How to Keep Bacon Wrapped Smokies Warm: A Simple Guide for Crispy, Delicious Appetizers

Bacon wrapped smokies are a popular appetizer for game day parties, tailgates and other get-togethers. These tasty morsels feature a cocktail wiener or “little smokie” sausage wrapped in bacon and coated with brown sugar. When baked, the bacon becomes deliciously crispy while the sugar caramelizes into a sweet sticky glaze.

The combination of savory bacon and sausage with the sweet brown sugar topping makes these bite-sized treats irresistible. However it can be tricky to keep bacon wrapped smokies at the ideal temperature once they come out of the oven. You want to serve them warm so the crispy bacon texture and gooey brown sugar glaze don’t get lost.

In this article, we’ll explain several easy methods for keeping bacon wrapped smokies warm before serving. We’ll also share tips for reheating leftovers and storing them for later. Follow these simple steps, and your bacon wrapped smokies will stay perfectly crispy and delicious right up until the last bite!

Why It’s Important to Keep Bacon Wrapped Smokies Warm

Bacon wrapped smokies taste best when served warm. The hot temperature allows the bacon to remain crispy while bringing out the sweetness of the brown sugar glaze. Once they cool down, you lose that texture contrast between the crispy bacon and the soft sausage inside. The brown sugar hardens into a kind of candy shell rather than staying warm and gooey.

Eating the smokies cold definitely isn’t bad – they still taste great. But that ideal blend of flavors and textures only happens when they’re warm. So putting in a little extra effort to keep your bacon wrapped smokies at a hot temperature is worth it.

Making sure they stay warm once baked also allows you to prep them in advance. You can bake up a big batch early in the day and then keep that batch heated until your guests arrive. Trying to serve freshly baked smokies straight out of the oven risks having them cool off and harden before people can eat them. Proper warming lets you control when and how the bacon wrapped smokies are served.

How to Keep Bacon Wrapped Smokies Warm After Baking

Here are four easy methods for keeping your bacon wrapped smokies warm and ready to serve:

1. Use a Slow Cooker

A slow cooker or Crock-Pot is ideal for keeping appetizers like bacon wrapped smokies ready to eat. Simply transfer the smokies from the baking sheet into the slow cooker once they’re done baking. Set the slow cooker to low or warm.

The gentle, indirect heat will keep the smokies heated through without overcooking them. Stir the smokies occasionally so they warm evenly. Add a splash of maple syrup or brown sugar syrup to the slow cooker to keep the glaze warm and sticky.

Slow cookers are great because you don’t have to monitor the temperature. Once you add the smokies and set the heat level, you can focus on other party prep. Just give the smokies an occasional stir to redistribute the warmth.

2. Place in a Warm Oven

If you don’t have a slow cooker, simply keeping the baked smokies in the warm oven will also work. After you pull the smokies out of the oven, turn the heat down to its lowest setting, anywhere from 170-200°F typically.

Return the baking sheet with the smokies back to the warm oven. They’ll stay perfectly heated in the ambient warmth of the oven. Again, stir them around periodically so they evenly hold in the heat.

You can also place the smokies in a heat-safe dish or pan before putting them back in the warm oven. Use an oven-safe dish that matches the amount of smokies you made. A rimmed sheet pan, casserole dish, or shallow roasting pan all work well.

3. Use a Chafing Dish

Chafing dishes are designed specifically for keeping appetizers and other foods warm for buffet service. They use a heat source like Sterno to gently warm a pan of food from underneath.

To use a chafing dish, first transfer your baked bacon wrapped smokies into a stainless steel chafer pan. Place the chafer pan over the chafing dish frame. Add Sterno fuel and light to heat the pan from below.

The enclosed frame helps retain heat so the smokies stay warm. Refuel the Sterno as needed to maintain temperature. Chafing dishes allow you to serve the appetizers directly from the chafer, perfect for parties and gatherings.

4. warming Tray

Electric warming trays offer an alternative to chafing dishes for keeping foods hot. They work similarly but use electricity instead of combustible fuel for the heat source.

To use a warming tray, place your baked bacon wrapped smokies into a heat-safe dish or pan. Put the pan on the tray and turn it on to low or medium-low heat. The warming tray will gently heat the pan from underneath, ensuring even warming.

Stir the smokies every so often to maintain consistent heat. Keep the tray on until you’re ready to serve the appetizers. Trays with adjustable temperature controls let you find the right warmth setting.

Reheating Leftover Bacon Wrapped Smokies

Had some bacon wrapped smokies left over from your party? Don’t toss them out! You can easily reheat leftovers to enjoy that same great taste. Here are a couple reheating methods:

• Oven: Place leftover smokies on a baking sheet and bake at 375°F for 5-10 minutes until warmed through. The oven helps recrisp the bacon.

• Microwave: Microwave leftover smokies in 30 second intervals until hot