Made with just a few pantry ingredients and 5 minutes of prep time, these Crockpot Little Smokies are a sweet, tangy, easy appetizer and loved by everyone! A must for game days, holiday parties, and pretty much any get-together.
Similar to Grape Jelly Meatballs, Cranberry Meatballs, and Kielbasa Bites, this little smokies recipe makes your taste buds tingle. Put out some toothpicks and watch them disappear!
Crockpot Little Smokies
These crockpot little smokies are a tried and true recipe loved by everyone, perfect for holiday celebrations, game day, Sunday brunch, and really just about any occasion. They are crockpot party food guaranteed to please.
A classic set-it-and-forget-it slow cooker appetizer, with a combination of sweet, savory, and tangy flavors, it’s no wonder why they’re so popular. Crazy easy to prepare and so delicious. You can also serve them over mashed potatoes for an easy weeknight dinner!
BBQ Little Smokies Ingredients
This super easy slow cooker recipe is made with just a handful of simple ingredients.
(Scroll below to the printable recipe card for details and measurements.)
- Barbecue sauce: You can grab a bottle at the store or make my homemade BBQ sauce.
- Grape jelly: Any brand of grape jelly will work.
- Worcestershire sauce: Adds a savory flavor to balance the sweetness of the jelly.
- Sriracha: This adds just the tiniest bit of heat. It lends flavor, but does not make the sauce spicy.
- Seasonings: Garlic powder and onion powder are added for additional flavor.
- Little smokies: These are Hillshire Farm pre-cooked mini sausage links, also known as cocktail sausages or cocktail weenies.
Variations
There are several ways to change up the flavors to suit different tastes.
- Change the sweetener: Instead of grape jelly, try brown sugar, maple syrup, or honey BBQ sauce.
- Make it spicy: We add just a touch of sriracha for a little heat, but if you really want to make the smokies spicy, add in even more hot sauce or crushed red pepper flakes.
- Replace the BBQ sauce: Instead of BBQ sauce, mix together a 16 ounce can jellied cranberry sauce, 1/2 cup ketchup, 1/4 cup chili sauce, and 2 tablespoons brown sugar. Use that mixture over the smokies instead for a different, delicious flavor.
- Use meatballs instead: Make our Grape Jelly Meatballs – everyone loves those, too!
How to Make Little Smokies Appetizers
This little smokies recipe requires just 5 minutes of hands-on time and a few hours of cook time in the crockpot for the perfect party appetizer.
(Scroll below to the printable recipe card for complete details.)
- Combine the sauce ingredients. Whisk the BBQ sauce, grape jelly, Worcestershire sauce, Sriracha, and seasonings until smooth in the slow cooker.
- Add the lil smokies. Add the smokies to the sauce and toss to coat.
- Cook. Cook on low for 2-3 hours, stirring occasionally toward the end.
- Keep warm. Once the sausage links are fully heated, turn the slow cooker to warm and enjoy.
How to Store & Reheat Leftovers
- How long do little smokies last in the fridge? Leftover BBQ little smokies can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. They also freeze well in a freezer safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight.
- How to reheat little smokies. The easiest way to reheat the cocktail sausages is in the microwave but if you’re reheating a large amount, you can also use the crockpot or stovetop.
FAQs
- Can I make little smokies without a crockpot? Yes, you can easily make these BBQ little smokies on the stovetop if you don’t have a crockpot. Just put them in a pot over medium/medium-low heat and cook until the cocktail sausages are warmed. Be sure to stir frequently so the sauce doesn’t scorch.
- Does the jelly make these cocktail sausages sweet? These slow cooker little smokies are sweet, but not overly so. The sweet jelly combined with tangy BBQ sauce and savory Worcestershire really give the dish a great, well-balanced flavor.
- What are the best cocktail links to use? You can use any variety of Hillshire Farm little smokies. Beef, Polska, or turkey all work.
Serving Suggestions
These little smokies with grape jelly are a must on a party appetizer table, especially around the holidays or for game day. Keep the party prep super easy by serving them along with (2 ingredient) olive spread, our extremely popular dill pickle dip, and mini cheese balls.
These grape jelly little smokies can also be turned into a meal. Our family loves them served over mashed potatoes.
More Party Appetizers:
I hope you love this delicious and easy recipe – be sure to give it a review below! Also don’t forget to follow Belly Full on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube!
Little Smokies Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups barbecue sauce
- 3/4 cup grape jelly
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon Sriracha
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 28 ounces (2, 14 ounce packages) little smokies
Instructions
- In a slow cooker, combine the barbecue sauce, grape jelly, Worcestershire sauce, sriracha, garlic powder, and onion powder; whisk until smooth and combined.
- Add in the little sausage links and toss the smokies until coated.
- Place the lid back on the crock pot and cook on low for 2-3 hours, stirring occasionally toward the end.
- Turn the slow cooker to warm and enjoy.
We usually make these with grape jelly and chili sauce, but loved this bbq sauce version. Different and also super tasty!