Little Smokies Recipe (2024)

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Little Smokies, smothered in a sweet tangy BBQ sauce are one of the easiest, most loved appetizers out there. These are guaranteed to disappear whether it’s for a party or dinner, these are just too tasty and fun not to eat.

I love bringing a meaty type dish to add some protein and something savory to an occasion. Similar to Easy chipotle Honey Meatballs, Sweet and Sour Meatballs, or Meatloaf Meatballs, these are meaty, and the perfect dish to counter all the sweet. Grab a toothpick and dig in!

Little Smokies Recipe (1)

Crockpot Little Smokies

Everyone loves these little smokies, whether you’re entertaining, taking them to a party or serving them for dinner. Savory little smoked sausages are the perfect companion for your favorite BBQ sauce, sweetened with a bit of sugar and tang.It’s a crowd pleaser for sure! They are just perfect for any occasion.

These are rich and flavorful and so super easy. Just add it all to the crock pot for a few hours and your ready to go. It’s so nice to be able to set it and forget it. the crock pot will do all the work for you. They are versatile, easy and so delicious.

BBQ Little Smokies Ingredients

Simple ingredients for a great appetizer or meal!

  • Little Smokies: Use two 16 oz packages of any kind of smokies
  • Barbecue Sauce: Use your favorite BBQ Sauce, store bought or try my homemade BBQ Sauce
  • Ketchup: Adds a little bit of tang
  • Brown Sugar:Brings on more of a sweetness
  • Worcestershire Sauce: Your going to love the extra meaty flavor it adds
  • Garlic Powder: Flavor enhancer
  • Paprika: Spice and color

Making Little Smokies Appetizers

Throw it in and forget about it, the best kind of recipes.

  1. Slow Cooker: Place the smokies in the bottom of the crockpot.
  2. Mix:In a medium sized bowl combine the rest of the ingredients and mix well.
  3. Pour: Pour the sauce over the smokies and cook on low for 2-3 hours.

Little Smokies Recipe (2)

What are Slow Cooker Little Smokies

  • Name: These are also known as co*cktail sausages or co*cktail weenies.
  • Meat: These are basically miniature smoked pork sausages. They are already cooked. There are different brands and types and all will work in this recipe.
  • How to cook: Very similar to Hot Dogs you can cook them same. Either boil, fry or microwave or as in this recipe, slow cook them. They are very versatile and will work in many different recipes although this is our favorite.
  • Where to find: You can find these in the refrigerated meat section close to the hot dogs in most grocery stores.

Little Smokies Recipe (3)

Tips, Variations, Storing Best Little Smokies Recipe

  • Sugar: You can swap out the sugar for grape, or apple jelly. Cranberry sauce is also a great substitute. Using a dark brown sugar will give it a hint of molasses flavor.
  • BBQ Sauce: You can trade out the BBQ sauce with Chili Sauce and if you use a sweet BBQ sauce you can use less to no sugar.
  • Sweet and Sour: Trade out your BBQ sauce with your favorite sweet and sour sauce
  • Smokies: You can use meatballs instead of little smokies with great success.
  • Storing: Leftovers will keep in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days. These also freeze well in a freezer safe container for up to 3 months.
  • Reheat: Simply reheat leftovers in the microwave or in a pot on the stove till just heated through.

Little Smokies Recipe (4)

More Tantalizing Appetizers

  • Easy Mexican Pinwheels
  • Crispy Philly Cheesesteak Egg Rolls
  • Cream Cheese Wontons
  • Crispy Fried Pickles
  • Chili’s Copycat Skillet Queso

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Little Smokies Recipe (5)

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Little Smokies

4.86 from 7 votes

By: Alyssa Rivers

Little Smokies, smothered in a sweet tangy BBQ sauce are one of the easiest, most loved appetizers out there. These are guaranteed to disappear whether it's for a party or dinner, these are just too tasty and fun not to eat.

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 2 hours hours

Total Time: 2 hours hours 5 minutes minutes

Servings: 8 People

Ingredients

Instructions

  • In a slow cooker add the little smokies to the bottom. In a medium sized bowl combine the barbecue sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder and paprika.

  • Pour the sauce over the smokies and cook on low for 2-3 hours.

Video

Notes

*Can also use my Homemade BBQ Sauce Recipe to replace the sauce ingredients.

Nutrition

Calories: 139kcalCarbohydrates: 33gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 712mgPotassium: 202mgFiber: 1gSugar: 28gVitamin A: 228IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 28mgIron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: American

Tried this recipe?Mention @alyssa_therecipecritic or tag #therecipecritic!

About Alyssa Rivers

Welcome to my kitchen! I am Alyssa Rivers and the food blogger behind The Recipe Critic. The blog launched in 2012 as a place to share my passion for cooking. I love trying new things and testing them out with my family. Each recipe is tried and true, family-tested and approved.

Read More About Me

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Little Smokies Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What are the ingredients in little smokies? ›

Ingredients. Pork, Mechanically Separated Chicken, Water, Corn Syrup, Contains 2% or Less: Potassium Lactate, Dextrose, Natural Flavors, Salt, Oat Fiber, Calcium Lactate, Monosodium Glutamate, Sodium Diacetate, Sodium Phosphate, Sodium Erythorbate, Beef Stock, Sodium Nitrite.

How to cook Hillshire Farm Beef little smokies? ›

Microwave on High for 20-25 seconds or until hot. (For compact or microwave ovens lower than 850 watts add 5-10 seconds, if needed). Let stand in microwave for 1 minute, before serving. CAUTION: PRODUCT WILL BE HOT!

How do you thicken sauce for 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.

How do you cook Hillshire Farms Cheddar Lil Smokies? ›

BAKE: Bake links in shallow pan in a preheated 350°F oven for 12-14 minutes. Boil: Add links to 2-3 inches of boiling water and simmer for 2-4 minutes. Microwave: (1100 Watts) Ovens vary; cook times may need to be adjusted. Remove 5 links from package and place on a microwave-safe plate.

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 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. Cooked sausage often has a rotten smell when it's gone bad, so even if you bought it precooked, toss it if you notice that smell.

Are little smokies already fully 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.

What is the best thing to thicken sauce with? ›

The most readily available sauce-thickener is flour. For a too-thin sauce, try adding a slurry (equal parts flour and water, whisked together) or beurre manie (equal parts softened butter and flour, kneaded together to form a paste)—both are ideal thickeners for rich and creamy sauces, such as steak sauce recipes.

How do you thicken sauce without losing flavor? ›

If flour's the classic then cornflour is the gold-standard in thickening agents. Why? Because it is flavourless so it won't change the taste of your sauce, it's translucent when heated so it won't make your sauce cloudy and most importantly, it works.

How to cook Hillshire sausage on stove? ›

Cut Smoked Sausage sections in half lengthwise or into 1'2" slices. Add to non-stick skillet over medium heat. Cook 6-9 minutes, turning frequently.

How long do you boil Hillshire Farm smoked sausage? ›

STOVE TOP. Add sausage to 2-3 inches of boiling water. Simmer for 10-12 minutes.

How long does it take to cook a Hillshire? ›

Remove packaging material. Use pan at least 1 inch deep. Wrap ham in foil. For best results, heat in a 300°F oven to an internal temperature of 120°F (approximately 13-15 minutes per pound).

Do little smokies have MSG in them? ›

Snack on these bite-sized, skinless (no casing) smoked sausages as an appetizer or meal. Uncured lil' Smokies have no preservatives, no added MSG. no added phosphates, nitrates or nitrites.

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.

Are Lil Smokies all beef? ›

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 Farmers Choice Smokies made of? ›

Ingredients. Pork, carbohydrates, proteins, salt, spices, sodium phosphates, dextrose, ascorbic acid.

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