Name: Kentucky Dumplings - Bacon Wrapped Pretzel Bites
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 28 Pieces
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 tub King's Hawaiian Pretzel Bites; 1 family-sized pack bacon; 2/3 cup brown sugar; 3 tablespoons BBQ rub seasoning

Home » Appetizers » Kentucky Dumplings

A hearty appetizer made with King's Hawaiian pretzel bites wrapped in bacon, rolled in brown sugar and Jack Daniel's BBQ rub seasoning then baked.

Author: Mandy Rivers | Published: 10/22/26

When I tell you these little bites will fly off the tray and be the talk of the tailgate, I'm not exaggerating one bit! They are smokey and sweet, and salty and chewy and crispy all at the same time and they are glorious!

We first had these when visiting Baby Girl for parent's weekend. She and her roommates put out a spread for everyone to graze on before the shenanigans got good and fully started (and by shenanigans I mean like when I got on stage at a frat party and sang half of Hank Williams Jr's greatest hits 🙈).

Her roommate, Allison, stunned us all with these pretzel bites! I knew immediately that I had to make them for y'all to share the recipe so I hammered her with questions about the recipe!

A hearty appetizer made with King's Hawaiian pretzel bites wrapped in bacon, rolled in brown sugar and Jack Daniel's BBQ rub seasoning then baked.

After Allison explained how to make them (she'd seen a video and jotted down the basics) I asked her what they were called and she didn't have an answer. Well, since she's from Kentucky and they were seasoned with Jack Daniel's BBQ rub, we quickly landed on Kentucky Dumplings!

At the time, this seemed like the most brilliant strike of creative lightening I'd ever heard. In hindsight, we might have tossed around a few other better ideas but I was a few Old Fashioneds in at this point so Kentucky Dumplings it was!

Since that weekend, we've all been making them and the name has stuck so these are officially and forever henceforth called Kentucky Dumplings among me and mine! You are welcome to call them whatever you like!

10 NOTES & SUGGESTIONS FOR KENTUCKY DUMPLINGS

1. You will need a baking rack to make this recipe (see pictures). If you don't have one, try baking on a parchment lined sheet pan in the center of your oven, flipping the pieces halfway through cooking.

2. I can't think of a substitute for the King's Hawaiian Soft Pretzel Bites unless you buy refrigerated or frozen soft pretzel bites and bake them first.

3. There are about 28-30 pretzel bites in each container so you will need 14-15 slices of bacon (each one gets half a slice). You'll either need to get two packages or one family-sized package of bacon.

4. Use regular bacon (not thick-sliced or center cut). The sugar will burn before the thick slices of bacon cook all the way and halves of center cut bacon will be too short to wrap around the pretzel bites.

5. You can use whichever BBQ rub seasoning you like! I've stuck with the Kentucky theme by using the Jack Daniel's rub but anything works.

6. Definitely add some cayenne pepper to your brown sugar and BBQ rub for a kick if you like things a little spicy!

7. These are great served hot but also still lovely at room temperature.

8. I image these can be grilled as well. I would grill over indirect heat at about 350 degrees for 30-45 minutes.

9. BBQ rub seasoning is any "grill seasoning" made for smoking or barbequing meat. Most will have paprika, salt and brown sugar in the top ingredients.

10. There are a gozillion BBQ rub recipes online if you just want to make some yourself.

MORE HEARTY CROWD-PLEASING APPETIZERS

Flank Steak Pinwheels - Thin flank steak strips marinated with simple pantry ingredients, rolled into pinwheels then cooked on the stove (or grill).

Pigs In a Blanket Chili Cheese Dippers - Pigs-In-a-Blanket baked around an easy chili-cheese dip for dunking makes for bite-sized chili-cheese dogs.

Party Shrimp - A super quick and easy recipe with just a few ingredients that cooks in one big batch under the oven broiler perfect for entertaining!

White Trash Sliders - Ground beef, pork sausage and Velveeta cheese on soft slider rolls perfect for tailgating, game night and parties!

High Roller Sandwiches - Pinwheels with roast beef, horseradish, cheddar cheese and a little kick wrapped in tortillas, flatbread or Hye cracker bread.

Recipe for Bacon Wrapped Pretzel Bites