dr. Pepper and brown sugar glaze that cooks down thick and sticky in the slow cooker. Sweet, a little savory, and hard to stop eating.
The slow cooker does all the work. If you are putting together a game day spread, these go great with chili cheese dip and crockpot grape jelly lil smokies.
How to Make Bacon Wrapped Little Smokies
- Cut the bacon into thirds. Wrap each cocktail smokie in a piece of bacon and secure it with a toothpick. Lay them in an even layer in a 6-quart slow cooker.
- Whisk together the Dr. Pepper, brown sugar, barbecue sauce, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, and black pepper. Pour it over the smokies.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 2 to 3 hours or HIGH for 1½ to 2 hours.
- Take the lid off and gently stir. Mix the cornstarch and cold water together in a small bowl until smooth, then stir it into the sauce. Turn the slow cooker to HIGH and cook uncovered for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring now and then. The sauce will thicken into a glossy glaze.
- Give the smokies a gentle toss in the glaze so they are coated all over. Sprinkle with parsley and serve them right out of the slow cooker.
- A couple things that help. Thin bacon wraps easier than thick. If you like the bacon crispy, broil the wrapped smokies for 2 to 3 minutes before putting them in the slow cooker. And stir gently when the glaze is thickening so the bacon stays put.
Swaps and Twists
Root beer works instead of Dr. Pepper. Honey can replace some of the brown sugar. Sweet chili sauce swaps in for the barbecue sauce. Beef smokies or cheddar sausages work too.
For a maple version, swap half the brown sugar for maple syrup. Use Cherry Coke instead of Dr. Pepper for a cherry cola twist. Add red pepper flakes or a drizzle of hot honey if you want some heat. A splash of bourbon gives the glaze a deeper flavor. Double the barbecue sauce for a heavier BBQ taste.
How to Store Leftovers
Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat in the microwave or back in the slow cooker. Freeze for up to 2 months and thaw overnight before warming them back up.
More Game Day Appetizers
If you are putting together a full spread, these are some of the other appetizers that show up and disappear just as fast. Crockpot grape jelly lil smokies are the sweet and savory cousin to this recipe. Slow cooker Rotel dip with sausage takes about five minutes to dump in and always comes home empty. Buffalo chicken dip is another one you can set out and forget about while the game is on. And if sliders are on the menu, Hawaiian roll meatball sliders sit right alongside a plate of these smokies.
📖 Recipe
Bacon Wrapped Little Smokies with Dr. Pepper Glaze
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 14 ounce packages cocktail smokies
- 1 pound bacon - cut into thirds
- 1 cup Dr. Pepper
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup barbecue sauce
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon cold water
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley - for garnish
Instructions
- Wrap each cocktail smokie with a piece of bacon and secure with a toothpick if needed. Arrange the bacon wrapped little smokies in an even layer inside a 6-quart slow cooker.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the Dr. Pepper, brown sugar, barbecue sauce, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, and black pepper. Pour the sauce evenly over the smokies.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 2 to 3 hours or HIGH for 1½ to 2 hours. Carefully remove the lid and gently stir.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and cold water until smooth. Stir into the sauce. Turn the slow cooker to HIGH and cook uncovered for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens into a glossy glaze.
- Gently toss the bacon wrapped little smokies in the glaze until evenly coated. Sprinkle with chopped parsley and serve straight from the slow cooker.
Video
Notes
- Thin-cut bacon wraps more easily than thick-cut.
- For crispier bacon, broil the wrapped smokies for 2 to 3 minutes before adding to the slow cooker. Stir gently when thickening the glaze so the bacon stays wrapped.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate based on third-party calculations. Actual values may vary due to ingredients, measurements, and serving sizes.
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Dana is the lead recipe developer and photographer for PopularRecipes.com. With her 10+ years of experience creating, testing, and photographing recipes, she has become an artist in developing wholesome, family-friendly meals that are a hit with both kids and parents.
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