BEST Bacon Appetizers (Crowd Favorites)

When it comes to party hors d’oeuvres, bacon appetizers and bacon snacks are a crowd pleaser for any occasion from cocktail parties to game day to brunch! This complete guide has our favorite recipes guests love, and they’re all simple, easy and delicious.

photo collage of 4 recipes and text saying best easy bacon appetizers.

In all my years of hosting and entertaining, I’ve found that appetizers with bacon are the first thing on the menu to be devoured! I’m rounding up all the best recipes and small bites I’ve created over the years, to rave reviews. 

Bacon is salty and works well for savory bites, but it’s also excellent paired with sugar or sweet ingredients so you get that satisfying balance of sweet & salty.

Whether you’re looking for make-ahead breakfast appetizers, bacon wrapped bites, finger food or a classic cheeseball, I’ve got a recipe for you! 

The Best Bacon Appetizers

  • This collection has some of the tastiest recipes you can make, and they’ve all stood the test of time and satisfied hungry crowds.
  • You can make them in advance, store them in the refrigerator, and cook them just before guests arrive.
  • They are perfect at room temperature and your guests will be begging for more!
  • They are loved by men, women, and kids. If you’re looking for something easy to assemble to round out your party menu, pick one of these delicious bites to serve.
  • One of the things that makes each of these exceptional recipes is that they are perfect for a cocktail party, dinner party hors d’oeuvres, as well as brunch. They’re so versatile!
appetizer table with tray of phyllo cups with bacon bits on top.

When to Serve Them

Since these appetizers hold up well at room temperature, it makes them ideal for easy entertaining and occasions like these.

Bacon Wrapped

These recipes include finger food items that are wrapped in bacon and baked in the oven. They’re easy to make but you should carve out time to prepare them since you have to wrap each one individually.

The good thing is that they’re made ahead, you can cover and store them in the fridge, and then bake and serve when ready!

little smokies wrapped in bacon on white tray with black and white picks inserted.

Little Smokies Wrapped in Bacon 

Grab the recipe card below for this easy meat lovers recipe. They’ve been a tried and true appetizer for two decades and have just three ingredients.

Brown sugar gets melted and caramelized in the oven and gives balance to these salty bites. You may want to make a triple batch for a crowd because no one can stop at just one!

round dish holding bacon wrapped appetizers with hand dipping one into dipping sauce.

Wrapped Apricots

These bacon wrapped appetizers are a no-fail recipe I love to serve, and they’ve been a crowd pleaser for 20 years. This small bite has it all, sweet, salty and crunchy!

Sweet dried apricots are stuffed with an almond, wrapped in bacon, and cooked to perfection.

Add the simple dipping sauce on the side for an appetizer people are begging for.

club crackers wrapped in bacon, on green and white vintage plate with white dipping sauce.

Bacon Wrapped Crackers

There are two versions of bacon wrapped crackers. One sweet and one savory. I love it made with club crackers and parmesan cheese, but brown sugar is awesome too.

The flavors here are superb and work well for breakfast or happy hour. They’re little bites of heaven!

small bites wrapped in bacon, on toothpicks laying on wood board.

Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Bites

These bacon wrapped chicken bites are irresistible! Small chicken strips are paired with water chestnuts, pickled jalapeno, and wrapped in bacon. It’s the perfect marriage of texture and flavor.

This is a family recipe that never disappoints and is ideal for game day parties, father’s day, or guys night in.

dates wrapped in bacon with toothpicks inserted, on white tray.

Dates with Blue Cheese

Bacon wrapped dates are stuffed with mild blue cheese. I use gorgonzola for a creamy delicious hors d’oeuvres that combines sweet & savory. And, you can drizzle them with honey before serving, if you like. 

Don’t stop with using blue cheese though. These taste great with goat cheese or Manchego too.

jalapeno filled with white cheese mixture and wrapped in bacon, on white plate.

Jalapeno Poppers

All you need are four simple ingredients to make these yummy jalapeno poppers with blue cheese. Cream cheese and blue cheese blend together for a delightful base, and it’s all wrapped in bacon.

TIP: Make these with another cheese in place of the blue cheese. Use sharp or white cheddar for a traditional taste. 

Bacon Finger Food

Finger foods can impress a crowd. These recipes generally use crumbled bacon throughout or are topped with bacon, and they have a base or vessel that’s easy to pick up and eat.

phyllo shells with brie, apple butter and crumbled bacon, on white platter.

Baked Brie Bites

Thin crispy phyllo shells are convenient and easy to fill, and all you need are 3 ingredients for the filling in baked brie phyllo cups. Brie, apple butter and bacon come together in an incredible combo!

It’s sweet, savory, creamy and crunchy all in one bite. They’re equally at home at fancy cocktail parties or girls night in.

These are excellent for fall parties, Thanksgiving appetizers or Friendsgiving.

bacon and cheese melted on crostini toasts on marble tray.

Cheddar and Bacon Crostini

Hand held cheese and bacon crostini are easy to pick up and eat, and this combination of ingredients is basically comfort food. Cheddar cheese and bacon on French bread is delectable and simple to make ahead and bake when ready.

platter filled with baked jalapeno peppers.

Baked Jalapeno Popper with Crumbled Bacon

Easy baked jalapeño poppers are stuffed with cream cheese, cheddar and bacon, and topped with an irresistible bread crumb topping. They’re great to make ahead for casual gatherings.

Don’t worry about the heat level. Removing the seeds and cooking the jalapeno keeps it mild.

deviled eggs topped with bacon, on white egg dish.

Delicious Deviled Eggs with bacon

This deviled egg recipe isn’t your mother’s deviled eggs! They are elevated to hor d’oeuvres status with a few flavor-boosting ingredients including bacon.

Serve these before holiday dinners or add them to a cocktail party and watch them disappear.

sandwiches on party tray with small bowl of pickles.

Mini Party Sandwiches

These mini club sandwiches are good on their own, but the tomato and bacon spread is what takes them to the next level. These are fantastic as a heavy appetizer or serve them for a ladies’ luncheon buffet.

round white plate with waffle fries topped with cheese and bacon slices, overhead.

Cheesy Bacon Potato Bites

What could be more comforting than bacon, cheese, and potatoes? Waffle fries are the base for these cheese bacon potato bites that are appropriate for breakfast or with cocktails.

Bacon Snacks

Serve up these bacon snacks in 30 minutes or less. They’re great for less formal gatherings like happy hour cocktails, a movie night, or a casual get-together.

pile of kettle chips topped with bacon, green onion, white sauce and balsamic glaze.

Blue Cheese & Balsamic Chips

This kettle chips snack is similar to potato chip nachos, and was inspired by a restaurant menu item. Little more than assembly is required but you just might need to make an extra batch because everyone loves them!

mini pierogis topped with sour cream, tomatoes, bacon and served on black plate.

Pierogi Appetizers

Use the mini size frozen perogies to make this yummy snack. They’re topped with southwestern flavors and salty crumbled bacon. Tasty pierogi appetizers is the snack recipe you didn’t know you needed!

breakfast plate with two skewers with bacon threaded onto them.

Bacon Skewers

Add this simple item to your holiday brunch charcuterie board or breakfast buffet table. Thread the bacon onto wooden skewers for a cute presentation, and cook them in the oven for convenience. Plus, there’s an easy technique that guarantees a crispy bite.

Bacon Cheese Ball

Cheese and bacon are a quintessential pairing so it only seems right to have a cheese ball with bits of bacon throughout. A cheese ball is right at home on any appetizer buffet.

cheese ball covered in chopped pecans and bacon bits, surrounded by crackers, carrot sticks and celery sticks.

Cheese Ball

A cheese ball with bacon is a delicious part of any party table. Make this football shaped cheese ball recipe for game day and Super Bowl, OR form it into a ball for year round entertaining for any occasion. This classic recipe has cream cheese, sharp cheddar, crumbled bacon, green onions and pecans for a party in your mouth!

It goes together in minutes and then you let it chill in the fridge so all the flavors blend together.

Serve with sturdy crackers, pretzel chips, bagel chips or vegetables.

Tips

  • I love to use Center Cut bacon for most recipes because it’s meatier with less fat. Although, traditional slices are suitable and a bit less expensive.
  • Use thick cut bacon when you’re using it for crumbled bacon in recipes. It works well with dips and spreads. It’s a bit too thick to use in wrapped appetizers.
  • You can find less-sodium bacon too, which you can use without affecting the flavor of the recipes.
  • If you need to dice the bacon before cooking it, put it in the freezer for about 15 minutes to firm it up. That will make it easier to cut, slice or chop without tearing.
  • Many recipes with bacon are low carb or keto friendly

More Easy Appetizers

Here are some more options to help you round out your party menu.

bacon wrapped around little smokies and topped with brown sugar, on grill rack in pan in oven.

Now grab your ingredients to make this mouth-watering recipe. They’re at the top of everyone’s list of best bacon appetizers!

  • Little Smokies sausages, any variety
  • Center Cut bacon
  • Brown sugar

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bacon wrapped around little smokies and topped with brown sugar, with fancy picks inserted.

Best Bacon Appetizers

Yield: 30 appetizers
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes

The best bacon wrapped appetizers for parties, these tried and true bites are a crowd pleaser.

Ingredients

  • 1 12-ounce package Little Smokies
  • 1 12-ounce package Center Cut bacon, cut in half
  • â…” cup Brown Sugar

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
  2. Prep for baking by lining a sheet pan with aluminum foil. Place baking rack on top of it.
  3. Wrap bacon slices around each little smokey and place on baking rack, seam side down. Use toothpicks to hold together if necessary.
  4. Sprinkle each one with about a teaspoon of brown sugar and press down lightly to adhere it to the bacon.
  5. Cook for 20-25 minutes or until bacon is cooked through to your desired crispness.

Notes

Double or triple the recipe for a crowd!

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9 Comments

  1. I made the bacon-wrapped apricots with the sauce for my sister’s babyshower and served along side a hot cocoa bar with all the trimmings. They were the perfect bit of savory to go with the sweet. I LOVED this and it was super easy. I will be making them over and over and over!!!

  2. I like my bacon crackers with 1/2 teaspoon of brown sugar, and a sprinkling of cayenne, (no cheese) and bake as above. Gives it that sweet heat!!!

  3. These recipes look incredible! I’ve tried the bacon-wrapped dates (which are to die for!).. I can’t wait to try these ones out!

    Thanks for sharing 🙂

  4. I’m not even that big of a bacon person, but I LOVE bacon-wrapped dates. I’ve had them with the almonds in the middle too, but I think I prefer without. My husband, on the other hand, would eat all of these options in a heartbeat 🙂

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