3-ingredient Crockpot Little Smokies Recipe | Little Sunny Kitchen (2024)

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By: DianaPosted: 12/9/20Updated: 2/12/23

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These easy 3-ingredient little smokies are co*cktail sausages cooked in a sweet and tangy barbecue sauce in the slow cooker. They are perfect for parties and entertaining as they’re so tasty and fun to eat, and everyone loves them!

3-ingredient Crockpot Little Smokies Recipe | Little Sunny Kitchen (1)

I love serving these lil smokies for any occasion! Whether I’m making them for game day, to feed a crowd, or just for dinner, they are always gone first! They make a great appetizer that is loved by adults and kids alike, and no one will ever know that they’re made with just a few ingredients!

What are Little Smokies?

If you’re wondering what are little smokies, these are just miniature smoked co*cktail sausages or co*cktail wieners (pork or beef).

They’re usually fully cooked, and any brand works here! Find them at the refrigerated meat section at the grocery store, close to hot dogs.

The ingredients

  • Little smokies – I always buy the ones that are fully cooked, and in this recipe, we’re just heating them through to infuse with the sauces and flavors. Always check the packaging when buying to be sure that they’re fully cooked.
  • Barbecue sauce – use your favorite barbecue sauce!
  • Optional – so depending on the flavor that you want, you can either use just grape jelly, or for a more complex flavor, go for ketchup, garlic powder, brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce.
3-ingredient Crockpot Little Smokies Recipe | Little Sunny Kitchen (2)

How to Make Little Smokies

So the idea here is just to warm them up with the sauce, so you can use the microwave or the stovetop if you like. But I personally prefer the slow cooker, as I just throw them in and go prepare something else.

It’s a set it and forget it type of recipe so the slow cooker will do all of the work for you, and they’re ready in just 1 hour on high or 2-3 on low. Here’s how you make them:

  • Open 2 16-ounce packages of little smokies, and throw them in the bottom of your Crockpot.
  • In a small bowl, mix the sauce ingredients until well combined.
  • Pour the sauce over the little smokies, and cook for 1 hour on high or 2-3 hours on low.
3-ingredient Crockpot Little Smokies Recipe | Little Sunny Kitchen (3)

Recipe Tips

  • Sweeten the sauce with grape or cranberry jelly, or brown sugar (I’m giving you both recipes in the recipe card below). Granulated sugar is not recommended.
  • I like to use a high-quality honey barbecue sauce for the best flavor.
  • If you like a bit of heat, add a splash of hot chili sauce (like Frank’s hot sauce), or use sweet and spicy barbecue sauce instead of honey barbecue.
  • Use 3-4 quart slow cooker, or larger.
  • Serve them to your guests straight from the slow cooker, just provide them with a serving spoon and some clean picks so that they can help themselves! Or just serve in an appetizer bowl.
  • Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the fridge.
  • Freeze in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.
  • Reheat in the microwave until warmed through.
3-ingredient Crockpot Little Smokies Recipe | Little Sunny Kitchen (4)

What to Serve With

If you’re serving these Crockpot little smokies as an appetizer, then provide clean toothpicks and let the guests enjoy them with more small appetizers or party foods.

If you’re serving them for dinner, then I recommend a side salad and creamy mashed potatoes. Or rice and roasted vegetables.

3-ingredient Crockpot Little Smokies Recipe | Little Sunny Kitchen (5)

More Easy Appetizers You will Love

  • Easy cranberry brie bites
  • Crispy oven baked chicken tenders
  • Fresh tomato bruschetta
  • Air fryer chicken wings
  • Baked BBQ chicken drumsticks

Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!

Recipe

3-ingredient Crockpot Little Smokies Recipe | Little Sunny Kitchen (6)

5 from 15 votes(Click stars to rate!)

Little Smokies

Prep Time: 5 minutes mins

Cook Time: 1 hour hr

Total Time: 1 hour hr 5 minutes mins

Author: Diana

Print Rate Recipe

These easy 3-ingredient little smokies are co*cktail sausages cooked in a sweet and tangy barbecue sauce in the slow cooker. They are perfect for parties and entertaining as they're so tasty and fun to eat, and everyone loves them!

12 servings

These easy 3-ingredient little smokies are co*cktail sausages cooked in a sweet and tangy barbecue sauce in the slow cooker. They are perfect for parties and entertaining as they're so tasty and fun to eat, and everyone loves them!

Ingredients

  • 2 16-ounce packages Little Smokies
  • 1 cup Barbecue sauce

For grape jelly flavor

  • 1 cup grape jelly

For a sweet and savory sauce

  • ¼ cup brown sugar light or dark
  • ¼ cup ketchup
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
  • 3 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

Instructions

  • Open 2 packages of little smokies, and place them in the Crockpot.

  • In a small bowl, mix the sauce ingredients until well combined.

  • Pour the sauce over the little smokies, and cook for 1 hour on high or 2-3 hours on low.

Notes:

  • Sweeten the sauce with grape or cranberry jelly, or brown sugar (I’m giving you both recipes in the recipe card below). Granulated sugar is not recommended.
  • I like to use a high-quality honey barbecue sauce for the best flavor.
  • If you like a bit of heat, add a splash of hot chili sauce (like Frank’s hot sauce), or use sweet and spicy barbecue sauce instead of honey barbecue.
  • Use 3-4 quart slow cooker, or larger.
  • Serve them to your guests straight from the slow cooker, just provide them with a serving spoon and some clean picks so that they can help themselves! Or just serve in an appetizer bowl.
  • Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the fridge.
  • Freeze in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.
  • Reheat in the microwave until warmed through.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 347kcal, Carbohydrates: 31g, Protein: 10g, Fat: 21g, Saturated Fat: 7g, Cholesterol: 48mg, Sodium: 1026mg, Potassium: 208mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 23g, Vitamin A: 53IU, Vitamin C: 3mg, Calcium: 22mg, Iron: 1mg

This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.

© Little Sunny Kitchen

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Reader Interactions

Leave a Review!

  1. Joe says

    3-ingredient Crockpot Little Smokies Recipe | Little Sunny Kitchen (13)
    Love this recipe for Little Smokies. I prepared these today for a carry-in at work.

    Reply

    • Diana says

      I’m glad to hear that you enjoyed the recipe, Joe! I hope it was a hit at your work carry-in. It’s always nice to have a simple and tasty recipe to share with others. Thank you for your feedback!

      Reply

  2. Jesse says

    3-ingredient Crockpot Little Smokies Recipe | Little Sunny Kitchen (14)
    Followed your recipe using the ingredients (didn’t have grape jelly) 😉
    The Smokies turned out delicious. Thank you for sharing this. 😊👍

    Reply

3-ingredient Crockpot Little Smokies Recipe | Little Sunny Kitchen (2024)

FAQs

What are the ingredients in little smokies? ›

Ingredients. Beef, Water, Corn Syrup, Contains 2% Or Less Of: Flavorings, Modified Food Starch, Salt, Sodium Lactate, Potassium Lactate, Sodium Phosphates, Dextrose, Sodium Diacetate, Sodium Erythorbate, Sodium Nitrite, Extractives Of Paprika.

How long should smokies be cooked? ›

Things You Should Know

For cooking sausage on a stovetop, heat a skillet with about 2 tablespoons (30 mL) of oil on medium heat. Add the sausages and cook for five minutes on each side. To boil sausages, cover and boil them for 10-15 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165 °F (74 °C).

Are little smokies and smoked sausage the same thing? ›

Also known as co*cktail sausages (yes, the same ones you'd use for pigs in a blanket!), little smokies are mini smoked sausages. Look for them in the refrigerated aisle of your grocer, near the hot dogs.

What is the best way to cook Hillshire Farm smoked sausage? ›

  1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
  2. Remove the skinless smoked sausages from the package and put them into a shallow baking pan.
  3. Put the pan in the oven and bake for 15 to 20 minutes.
  4. Remove the smoked sausage from the oven and let it stand for 3 minutes before serving. Things You'll Need. Measuring cup. Skillet.

How do you cook precooked Smokies? ›

Smoked sausages are already cooked and don't need to be boiled, that will make them split and ruin them. Bring a pot of water to the boil, turn it off and let it sit for a few minutes. Add the sausages and then wait around 10 minutes until they are heated through.

How to tell if little smokies are bad? ›

Strong or unpleasant odor: A strong or unsavory smell is the first sign your sausage has gone bad. If your sausage has a fish-like, acidic or sour smell, you'll likely want to throw it away.

What are the black spots on little smokies? ›

Information 10/15/30.
  • The appearance of spots or dots, brown or black, in fresh or cured meat products is a result of the growth of microorganisms. ...
  • Bacteria, Carnimonas nigrificans, was found responsible for the development of these spots, or black spots in cured meat products.

How long do little Smokies last in fridge after cooking? ›

All sausages- except dry sausage - are perishable and therefore must be kept refrigerated or frozen. Uncooked fresh sausage can be stored in the refrigerator one to two days; after cooking, keep for three to four days refrigerated (40 °F or less).

Can you eat uncooked Smokies? ›

Simply put, fresh sausage is raw and uncooked, making it great as an ingredient, but you'll need to cook it yourself. Smoked sausage is fully cooked, so you can eat it as is. In other words, you don't need to cook smoked sausage for it to be safe for consumption, though you can if you prefer your sausage warmed up.

What are Oscar Mayer Smokies? ›

Oscar Mayer Hardwood Smoked Smokies Uncured Smoked Sausages are made with no added nitrates or nitrites except those naturally occurring in cultured celery juice, no artificial preservatives, colors or flavors. Every package has no fillers or by-products so you can enjoy the great taste and quality you expect.

Are smokies healthy? ›

Processed meats such as bacon and hot dogs are linked to mental breakdowns, a study suggests. Patients taken to hospital with manic episodes were more than three times more likely to have recently eaten meats such as ham, salami or beef jerky.

What do Americans call Smokies? ›

The Smoky Mountains, or the “Smokies” as they are known locally, are a well-known destination for tourists from across the United States.

What is the best way to heat up little smokies? ›

OVEN: Bake links in shallow pan in a preheated 350°F oven for 12-14 minutes.

Should I boil or fry Smokies? ›

If you want to learn how to cook sausages, there are many methods you can try. Grilling and frying sausages can make the sausages pop with flavour. Boiling sausages is a faster method but you will have to part with some of the flavour unless you fry them after boiling them.

How to cook Hillshire Farm sausage on stove? ›

1. In a Large skillet heat olive oil and crushed garlic, stir in smoked sausage slices and cook until smoked sausage is browned. 2. Add bell peppers, onion and chicken stock and simmer for about 10 minutes.

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