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These Brown Sugar Bacon Wrapped Pineapple Bites are easy appetizers for parties, tailgating, or to eat as snacks. Add in some smoked paprika to take the flavors of Hawaiian pizza to the next level! Make this easy, three ingredient appetizer for your next football watching party!
Hey everyone! It’s Taryn again from Hot Pan Kitchen. Today I’ve got an easy appetizer that’s good for everything from watching a football game to a hosting a dinner with friends. These are sweet and savory, and seriously just delicious. Because doesn’t bacon make everything better?
Bacon is smokey and salty, and brown sugar is the perfect compliment to give you a sweet and salty and totally addictive appetizer. If you love bacon wrapped dates, you will LOVE Brown Sugar Bacon Pineapple Bites! But before we get to the recipe, read on for some answers to your burning questions about bacon.
Can bacon be frozen?
Yes! Raw bacon can be frozen, as can most raw meat. Just make sure it is securely wrapped and sealed.
Which bacon is best for Brown sugar bacon pineapple bites?
For this recipe, a regular (thinner) cut bacon is best. A thick cut bacon will take longer to get crispy and you might not be able to taste the pineapple as much due to there being more bacon per bite.
Will bacon get crispy in the oven?
The short answer is yes. When cooking bacon by itself, many people cook it in a frying pan on the stove. However, if you put a layer of bacon on a sheet pan and cook it in the oven it will get crispy that way too. You can see a post on Fox and Briar all about oven bacon here.
Can you use canned pineapple for Brown Sugar Bacon Wrapped Pineapple bites?
Yes! You can use canned pineapple or fresh, whichever you prefer.
How to make Brown Sugar Bacon Wrapped Pineapple Bites
Start be getting everything ready. Pull out your sheet pan, line it with foil, and put a baking rack on top. You want to be sure and use a baking rack when cooking these. If you put the bacon bites straight on the foil the brown sugar will start to burn and the bottoms of your bites will get black.
Cut your bacon strips in half, soak up any excess liquid from your chunked pineapple, and get your brown sugar mixture into a flat-bottomed bowl.
To assemble the first bacon wrapped pineapple bite, take one piece of pineapple and put it at the end of one of the bacon slices. First roll the bacon around the pineapple, then carefully cover the bacon-wrapped pineapple with the sugar mixture. Place the bacon bite onto the rack with the end of the bacon strip face down so that the bite doesn’t become unwrapped.
After that you’re just going to repeat the process until all the bites are done.
How to cook Brown Sugar Bacon Wrapped Pineapple Bites
The best way to cook these bacon bites is in the oven (don’t forget to read all about oven bacon here). So put the sheet pan of bites into a COLD oven, turn the temperature to 400 degree F and set the timer for 20 minutes.
Once the timer goes off, turn the sheet pan 180 degrees (so the back of the pan is now facing the front of the oven) and set the time for another 20 minutes.
Check the bacon bites to see if the bacon is starting to brown and get crispy. If not, put them back in the oven for another 5 minutes.
At this point the bacon should be brown and getting crispy. However, ff they’re still not brown or crispy enough for you, turn the oven to broil (on low heat) and broil them for 1-2 minutes max. Check them after the first minute to make sure they don’t burn as it will happen quickly!
Once they are crispy enough for you, take them out of the oven and serve hot! Ta-da! Brown Sugar Bacon Wrapped Pineapple Bites! The crowd goes wild!
More appetizer ideas
If you need more appetizer ideas, be sure to check out these other awesome recipes on Fox and Briar:
Easy Sausage Cream Cheese Bites
Crab Artichoke Dip in a Bread Bowl
How to Make A Charcuterie Board
And this roundup of 16 Party Recipes for Game Day
Or check these out from Hot Pan Kitchen as well:
If you try this recipe, be sure to comment and rate it below! And I’m sure you’re already following Meghan on Instagram, but I would love it if you would follow along with me on Instagram too! I post recipes, kitchen tips, and ways I’m trying to teach my kids to cook.
Brown Sugar Bacon Wrapped Pineapple Bites Recipe
Ingredients
- 12 ounces bacon 12 slices
- 15 ounces pineapple chunks canned or fresh, 24 pieces
- ¼ cup light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika optional
Instructions
- Take a sheet pan and cover it with aluminum foil (this will help keep the drippings from sticking to the pan). Place a wire baking rack in the sheet pan on top of the aluminum foil. Set aside.
- Remove the bacon from its packaging and cut in half using kitchen shears or a sharp knife and cutting board. Set aside.
- Drain the pineapple (if using canned), and set on a paper towel-lined plate to soak up excess juice. Set aside.
- Measure out the brown sugar and pour it into a small bowl with a flat bottom. If using smoked paprika, measure it out and pour it in the same bowl, stirring to thoroughly mix.
- Take one piece of bacon and lay it out on the rack. Place one pineapple chunk at one end of the bacon strip, then use your hands to roll the bacon around the pineapple in a straight line until the pineapple chunk is enveloped by the bacon.
- Take the bacon-wrapped pineapple and carefully roll it around in the brown sugar mixture until all sides are covered. Make sure the bacon doesn’t become unrolled when doing so.
- Place the sugar-coated bacon-wrapped pineapple onto the sheet pan rack. Make sure to place it with the end of the bacon strip on the bottom so it doesn’t come undone.
- Repeat the process with the other pieces of bacon and pineapple, making sure to space the wrapped pieces on the rack so none are touching.
- Place in a cold oven and set the temperature to 400°F. Set the timer for 20 minutes. Once the timer goes off, turn the sheet pan 180 degrees (so the back of the pan is now facing the front of the oven) and set the time for another 20 minutes.
- Check the bacon bites to see if the bacon is starting to brown and get crispy. If not, put them back in the oven for another 5 minutes. At this point they should be brown. If they’re still not brown or crispy enough for you, turn the oven to broil (on low heat) and broil them for 1-2 minutes max. Check them after the first minute to make sure they don’t burn as it will happen quickly.
- Once cooked, take the pan out of the oven and carefully remove the bites from the rack with a set of tongs, making sure not to pull the bacon apart. Serve when hot!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Made 6 just to test for an upcoming large picnic, loved them ate all 6! The canned pineapple chunks were small so I placed 2 pieces side by side on the bacon. I baked them in my air fryer oven and it took just 5 minutes. I’ll use the regular oven when I make a large batch. I especially liked the smoked paprika mixer with the brown sugar. I was looking for something different but easy and these fit the bill. Thank you!
Can you cook in the oven then keep warm in the crockpot?
Hi Scarlett – I’m not sure, I haven’t tried it. I would maybe line the crockpot with foil to keep them from sticking. Some crockpots tend to run very hot, even on the low setting.
Do they have to be served hot? I am going to a campsite which is 2 hours away. Not sure they will stay warm during that period.
Absolutely the best, easiest wrapped pineapple recipe I have found!
Tasty spin on a classic.
My husband suggested laying the bacon in the sugar and then put on the pineapple and roll. It was so much easier and just dipped each end in the sugar. The crowd loved them. I did use more sugar than it called for and the paprika.
Can these be done in a smoker?
Hi Katie – I haven’t tried it but I imagine they could be! I’m not sure on the timing how long they would take.
Can these be done in an air fryer?
Hi, I haven’t tried it but I think it would probably work! You might need to do them in batches if the cooking area is smaller.
These are awesome. Making another batch right now. Thank you for sharing the recipe.
So glad to hear that!
Can these be prepped in advance?
Hi Vicki – we haven’t tried that so can’t be sure! It may work to make them ahead of time and then reheat them in the oven before serving. However, Taryn doesn’t recommend preparing them ahead of time without baking as the acid from the pineapple may make the texture of the bacon turn out weird.