Let the slow cooker do the heavy lifting in this easy and crowd-pleasing co*cktail appetizer classic.
Serves10 to 12Prep5 minutesCook2 hoursWe independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
I’m a strong believer that everyone needs at least one impossibly easy appetizer that’s guaranteed to be an overwhelming hit with the whole crowd. Mine is little smokies — and I think you’re going to love it, too! Swimming in a smoky savory-sweet sauce, these bite-sized sausages are the perfect app for holiday parties, game day, potlucks, and even a simple dinner. Best of all, they come together with just four simple ingredients — and the slow cooker does all the heavy lifting.
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.
Are Little Smokies Pre-Cooked?
Yes! Like most smoked sausages, little smokies are already fully cooked. You’ll want to heat them through before serving. We think the easiest way is to toss them in the slow cooker with a simple three-ingredient pantry sauce. It’s totally hands-off, and the slow cooker will keep the little smokies warm until you’re ready to serve them up.
What Goes Well with Little Smokies?
A simple sweet and savory sauce takes little smokies from good to totally irresistible. You’ll need just three ingredients for the sauce.
Comments
Let the slow cooker do the heavy lifting in this easy and crowd-pleasing co*cktail appetizer classic.
Prep time 5 minutes
Cook time 2 hours
Serves 10 to 12
Nutritional Info
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups
store-bought or homemade barbecue sauce
- 1/2 cup
packed light brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon
Worcestershire sauce
- 2
(12- to 14-ounce) packages, or 1 (28-ounce) package little smokies mini smoked sausages
Instructions
Place 1 1/2 cups barbecue sauce, 1/2 cup light brown sugar, and 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce in a 3-quart or larger slow cooker and stir to combine. Add 24 to 28 ounces little smokies and stir to coat with the sauce.
Cover and cook on the LOW setting until heated through and flavors have melded, about 2 hours. Stir once more and serve warm.
Recipe Notes
Storage: Leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
FAQs
Ingredients. Mechanically Separated Chicken, Pork, Water, Corn Syrup, Modified Food Starch. CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF Salt, Flavorings, Sodium Lactate, Dextrose, Beef, Sodium Phosphates, Sodium Diacetate, Potassium Lactate, Sodium Erythorbate, Sodium Nitrite.
Do you have to heat up little smokies? ›
Are Little Smokies Pre-Cooked? Yes! Like most smoked sausages, little smokies are already fully cooked. You'll want to heat them through before serving.
What can I substitute for Lil Smokies? ›
You can easily substitute little smokies with large smoked sausage cut into 1/2-inch to 1-inch thick rounds. Any variety of little smokies will work in this recipe.
What are the ingredients in Smokies? ›
Ingredients. Pork and Beef, Water, Modified milk ingredients, Salt, Spices, Sodium phosphate, Sodium erythorbate, Sugars (dextrose), Garlic powder, Sodium nitrite, Spice extracts, Smoke flavour, Smoke. Contains: Milk.
Do little smokies go bad? ›
As long it's before the expiration date, once they're opened and refrigerated in a zip lock, they are good for 7 days max.
How do you thicken BBQ sauce in little smokies? ›
You can use either flour or cornstarch to thicken BBQ sauce. Just mix together 2 tbsp (16 g) of flour and ¼ cup (62.5 mL) of water, or combine 1 tbsp (9 g) of cornstarch with 1 tbsp (15 mL) of water. Continue mixing the thickener until there are no lumps of flour or cornstarch.
Should I boil or fry Smokies? ›
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.
What are the black spots on little smokies? ›
Bacteria, Carnimonas nigrificans, was found responsible for the development of these spots, or black spots in cured meat products. Its development is favored by the addition of dextrose, maltose or dextrin, while inhibited by the addition of sodium nitrite or potassium bisulphite.
How do you know when Lil Smokies are done? ›
In a slow cooker, add little smokies and barbecue sauce and stir to combine. Cover and cook on HIGH for 1 to 2 hours, until sausages are hot.
Can Smokies go bad if not refrigerated? ›
All sausage — except dry sausage — is perishable and therefore must be kept refrigerated.
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.
Do little smokies have MSG in them? ›
Ingredients. Beef, water, corn syrup, Contains 2% or less: salt, potassium lactate, dextrose, natural flavor, calcium lactate, sodium phosphate, monosodium glutamate, sodium diacetate, sodium erythorbate, sodium nitrite. Made With Calcium Alginate or Beef Collagen Casing.
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.
What are the ingredients in Johnsonville little smokies? ›
Pork, Mechanically Separated Chicken, Pasteurized Process Cheddar Cheese [Cultured Milk, Water, Cream, Salt, Sodium Phosphates, Apo-Carotenal And Beta Carotene (Color), Sodium Citrate, Enzymes, Powdered Cellulose Added To Prevent Caking], Water, Corn Syrup, Contains 2% or Less: Potassium Lactate, Dextrose, Oat Fiber, ...
What kind of meat are Lil Smokies made of? ›
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.
Are Lil Smokies healthy? ›
Contains a high level of saturated fat
Saturated fat is not an essential nutrient and with increasing intakes there is a increased risk of coronary heart disease (IOM 2005a; USDA and DHHS 2010). For this reason it has long been known as a "bad" fat that raises the "bad" cholesterol, LDL.
What do Smokies contain? ›
Ingredients. Beef● Carbohydrates● Proteins● Salt● Spices● Sodium Tripolyphosphate● Dextrose.
