1. Prepare the Oven and Baking Dish: Setting the Stage for Baking

1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Grease Baking Dish: Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. This will prevent the sausage bites from sticking and make cleanup easier.

2. Prepare the Sausage: Creating Bite-Sized Pieces

1. Slice Sausage: Slice the smoked sausage into 1-inch thick coin shapes.

3. Combine Ingredients: Creating the Flavorful Mixture

1. Add Ingredients to Dish: Add the sliced smoked sausage, barbecue sauce, brown sugar, and Dijon mustard to the prepared baking dish.
   • Alternative: You can also combine these ingredients in a large mixing bowl.
2. Stir to Combine: Stir all the ingredients together until the sausage slices are evenly coated with the sauce mixture.

4. Bake to Perfection: Achieving a Bubbly and Caramelized Finish

1. Bake: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven.
2. Baking Time: Bake for 45 minutes, or until the sauce is bubbly, darker in color, and thickened.
   • Tip: The recipe author likes to stir everything together a couple of times during the cooking time to ensure that all the sausages are coated well.

5. Serve: Enjoying Your Savory Creation

1. Serve Hot: Serve the BBQ Sausage Bites hot, directly from the baking dish or transferred to a serving platter.
2. Toothpicks: Provide toothpicks for easy serving and eating.
3. Optional: Slow Cooker: If you want to keep the sausage bites warm for a party or game, you can transfer them to a slow cooker set on the “Warm” setting for 2-3 hours. The recipe author recommends baking them first for a charred exterior.