BBQ Smoked Sausage Burnt

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Ingredients:

  • 2 pounds smoked sausage (beef, pork, or mixed – kielbasa or andouille work well)
  • ½ cup BBQ sauce (your favorite brand or homemade)
  • ¼ cup honey (for sweetness & stickiness)
  • ¼ cup brown sugar (light or dark)
  • 2 tablespoons butter, melted
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional, for heat)

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Sausages

  • Slice sausages into 2-inch chunks.
  • Make crosshatch cuts or small slits on each piece (like in the picture). This helps the glaze soak in and makes the edges caramelize beautifully.

2. First Bake/Smoke

  • Preheat oven or smoker to 250–275°F (120–135°C).
  • Place sausage pieces in a foil pan.
  • Let them cook for about 45 minutes to render out some fat and start crisping.

3. Add the Glaze

  • In a bowl, mix together BBQ sauce, honey, brown sugar, butter, Worcestershire, paprika, garlic powder, black pepper, and cayenne.
  • Pour this mixture over the sausages. Toss until well-coated.

4. Caramelize

  • Return the foil pan to the oven/smoker.
  • Cook another 30–45 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sausages are sticky, caramelized, and glazed with a rich BBQ shine.

5. Serve

  • Remove from heat and let rest a few minutes.
  • Serve hot as an appetizer, party snack, or BBQ side dish.

Tips:

  • For extra smoky flavor, cook these on a smoker with hickory or applewood chips.
  • If you want them spicier, add more cayenne or a few dashes of hot sauce.
  • They reheat really well — just cover with foil and warm in the oven. Result: You’ll get smoky, sweet, sticky, caramelized sausage bites that are absolutely irresistible.

Methods for BBQ Smoked Sausage Burnt Ends

Step 1: Prep the Sausages

  1. Take your smoked sausages and cut them into 2-inch bite-sized chunks.
  2. Using a sharp knife, make crosshatch cuts or shallow slits on each sausage piece.
  • This allows the glaze to seep in and helps the edges crisp up.

Step 2: First Cook (Render & Crisp)

  1. Preheat your oven or smoker to 250–275°F (120–135°C).
  2. Place the sausage pieces into a disposable foil pan or any oven-safe baking pan.
  3. Cook uncovered for about 45 minutes.
  • This step helps render some fat and begins browning the sausage edges.

Step 3: Prepare the Glaze

While sausages are cooking:

  1. In a medium bowl, mix together:
  • BBQ sauce
  • Honey
  • Brown sugar
  • Melted butter
  • Worcestershire sauce
  • Paprika, garlic powder, black pepper, and cayenne
  1. Stir until smooth and well-combined.

Step 4: Coat the Sausages

  1. After 45 minutes, carefully remove the pan from the oven/smoker.
  2. Pour the glaze mixture over the sausages.
  3. Toss or stir until each piece is coated evenly.

Step 5: Caramelize & Finish

  1. Return the pan to the oven/smoker.
  2. Cook for another 30–45 minutes, stirring once or twice.
  3. The glaze should thicken, bubble, and cling to the sausage pieces, giving them a sticky, caramelized coating.

Step 6: Rest & Serve

  1. Remove the sausages from the oven/smoker and let rest for 5 minutes.
  2. Serve warm as a snack, appetizer, or BBQ side dish.

Conclusion

BBQ Smoked Sausage Burnt Ends are a simple yet flavorful dish that transforms everyday smoked sausages into a rich, smoky, sweet, and sticky appetizer. By first rendering and crisping the sausage, then coating it in a caramelized glaze of BBQ sauce, honey, and spices, you create bite-sized pieces that are both juicy inside and irresistibly glazed outside.

This recipe is versatile—you can cook it in the oven for convenience or on a smoker for extra depth of flavor. Whether served at family gatherings, BBQ parties, or as a quick snack, these burnt ends are always a crowd-pleaser. Easy to prepare, affordable, and absolutely delicious, they prove that you don’t need expensive cuts of meat to enjoy authentic BBQ taste.

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