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Sheet Pan Smoked Sausage Cranberry Bites

Sheet Pan Smoked Sausage Cranberry Bites combine caramelized sausage coins with a sticky cranberry-Dijon glaze, roasted until bubbling. Tossed with orange zest and fresh thyme, they’re bite-size and easy for fast appetizers.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Calories: 290
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Smoked sausage
  • 28 oz smoked sausage Sliced into 1/2-inch coins.
Cranberry glaze
  • 14 oz whole berry cranberry sauce
  • 0.3333333333 cup brown sugar
  • 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 0.5 tsp garlic powder
  • 0.25 tsp red pepper flakes
  • 1 tsp orange zest
  • 1 fresh thyme leaves For garnish.

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan

Method
 

Roast the sausage
  1. Preheat the oven to 400F and line a rimmed sheet pan with foil. This prevents sticking and keeps cleanup quick.
  2. Spread the smoked sausage coins in a single layer on the sheet pan. Roast for 12 minutes until browned at the edges, then keep the pan in the oven-ready position.
Make and bake the cranberry glaze
  1. Whisk the whole berry cranberry sauce, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, garlic powder, and red pepper flakes in a bowl. Whisk until the sugar is mostly dissolved and the mixture looks smooth and glossy.
  2. Pour the glaze over the sausage and toss to coat. Make sure the browned sides are coated so the glaze can caramelize.
  3. Roast for 10 to 13 minutes more until the glaze is sticky and bubbling. Look for a tacky sheen and active bubbling around the sausage coins.
Finish and serve
  1. Toss the bites with orange zest and fresh thyme leaves. Serve warm with toothpicks for easy snacking.

Notes

For the stickiest glaze, toss the sausage right after adding the sauce so it clings before the next roast. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days; rewarm on a sheet pan in a 350F oven until hot. Freezing: not recommended because the cranberry sauce texture can soften. Dietary swap: use a maple-style whole berry cranberry sauce with no added sugar if you want a reduced-sugar option.