Sausages have a long and rich history dating back to ancient civilizations. Over the years, they evolved into iconic delicacies in many European countries.
And somehow, sausages made their way across the globe to become a key component in American cuisine.
Now, we eat sausages any chance we get — from BBQ cookouts to game days to summer blowouts to good old weekdays. Every day seems like a great day for sausages.
Today is no exception.
So, fire up your grill and don your hats and aprons because we’re taking a deep dive into all things BBQ smoked sausage bites!
1. Tangy Mustard BBQ Sausage Bites
First up on our list is this tangy mustard BBQ sausage bites recipe. You can make it as an appetizer or — if you’re feeling a little peckish — prepare it as a light afternoon snack.
Sausages are great to have in your freezer at all times because they don’t spoil easily, unlike fresh veggies. As such, any time you’re craving something salty or tangy, you can whip something up in no time.
And while there’s nothing wrong with simply frying your links, I think you can do so much better than that. So, to spice things up a bit, why don’t you give this recipe a try?
You’ll need two sausage packs of your choice, half a cup of yellow mustard, two tablespoons of grainy mustard, a quarter cup of brown sugar, a fourth cup of sweet vinegar, and a tablespoon of honey.
But wait, there’s more.
You’ll also need to grab some spices, like half a tablespoon of garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, and dried minced onion. Plus, add some celery seeds, salt, and cinnamon to taste.
First up, prepare your sausages: pat them dry with a paper towel and cut them into smaller pieces. Then, place them in a heatproof skillet before setting aside.
Now, grab the rest of your ingredients and whisk them until they form a smooth sauce. Give it a quick taste and adjust the seasoning if you like.
Keep in mind that you may notice a strong vinegar flavor when you initially try your sauce. That’s completely normal. The flavor will tone down once you blast it with some heat.
And if you’re like me and you want more noticeable sweetness, feel free to add more brown sugar or honey. But don’t add too much because it may overpower the tanginess of the mustard.
Once you’re happy with your sauce, pour it over your sausages. Then, put the skillet on your grill to cook for about 15 to 20 minutes.
Now, if you want to use your smoker to infuse your dish with some smoky taste and aroma, I suggest leaving it in the machine for about two to three hours.
By the end of it, you should have deliciously caramelized sausages bathed in tangy mustard sauce.
This simple recipe already elevates sausages to a whole new level. Let’s see what else we can make with these meaty links.
2. Bacon-wrapped BBQ Sausage Bites
If you love sausages, surely you love bacon, too! If that’s the case, you’ll no doubt love this recipe because we’re bringing these two worlds together!
Since both sausages and bacon already have a ton of flavor, you don’t need much to make these bacon-wrapped BBQ sausage bites tasty. In fact, you’re only going to need three things.
These are four good-quality sausages, cut into bite-sized pieces, 10 high-quality bacon slices (my favorite is Hardwood Smoked Classic Cut Bacon from Target), and a cup of BBQ sauce.
Now, let’s get started: cut your bacon in half and wrap it around your sausage bites. Then, if you want to keep everything safe and secure, you can poke a toothpick through each wrapped piece.
After that, place the sausage bites on the grill and cook for around 12 to 17 minutes. One telltale sign I look for before taking them out is the bacon’s crisp.
It has to be a dark brown color and have a slight curl at the edges. When that happens, I know I’ve hit the sweet spot and I take the sausages out immediately.
So, once you see those signs, transfer your bites to a serving platter and drizzle some of your BBQ sauce on top.
This recipe has never let me down. It’s my go-to appetizer for backyard parties, and I always get compliments on it.
Even the kids love it! And if that’s not a clear indication that you should try this at home, I don’t know what is.
3. Cheesy BBQ Sausage Bites
Maybe bacon and sausages are not enough. Maybe, you want to turn it up some more — so, how about these cheesy BBQ sausage bites?
It has bacon and sausages (of course) but with the major addition of cheese. The result? An ooey-gooey center with a crispy bacon shell that’s definitely a must-try!
To begin, get one pack of sweet Italian sausages (casings removed), a quarter cup each of shredded mozzarella and shredded sharp cheddar cheese, 12 slices of bacon, and one cup of BBQ sauce.
Now, open up your sausage package and crush them into crumbles. Transfer them to a bowl and toss in your cheeses. Make sure they’re blended well before dividing them into 12 pieces.
You can shape your sausage and cheese mix into anything you like by using a cookie cutter or a silicone mold. But, if you want to keep it simple, just roll it into a ball, and they’re good to go.
Next, wrap each piece with bacon and secure it with a toothpick. Place everything on the grill grates and let them cook until the bacon is crisp and brown.
Remove the sausage bites from the grill after 10 to 15 minutes and brush them with your BBQ sauce before serving.
Among all the sausage bite recipes I’ve tried, this one is at the top of my list. It combines all my favorite ingredients into one dish, so there really was no competition.
4. Asian BBQ Sausage Bites
But if there were a competition to see which recipes would make it to my top three or five, these Asian BBQ sausage bites would be a strong contender.
It has hints of sweetness (from the pineapple) and smokiness (from the sausages) that can satisfy any of my cravings.
Plus, knowing Asian flavors like I do, I know that this dish will exceed expectations when it comes to taste.
If you want to give this recipe a whirl, you’ll need a pound of smoked sausage and two cups of pineapple chunks. You can buy your fruit fresh or get the frozen packages from the supermarket.
Moving on to your sauce, you’ll need six tablespoons of hoisin sauce, two tablespoons of rice vinegar, a tablespoon of soy sauce (or tamari) and honey, and two minced garlic cloves.
On top of those, you’ll want to grab two teaspoons of Sichuan chili paste, one to one and a half teaspoons of fresh minced ginger, and a third cup of brown sugar.
You can tell there’s a lot going on with the sauce, and that’s exactly what you want. Asians love bold flavors, so this dish will be no exception.
When your ingredients are ready, begin by slicing the sausages into small pieces and putting a pineapple chunk on each one. Feel free to push a toothpick through them to keep them in place.
After that, prepare your sauce by adding the ingredients in a saucepan. Stir the mixture well until it starts to boil. Only then should you turn the heat down and let the blend simmer for three to four minutes.
Now, dip your sausage-pineapple bites into the sauce before placing them on the grill to cook. This shouldn’t take too long, so keep a close eye on them until the sausage turns a nice shade of brown.
When that happens, take your bites off the heat and transfer them to a serving platter. Feel free to drizzle more of your sauce on top to enhance the flavors even further.
I’m so excited for you to try this recipe. I’m pretty confident you and your guests will enjoy it as much as I do.
5. Sweet & Sour BBQ Sausage Bites
This next recipe also has a strong Asian influence, so prepare your mouths and stomachs for another irresistible appetizer.
To make this dish, you’ll need a pack of Italian sweet sausage links. Cut them into 1” discs and grill them for about three to five minutes. Then, turn them around to do the same to the other side.
Once your sausage bites are done, let them rest on the side for a bit while you prepare your sauce.
Meanwhile, combine a third cup of teriyaki marinade and sauce (like Soy Vay) with three tablespoons of brown sugar, one tablespoon of ketchup, and two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar in a saucepan.
Next, cook it on low heat until the sugar has fully dissolved. Your sauce should be on the thicker side, so keep stirring until you reach the ideal consistency.
After that, turn off the heat and dip your sausages inside. Let them coat nicely before taking a bite.
Although this dish is typically served as an appetizer, I find that it has enough umami flavor to become a main dish. All you need is a cup of white rice and a side of edamame, and you’ve got a full meal!
6. Grape BBQ Sausage Bites
For this last recipe, we’re turning our sausage bites into tiny sausage kebabs.
So, get a pack of low-fat smoked sausages, one medium green and red bell pepper each, three tablespoons of grape jam, and a tablespoon of your favorite BBQ sauce.
By now, you’re probably a pro at this. But just to jog your memory, here’s a quick rundown of what you need to do:
First, slice your sausages into smaller pieces (1” to 1½” will do). While you’re at it, cut your green and red bell peppers into bite-sized pieces as well.
Then, put your kebab pieces together by threading your meat and veggies onto a stick before setting them aside.
After that, it’s time to make the sauce. To do this, simply whisk your BBQ sauce and grape jam together before popping them in the microwave to warm up a bit.
Finally, dip your kebabs into the sauce. Now, there’s nothing left to do but dig in!
From start to finish, this recipe takes only 10 to 15 minutes, the same amount of time it takes to fry full-length sausages.
And this got me thinking: why stick to the basics when you can make something extra yummy with BBQ smoked sausage bites just as quickly?
This Is Your Ultimate BBQ Smoked Sausage Bite Guide
Because sausages are already well-seasoned, it’s easy to take them for granted. Instead of doing anything fun with them, we end up just frying them and eating them plain (or with a side of condiments).
But we can do a whole lot more. For instance, we can turn them into sausage bites. Then from there, the possibilities are endless.
This list is only the beginning.