Bacon-Wrapped Sausage is a flavor bomb! The savory sausage is juicy and flavorful on its own, and then wrapped in crispy, salty bacon, it’s taken to a whole new level. If you want to serve a new and creative breakfast side dish or brunch appetizer, these sausages wrapped in bacon are a must-try.
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I love that as the fat renders on the bacon strips, they become crispy but still chewy. The texture complements the juicy and soft centers of the sausage links. My mouth is watering just thinking about it!
If you like bacon-wrapped recipes, you will love asparagus spears wrapped in bacon and our sweet chili bacon wrapped shrimp.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It’s creative and unique: Everyone has enjoyed bacon strips and breakfast sausage. However, wrapping the sausages in bacon is an entirely new and exciting way to serve them.
- It uses minimal ingredients: You don’t need much to make sausage wrapped in bacon. The basic recipe is just those two ingredients!
- It’s easy to customize: Since the recipe is incredibly simple, there’s so much you can do to tweak it and make it your own.
Bacon-Wrapped Sausage Ingredients
- Breakfast sausage: Any variety of breakfast sausage links will work great in this recipe. I use the links because they’re easier to roll in the bacon strips.
- Bacon: You may use thin or thick-cut bacon; I included the cooking times for both. Applewood smoked, hickory smoked, or any flavor works great with the sausage.
- Brown sugar and syrup: I add some brown sugar to the bacon strips to help them caramelize in the air fryer. As an optional step, you may brush them with maple syrup too for extra sweetness.
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.
Variations
- Spicy sausage: Try a hot sausage to incorporate some heat into the recipe.
- Turkey sausage: Use turkey sausage links instead of pork for a leaner version.
- Sweet sausage: Try a sweet sausage. There are even honey or maple-flavored links you can buy at the grocery store.
How to Make Bacon-Wrapped Sausage
Here are the steps needed to prepare and air fry the bacon-wrapped sausage. Spray the bottom of your air fryer basket to ensure nothing sticks.
Step 1: Prep the bacon strips. Slice your bacon strips in half and lay them out on a clean surface. Sprinkle a little brown sugar onto each piece of bacon and rub it in.
Step 2: Wrap the sausage links. Secure the sausage link to one end of the bacon strip with a toothpick, roll it tightly, and then secure the other end with a separate toothpick. Repeat until all the sausages are wrapped.
Step 3: Place them in the basket. Lay them at the bottom of the air fryer basket. or on a baking tray with some room in between each one.
Step 5: Cook. Cook them as directed until they are fully cooked and crispy on the outside.
Recipe Tips
- Wrap the sausages tightly: Wrap the bacon tightly around the sausages to ensure it cooks evenly. Toothpicks help them stay in place, too.
- Be careful of the hot grease: Bacon produces a lot of grease, and this will drip down into the air fryer basket or accumulate on your pan. Handle it with care when you open it to prevent burns.
- Ensure the meats are cooked thoroughly: Allow the bacon-wrapped sausages plenty of time to cook all the way through. The sausages should be cooked to a minimal internal temperature of 160 degrees F to be safe to eat.
If you love recipes like these bacon-wrapped sausages, you may also enjoy these sausage crescent rolls.
Storage Directions
- Storing: Store your air fryer breakfast sausage and bacon in an airtight container or Ziploc bag in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Freeze them for up to 2 months.
- Reheating: You may reheat them however you like. The microwave is quick and easy—about 1-2 minutes on high, and they’re ready to go. You can also reheat in the oven or air fryer.
- Make Ahead: Wrap the sausage links with the bacon strips, secure them, and store them in the fridge for up to 24 hours before you cook them.
Serving Suggestions
- Serve the bacon-wrapped sausages with a savory breakfast side dish like McDonald’s biscuits and gravy.
- Enjoy them with a sweet breakfast option like banana pancakes with nuts or PBJ French toast.
- Keep it simple and make a sourdough breakfast sandwich and a citrusy breakfast shot to balance the salty meats.
Recipe FAQs
Yes! I make mine using ground pork, garlic, maple syrup, dried herbs, and spices. I form the mixture into about ¼ to ½ inch thick patties.
Sure. Bake them on a sheet pan with a rack at 400 degrees for 35-42 minutes.
I don’t recommend it as they will overcook and become dry. The bacon needs plenty of time to cook through, and fully cooked sausages heat up fast.
More Easy Breakfast Recipes You Can Air Fry
Do you like air fryer breakfast foods? Here are some recipes you may also like to try.
How to Make Video
If you try this recipe and love it please leave a star rating in the recipe card below or even better, drop a review in the comment section, I always appreciate your feedback. Be sure to follow along with me on Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube for more easy recipes!
Easy Bacon-Wrapped Sausage
Equipment
- rack
- toothpicks if desired, soaked in water
Ingredients
- 16 pork breakfast sausage links
- 8 slices bacon thick cut or regular bacon cook for 8 minutes
- 2 - 4 tablespoons brown sugar optional
- ¼ cup maple syrup optional
- cooking spray or butter
Instructions
Assemble
- Slice your bacon strips in half. Using your finger, spread a pinch or two of brown sugar on each strip of bacon, rubbing brown sugar down the length of each bacon strip.
- Place sausage at one end of bacon strip with a toothpick, if desired, and roll tightly, stretching the bacon strip to reach the other end of the sausage, overlapping the bacon slice as you go.
- Secure the other end with a toothpick, if desired, and remove any excess bacon.
- Repeat process with all of your remaining sausages.
Cook in Air Fryer
- Prepare your fryer basket or rack with cooking spray.
- Place finished, rolled bacon wrapped breakfast sausages on fryer rack or basket not touching at all. You may need to cook your sausages in two batches depending on the size of your air fryer. Brush with maple syrup.
- FOR THIN BACON: Set your temperature to 390 degrees, then after 9 minutes, flip sausages, and cook for another 7-9 minutes or until bacon is done to your liking.
- FOR THICK BACON: Set your temperature to 400 degrees, then after 11 minutes flip sausages and cook for another 4 minute or until bacon is done to your liking.
- Serve and enjoy every bite.
Cook in Oven
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
- Place finished, rolled bacon-wrapped breakfast sausages on your prepared baking sheet with a rack. Brush maple syrup all over each bacon wrapped sausage, if desired.
- Bake for 35-42 minutes until bacon is crisp and sausage is cooked. Turn baking sheet and adjust bacon wrapped sausages at the 15 minute mark If at all possible to make sure bacon touching rack is totally cooked as well. You may need to cook longer if using thick cut bacon.
- Remove from oven, discard toothpicks, if used, and allow to cool for 5 minutes before serving. Serve and enjoy.
Notes
- Store leftovers in an airtight container or plastic bag in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- You may cook them in the oven if you prefer. You must use a rack to separate your baking sausages from the dripping bacon grease and to prevent the sugar from burning.
- Wrap the sausages tightly with the bacon strips and use toothpicks to ensure they stay in place.
Nutrition
This post was originally published in February 2021. It's been updated with new content and images.
Camilla says
I absolutely love theese bacon wrapped sausages. My husband and i loved theese. This recipe is delicious. Everything is always better with bacon! Thanks for sharing it!
Karin and Ken says
You’re most welcome. They do taste great. All the best. Karin
Dana says
Wow my kids love these i think more than than my husband and i do! Its a weekly favorite. You guys rock!
Karin and Ken says
They are definitely delicious! So glad you’re all enjoying them! All the best. Karin
Darla says
These are great because it's nice to just change things up a bit. I'm loving the brown sugar in the bacon. Your recipe blows the rest out of the water!
Karin and Ken says
Well thank you for your kind words. We love them too! All the best. Karin