These Bacon Wrapped Kielbasa Bites with Brown Sugar Glaze will be the star of your Christmas brunch. They’re slightly sweet, slightly salty from the bacon and completely irresistible.
Watch the video below (above the recipe) to see how easy it is to make these! You can also watch the video on Facebook where you can easily share it.
You guys. It’s almost Christmas. ONE WEEK FROM TODAY. Are you ready? I sure as hell am not. I’ve got a teething baby and a healing toddler. Needless to say, we’re not getting much accomplished around here!
This is also the first year where I can’t shop for Kelsey’s gifts and wrap them in front of her and she has no idea what they are or even remembers seeing them come Christmas morning. I could do that with Mackenzie because she’s young enough, but Kelsey would remember.
She remembers everything. She’s like a little 26 pound elephant (because they remember everything, supposedly).
So, speaking of Christmas, I’ve gone a little overboard on the cookie posts. But can you blame me? December is most definitely cookie month. If it isn’t already official, I’m declaring that it is. Right now. Official. Done.
Something I’m not done with? Cookie posts. I’ve got one more for you next week, so get ready. Because it’s awesome. 7 layers of awesome. And they’re magic.
But let’s get back on track because this is not another cookie post. Today I’m sharing a recipe for these totally ridiculous bacon wrapped kielbasa bites with a brown sugar glaze. YES. The sausage is wrapped in bacon. And it’s EPIC.
Also epic? The brown sugar glaze with mustard and vinegar and pepper. So, so good. Not too sweet, just enough savory and BACON. Ps, by ridiculous, I really meant awesome in case you couldn’t tell.
We have these bacon wrapped kielbasa bites every year for Christmas brunch with our favorite Bacon and Swiss Quiche. Ham and Cheese Quiche is another great brunch option to have with these as is Gluten Free Cinnamon Coffee Cake. So many great options for brunch these days!
These are especially great because you can assemble the meat the day before (covered and refrigerated) and then just toss together the glaze and cook them in the morning.
If you’re really short on time Christmas morning, you could always completely cook them, as directed in the recipe, the day before and reheat them in the oven the next morning. Just save the extra glaze so you can re-glaze them a bit before throwing them in the oven.
Not only are these great for brunch, they also make a fantastic appetizer. We LOVE them, wish I made them more throughout the year. I’m not really sure why I don’t make them more. But I should.
They’ve really got the perfect blend of sweet from the brown sugar and savory from the pepper and bacon. I absolutely love, love, love these and so does everyone else who eats them. Enjoy!
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Bacon Wrapped Kielbasa with Brown Sugar Glaze
These Bacon Wrapped Kielbasa Bites with Brown Sugar Glaze will be the star of your Christmas brunch. They’re slightly sweet, slightly salty from the bacon and completely irresistible.
Ingredients
- 1 lb. kielbasa (make sure it's gluten-free)
- 10 slices bacon
- 1 1/2 C brown sugar, packed
- 3 Tbsp stone-ground mustard
- 3 Tbsp white wine vinegar
- 1 Tbsp black pepper*
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and top with a baking/cooling rack. Lightly spray the rack with non-stick spray.
- Cut kielbasa done the middle, lengthwise. Slice each half into 1 inch pieces, you should have about 30 pieces of kielbasa. Cut each piece of bacon into thirds. Wrap one bacon strip around each piece of kielbasa and secure with a toothpick. Set aside.
- In a small saucepan, combine brown sugar, vinegar, mustard and pepper. Heat over medium, stirring occasionally, until the sugar is dissolved. Keep warm on low.
- Brush the kielbasa with glaze and place on the baking sheet/rack. Bake for 40 minutes and baste every 15 minutes. Serve immediately.
Notes
You could cut back on the pepper if desired. I use the black pepper flakes, not freshly ground. It's not as strong and it looks nice in the glaze. br]
Recipe is adapted from [Cuisine Holiday Menus, Volume 3
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Wow! Those look amazing, Sharon! I’d love to enjoy those on Christmas morning! Try not to stress too much on Christmas. Some years are challenging like that. Everything doesn’t have to be perfectly executed. The most important thing is that you are all together and everyone is healthy. And with all that you do on a daily basis, I’m sure that your Christmas will have plenty of delicious food and more. 🙂
Hugs,
Shirley
Thanks so much Shirley, I definitely needed that little reminder 🙂
Hi! I would like to know , i dont find kielbasa sausage, can imreplace with another kind of sausage. Thank you!
It would work with other smoked and already cooked sausages *I think*, as long as they are mild flavored but I haven’t personally tried this with anything other than kielbasa.
oh I think I have to add these to my brunch menu – SO amazing
Thanks Heather, enjoy!
OMG….I would have NO self control around these. Bacon, kielbasa and brown sugar? That’s my diet buster waiting to happen. Delicious.
You could always use turkey kielbasa… but it’s definitely worth the splurge 🙂
I love this idea! I was trying to figure out what new recipe to serve as a Christmas app and I was going back and forth between 5 or so recipes. I am totally going to make this and scratch those others – this looks easier and more delicious!!
Thanks Jenny, these are so delicious, perfect little bites for apps!
These bites look great, I will try. But I would like to give you M Y Garlic Bread recipe, and I mean MY I create this about Garlic starts to turn Tan, Take 6-7 years ago. ! C up Olive oil,. 1 Full head o Garlic Minced, 1 teas Dried Thyme. Sateee just till Garlic starts to turn TAN, remove from heat and set aside, this is Garlic Oil
Oh my gosh,,,these look AMAZING! I’m almost afraid to make these for fear I will eat at least half of them before the party starts!
No shame in that, especially if it’s for quality control purposes 😉
I love the idea of serving these for Christmas brunch! I just may have to add these to our menu. I know my husband would gobble them up!
Thanks Meg!
These look so good! Love that brown sugar glaze on top….yum!
Thank you 🙂 🙂
I’m vegetarian, but if I eat pork again I am going to definitely make this.
Oooh, this looks delicious! You can’t go wrong with pork wrapped in pork! I’m definitely adding this to my list of appetizers to try.
Yes, pork wrapped in pork is AMAZING and almost seems wrong but is completely and totally right!
We will just love your kielbasa Bites. Thanks so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday and have a very special Christmas week!
Miz Helen
Wow! These look amazing, Sharon. Would you believe I’ve never tasted kielbasa?
What?! Never had kielbasa?!! You need to change that and try this recipe Heidi! You will be wondering “where has kielbasa been all my life?!” It’s so good!
These look so great! Thanks for linking up last week with SNF! Pinned to our party board!
Thanks Jaren!
Thanks for linking up at our Gluten Free Fridays Party! I have tweeted and pinned your entry to our Gluten Free Fridays board on Pinterest! 🙂 I can’t wait to see what you share next time!
-Cindy
These look SO incredibly good! What a delicious appetizer!
Oh my garsh, these sound amazing. I love that you can actually see the black pepper flecks (flavor!). I know I probably wouldn’t be able to stop eating them…but I’m going to make them for Superbowl this year anyway, because – YUM!
Yum! These look like the perfect party appetizer 🙂 Hope your family enjoyed over the holidays!
Which gluten free kielbasa did you use? Can’t wait to try this!
I can’t get to the store quick enough for these ingredients! I gotta have these! Thanks for linking up with What’s Cookin’ Wednesday!
Sharon, I can’t stop myself from asking. Do you have, by chance, polish roots? I’m wondering because of KIELBASA 🙂
Nope, I don’t have polish roots but my husband does. I’ve always had kielbasa growing up though 🙂
This recipe needs to be on my holiday appetizer list, pronto.
They’re great for brunch too 🙂
Yummy! Two things my kids actually adore…. bacon and kielbasa, Im going to have to make some of this soon!
Do you cook bacon 1st or wrap uncooked bacon around kielbasa? Thanks!
I don’t cook it first, I use a thin/regular sliced bacon. If you use a thicker cut of bacon, you might want to cook it a little first before wrapping on the chicken to ensure it gets cooked all the way.
What are your reheating recommendations if I do decide to completely cook them the night before, such as temp and time?
These sound dynamite. Can’t wait to make!
I re-heat these in the oven at 400 degrees for about 10 minutes (or until hot all the way through). They’re so good 🙂
These look so good! Pinned them to save for later. Thanks for linking up at the Home Matters Link Party! We hope to see you again next week:) #HomeMattersParty
Those sound delish! Thanks for sharing with us at Funtastic Friday 🙂
Has anyone actually made these? Do you have any real “reviews”? I want to try these, maybe…..but I am not generally enticed by bacon wrapped foods. Plus, with a family of just two senior citizens. I don’t want to buy all the ingredients only to discover we really don’t like it. Can you include any actual reviews here so I might know to expect? I have some dietary restrictions and it would be helpful to know what others think of the taste of these.
Hi Kate, there are plenty of reviews on Pinterest but here’s a quick synopsis from one pin (in the pin comments): https://www.pinterest.com/pin/83175924348806738/
Are you able to have these cold? I would like to make them ahead of time and then serve.
These wouldn’t be good cold. There are directions in the post about making them partially ahead of time but if you absolutely have to make them completely ahead of time, you’ll want to reheat them in the oven.
Made this for Christmas Eve….everyone LOVED, LOVED, LOVED them…..been asked to make them again for New Years!!! I made them exactly as recipe called but was wondering how they would be if chicken was used. Figured I’d make 1/2 kielbasa and 1/2 chicken.
Chicken would probably be great!
I made these for a party recently. Only had one problem. I had to make them again the next day for Hubby and I because my place came home empty.
Can you make ahead and bring to party in a crockpot on warm or will they get soggy?
That should work!
These sound so much more appetizing than using Lil Smokies for some reason! But! Where in the world can you find Black Pepper FLAKES? I’ve searched the web high and low — even Amazon doesn’t carry it — so I’m curious as to where you found it!
Thanks,
Virginia Dryden
Thanks Virginia! It’s basically ground black pepper or “table grind”. Just don’t use fresh cracked black pepper as it will be too strong.
Okay – makes much more sense now! Thank you – Happy Holidays!
One last question — I’m making these for a Christmas party, but have a lot going on, so could I prepare these like the day before and put them in a zip lock, and then cook the next day — would they cook up okay after being in the fridge overnight?
Thank you, again!
Virginia Dryden
I have made these several times and they are delicious. I have also made them a couple times substituting Chorizo. The sweet and spicy makes for a great combo.
Thank you Lisa! Chorizo sounds like a great alternative!
Just made these and they’re great! Taste just as good, if not better than any store-bought!!
Thank you Alan!
These bites are to die for! I made them twice this past Christmas for parties, and they immediately disappeared! A wonderful, savory appetizer for any gathering. I found the glaze a bit ornery to brush on the meat after the toothpick was inserted, but there’s really no other way around this to get the glaze on. Still, a wonderful, different treat. I will be making them from now on! Forget the Li’l Smokies wrapped in bacon appetizer — this recipe takes the appetizer to a whole new level!
Virginia
Thank you Virginia! I’m so glad this recipe has been such a hit!