Published Date: October 14, 2022
Category: Air Fryer Appetizers
This Air Fryer Little Smokies recipe is great to make when you’re short on time but want something savory and delicious. Smoky sausage and perfectly crispy bacon smothered with flavorful BBQ sauce is a crowd favorite!
Table of Contents
🛒 Air Fryer Little Smokies Ingredients
- Lit’l Smokies
- Bacon
- BBQ Sauce
- Garlic Powder
*see recipe card for detailed amounts
How to Make Little Smokies in the Air Fryer
- Spray the air fryer basket lightly with oil and set aside.
- Drain the sausages and pat dry to get rid of the excess liquid. Set aside.
- Cut each bacon strip into thirds.
- Wrap the Lit’l Smokies in bacon and place them in the air fryer basket with the ends of the bacon tucked underneath.
- In a small bowl, mix together BBQ sauce and garlic powder, then use a pastry brush to coat each sausage.
- Air fry for 10-12 minutes at 375°F or until the bacon reaches your desired crispiness.
- Remove from the air fryer, brush with more BBQ sauce, and sprinkle with chopped parsley. Serve warm, and enjoy!
- FOR THE OVEN: Preheat Oven to 350 degrees. Place the Bacon Wrapped Lil Smokies covered in BBQ on a parchment lined 9X13 Baking Sheet and cook for 30-35 minutes or until bacon reaches your desired crispiness.
Helpful Notes:
- You can secure the bacon with toothpicks, but be sure to soak them in water for 10-15 minutes before cooking to ensure the toothpicks don’t burn.
- Leave some room between the smokies! Don’t let them touch in the air fryer, or the bacon will stick together. You may have to cook these in batches.
- These air fryer little smokies are excellent for large crowds! Cook them in the air fryer and keep them warm in a crock pot.
Storage and Reheating Instructions:
These are best served fresh but can be enjoyed as a delicious snack for days after cooking!
IN THE FRIDGE: Store in an airtight container in the fridge for 4-5 days.
IN THE FREEZER: These air fryer little smokies aren’t great candidates for freezing after they’ve been cooked. You can make them and freeze them ahead of time, though. Wrap your smokies in bacon, leaving out the toothpicks, and set them in an airtight container in layers with parchment between them. Freeze for up to 3 months. Before cooking, allow them to fully thaw, and secure the bacon with soaked toothpicks if needed.
REHEATING INSTRUCTIONS: To reheat, place the little smokies in the air fryer at 375°F for 3-5 minutes, or until warmed through. You can also heat them in a pan over medium heat.
FAQS
These sausages have plenty of great flavor, but if you want to add some spice, try mixing in cayenne pepper to the BBQ sauce mixture, using a spicy BBQ sauce, or adding sriracha.
I recommend placing these bacon-wrapped little smokies directly into the air fryer basket without lining it so the bacon grease can drain through the holes in the basket.
This recipe makes a great snack, appetizer, or potluck dish! Serve them alongside your favorite dipping sauces like sriracha or BBQ sauce.
Try Some of My Other Favorite Air Fryer Appetizer Recipes
EQUIPMENT
- Air Fryer
- Basting brush
INGREDIENTS
- 14 oz Lit'l Smokies
- 1/2 lb bacon, regular or thick-cut
- 1 cup BBQ sauce
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
INSTRUCTIONS
- Spray the air fryer basket lightly with oil and set aside.
- Drain the sausages and pat dry to get rid of the excess liquid. Set aside.
- Cut each bacon strip into thirds.
- Wrap the Lit’l Smokies in bacon and place them in the air fryer basket with the ends of the bacon tucked underneath.
- In a small bowl, mix together BBQ sauce and garlic powder, then use a pastry brush to coat each sausage.
- Air fry for 10-12 minutes at 375°F or until the bacon reaches your desired crispiness.
- Remove from the air fryer, brush with more BBQ sauce, and sprinkle with chopped parsley. Serve warm, and enjoy!
- FOR THE OVEN: Preheat Oven to 350 degrees. Place the Bacon Wrapped Lil Smokies covered in BBQ on a parchment lined 9X13 Baking Sheet and cook for 30-35 minutes or until bacon reaches your desired crispiness.
NOTES
- You can secure the bacon with toothpicks, but be sure to soak them in water for 10-15 minutes before cooking to ensure the toothpicks don’t burn.
- Don’t let the smokies touch in the air fryer or the bacon will stick together. You may have to cook these in batches.
- These air fryer little smokies are great for large crowds! Cook them in the air fryer and keep them warm in a crock pot.
Can we use cheese filled smokies with the bacon wrap?
Author
Yes! Absolutely! They will work just the same! 🙂