BEST Bacon Appetizers (Crowd Favorites)

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! 

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’re perfect at room temperature and are loved by men, women, and children. One of the things that makes them so exceptional is that they’re versatile enough for a cocktail party or a brunch, and a tailgate party or dinner party hors d’oeuvres!

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 or freezer, and then bake and serve when ready!

Little Smokies Wrapped in Bacon 

Bacon-wrapped little smokies is a double dose of meat perfection! 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!

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.

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!

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 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 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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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!

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.

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.

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.

Helpful 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. 

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