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    Home » Recipes » Crockpot Little Smokies

    Crockpot Little Smokies

    Published: Jan 30, 2022 · Modified: Mar 27, 2023 by Sherri · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

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    Crockpot Lil Smokies coated in a flavorful savory bbq sauce are the best quick and easy appetizers for game day parties, holiday parties, or when you need a delicious snack to make with simple ingredients!

    This easy recipe might remind you of these two sweet and tangy Grape Jelly Meatballs recipes grape jelly and ketchup meatballs or Grape Jelly and Mustard Meatballs that I’ve shared. There’s something I love about serving easy little pop in your mouth slow cooker appetizers that are fun to make and fun to eat! Making a few little saucy apps just means you have a bit of everything! You can even make these little sausages with the same sauces as those meatballs too.

    white bowl full of little smokies cocktail weenies with a woman's hand holding a toothpick in one

    Table of contents

    • Best 3-Ingredient BBQ Weenies
    • Ingredients/shopping list
    • How to Make Crockpot Little Smokies
    • Variations/ Substitutions
    • Make BBQ Little Smokies on the Stove Top
    • Top 3 Tips
    • FAQ’s
      • Other Appetizer Recipes

    Best 3-Ingredient BBQ Weenies

    Crockpot Little smokies are such a crowd pleasing appetizer that some might ask if it’s even a party without them! I make these mini cocktail sausages every time I need a delicious appetizer, even if I’ve already got a list of things on the go because they’re basically effortless. I mean who doesn’t love mini versions of comfort classics? Mini hotdogs? Yes please! Mini hot dogs smothered in a sweet and tangy BBQ sauce? Even more yes!

    closeup of a bowl full of little smokies hot dogs in a barbecue sauce

    Toss the little cocktail weenies in a slow cooker along with brown sugar and bbq sauce and you’ve got the best smelling, mouth-watering, totally addicting smoked sausages. It’s perfect for game day parties because it stays warm in the pot and people can help themselves!

    three white bowls - one filled with lil smokies hot dogs, one with brown sugar and one with bbq sauce

    Ingredients/shopping list

    • Lil Smokies – I use Hillshire Farm little smokies, as they tend to be the most popular and readily available.
    • Brown sugar – Gives a sweet balance to the smoky barbecue sauce and flavor of the weenies.
    • BBQ sauce – Use whatever favorite bbq sauce you have on hand! Smokey, sweet, mesquite, honey-garlic, even homemade bbq sauce!

    How to Make Crockpot Little Smokies

    This recipe will come together in a couple of steps. Just a good old-fashioned dump and set recipe!

    Step 1: Combine both packages of Lil smokies, the brown sugar, and the BBQ sauce in the pot.

    black crock pot with little weenies, brown sugar and barbecue sauce

    Step 2: Cook for 2 hours on low heat. Garnish with sliced scallions or fresh parsley.

    black slow cooker with little smokies hot dogs in a sauce

    Step 3: Just kidding, there’s no step 3. That’s it!

    little smokies cocktail sausages cooking in a bbq sauce in a black crock pot

    Variations/ Substitutions

    1. Substitute 1 cup of grape jelly for the brown sugar.
    2. Use honey or maple syrup instead of brown sugar, if preferred.
    3. Substitute 1 cup of ketchup or Heinz chili sauce for the barbecue sauce.
    4. For a spicy kick, sprinkle in ½ teaspoon of red pepper flakes or 1 teaspoon of hot sauce.
    5. A dash of Worcestershire sauce will add another layer of flavor if you have some.
    6. Swap the Lil smokies for meatballs! Having a completely different protein makes these an entirely different appetizer.

    Make BBQ Little Smokies on the Stove Top

    Combine the cocktail weiners, brown, and bbq sauce in a medium saucepan and simmer over medium-low heat for about 15-20 minutes.

    Top 3 Tips

    • If the sauce becomes a little too thick as it cooks, add a ¼ cup of water to it so that it doesn’t burn.
    • When serving a larger crowd of guests, keep it warm on the warm function. Again, keep an eye on how thick it gets as it sits.
    • These are obviously quite saucy, so have some extra napkins and toothpicks on hand!

    FAQ’s

    How to Store?

    Keep leftovers in an airtight container and stored in the fridge for up to 4 days.

    Can these be frozen?

    Once completely cooled, transfer them to a freezer-friendly airtight container or freezer bag and keep them frozen for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat in the crockpot, on the stove, or in the microwave.

    How to Reheat?

    Either on the stovetop or back in the slow cooker, reheat on low. You may need to add a splash of water to thin out the sauce.

    If you’ve only got a bit and want to reheat them for a little snack, just pop a bowl in the microwave for a quick reheat.

    Can I make more for a larger crowd?

    Easily double or triple the recipe for a party! These cocktail wieners come fully cooked, so it’s just a matter of making sure they’re all heated through.

    What else can I serve with these?

    As amazing as these are for a great appetizer, they also make a super simple weeknight dinner when served with rice, macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes, or wedges. All the stuff kids’ dreams are made of 🙂

    Other Appetizer Recipes

    Buffalo Hummus

    White Bean Dip

    Bacon Dill Cheese Ball

    Bisquick Sausage Balls

    If you like this recipe, please leave us a comment and rate the recipe below. You can also find us on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and Instagram!

    a white bowl full of little smokies cocktail weiners with a toothpick picking one up

    Crockpot Little Smokies

    Crockpot Lil Smokies coated in a flavorful savory bbq sauce are the best quick and easy appetizers for game day parties, holiday parties, or when you need a delicious snack to make with simple ingredients!
    5 from 5 votes
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    Course: Appetizer
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 2 hours hours
    Total Time: 2 hours hours 5 minutes minutes
    Servings: 16
    Calories: 193kcal
    Author: Sherri Hagymas

    Equipment

    • Slow Cooker

    Ingredients

    • 2 packages little smokies 14 ounce size
    • 1 cup BBQ sauce
    • ¼ cup light brown sugar

    Instructions

    • Combine the little smokies, BBQ sauce, and brown sugar in a slow cooker
    • Cook for 2 hours on low heat until warmed through.
    • Garnish with fresh parsley or sliced scallions.

    Notes

    Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
    For a spicy appetizer, add ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes or 1 teaspoon hot sauce.
    Substitute honey for the brown sugar if desired.
    Use any bbq sauce you prefer. Regular, honey or spicy versions.
    If the sauce becomes thick while cooking, add up to ¼ cup of water so the sauce doesn’t burn.
    For parties, set the slow cooker on the warm setting to keep warm.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 5links | Calories: 193kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 32mg | Sodium: 692mg | Potassium: 132mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 40IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 14mg | Iron: 1mg

    Nutritional Disclosure

    Nutritional facts are estimates and are provided as a courtesy to the reader. Please utilize your own brand nutritional values to double check against our estimates. Nutritional values are calculated via a third party. Changing ingredients, amounts or cooking technique will alter the estimated nutritional calculations.

    Tried this recipe?Mention @ToSimplyInspire or tag #ToSimplyInspire!

    Sharing of this recipe to social media is both encouraged and appreciated. Please share the direct link back to the recipe. Copy/Pasting and/or screenshots of the recipe to any social media is strictly prohibited. Content and photographs are copyright protected

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    Filed Under: Appetizers, Crock Pot Recipes, Holiday Recipes, Recipes

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    Hi there! I’m Sherri I love creating a variety of easy recipes that anyone can make and enjoy! From healthy to comforting, I hope you find something that inspires you!.

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