Crockpot Little Smokies

These easy 3-ingredient little smokies are cocktail 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!

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 cocktail sausages or cocktail 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.

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.

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.

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.

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