The best bbq little smokies are made in a crockpot with 3 simple ingredients. Prep this easy appetizer recipe in 5 minutes, then let your slow cooker do the rest. Serve these tasty cocktail wieners at your next party.
Because they’re bite size nibbles, BBQ little smokies are ideal as part of an appetizer buffet for Game Day, church socials, potlucks, and tailgating. With a tangy sweet glaze, these savory cocktail weenies are a real winner.
In the past, you may have tried a recipe for crockpot little smokies made with grape jelly or marmalade. But after conducting a taste at a large party, I found that hands down, guests favored this BBQ sauce/brown sugar version over the crockpot wieners made with BBQ sauce/grape jelly by 3 to 1.
RECIPE TIP: If you don’t have a slow cooker, you can still make BBQ weenies! Just scroll down to the “Recipe FAQ” section for instructions on how to make this easy recipe on stovetop or in the oven.
optional flavor add-ins
Looking to up the flavor profile of this little smokies recipe? It’s easy to do! Try one or more of these delicious add-ins.
- FOR A SWEETER THICKER GLAZE: Drizzle in some organic honey, or reduce the brown sugar to 1/4 cup and add 1/4 cup honey. It’ll not only thicken and sweeten the glaze, it’ll also amplify the flavor to deliver the deep umami taste you’ve been craving.
- FOR A LITTLE KICK: Add 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes or 1 tablespoon hot sauce (like Frank’s Red Hot) or sriracha sauce. Or garnish the dish with diced fresh jalapeño peppers.
- TO ADD MORE TANG: Add a short splash of Worcestershire Sauce.
- FOR A MEATIER APPETIZER: Wrap the little smokies in thin-sliced bacon that’s been lightly cooked but still flexible. Secure them with a toothpick before arranging them inside the crockpot. Cook as directed in this recipe (with no further changes). Or garnish the warmed-up BBQ little smokies with cooked and crumbled bacon bits.
- FOR ADDED COLOR: Chop up some fresh Italian parsley or sliced green onion. Sprinkle it over the top before serving. It’s a quick easy way to brighten the presentation of these little smokies appetizers.
INGREDIENTS
All it takes to make this little smokies recipe are 3 yummy ingredients. Look for Little Smokies in the refrigerated deli section next to the hot dogs.
- Package of Little Smokies
- BBQ sauce (like Sweet Baby Ray’s Original BBQ Sauce)
- Light brown sugar
- OPTIONAL GARNISH: Fresh Italian Parsley
RECIPE STEPS
- STEP 1: In a crockpot, combine little smokies, BBQ sauce, brown sugar, and any additional add-ins, if desired. Turn the heat setting to “low.”
- STEP 2: Cook for 2 hours, stirring occasionally, or until the cocktail wieners are completely warmed through. If at any point the sauce becomes too thick or dry, add a splash of water (about 1/4 cup) to prevent the glaze from burning.
- STEP 3: Once the BBQ little smokies are done, turn the heat setting on the crockpot to “warm.” This will keep them at a snuggly warm temperature throughout the length of your party. Stir occasionally. Add water if needed.
- STEP 4: If desired, garnish the appetizer with fresh Italian parsley. For clean serving, have toothpicks or appetizer picks at the ready.
KITCHEN SMARTS: Little smokies are not a raw meat product. They are fully-cooked smoked sausages. What we’re doing in this recipe is snuggling them in a tasty sweet-savory glaze while heating them through.
RECIPE FAQ
These are the most commonly asked questions when making BBQ little smokies, and the most helpful answers for recipe success.
A 3- or 4-quart slow cooker is ideal for this crockpot little smokies recipe. But you can use any size crockpot you have on hand. If needed, cut the recipe in half, or use the scaling function in the recipe card to upsize the ingredient quantity so it fits your appliance well and delivers the number of servings needed for your special event.
If cocktail wieners aren’t available at the market, buy fresh weenies from the butcher. Slice each hot dog into several 1-inch pieces.
In a bowl, combine BBQ sauce and brown sugar. Put the glaze aside. On the stovetop, add little smokies to a large saucepan over medium heat. Stir and flip for 2 minutes. Add the glaze to the pan. Stir well to coat the weenies. Simmer until the sauce is smooth and bubbly, and the mini wieners are hot and warmed through (about 8 to 10 minutes).
Arrange little smokies in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake at 350°F for 15 minutes, or until heated through. In a large saucepan on stovetop over medium heat, combine BBQ sauce and brown sugar. Heat until bubbly hot. When little smokies come out of the oven, add them to the pan and toss until well coated in glaze.
Serve over white rice with a veggie side like a green salad, Brussels sprouts, or asparagus. For a picnic-style dinner, serve little smokies with loaded baked potato salad, coleslaw, or classic macaroni salad.
Transfer leftovers to an airtight container with snap-on lid. Refrigerate the appetizer for up to 3 days. Rewarm BBQ little smokies on stovetop or in the microwave. For longer storage, freeze up to 1 month.
MORE GAME DAY APPETIZERS
If you enjoyed this crockpot little smokies recipe, you’ll definitely want to try these other Game Day crowd pleasers. They’re perfect for rounding out your spread of nibbles and bites on the appetizer table.
- Buffalo Chicken Bites
- Sausage Cheese Balls
- Pesto Hummus
- Cheesy Breadsticks
- Jalapeno Pimento Cheese
- Fried Zucchini
- Loaded Potato Skins
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BBQ LITTLE SMOKIES crockpot recipe
- Total Time: 2 Hours 5 Minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Description
BBQ little smokies deliver so much food joy! Prep this easy appetizer in 5 minutes, then let your crockpot do the rest. Serve these bite-size nibbles at your upcoming party.
Ingredients
- 2 (14-ounce) packages Little Smokies
- 1 cup BBQ sauce (like Sweet Baby Ray’s Original BBQ Sauce)
- 1/3 cup light brown sugar
GARNISH: Fresh Italian Parsley, chopped
Instructions
- In a crockpot, combine little smokies, BBQ sauce, brown sugar, and any additional add-ins, if desired. Turn the heat setting to “low.”
- Cook for 2 hours, stirring occasionally, or until the cocktail wieners are completely warmed through. If at any point the sauce becomes too thick or dry, add a splash of water (about 1/4 cup) to prevent the glaze from burning.
- Once the BBQ little smokies are done, turn the heat setting on the crockpot to “warm.” This will keep them at a snuggly warm temperature throughout the length of your party. Stir occasionally. Add water if needed.
- If desired, garnish the appetizer with fresh Italian parsley. For clean serving, have toothpicks or appetizer picks at the ready.
Notes
FOR A SWEETER THICKER GLAZE: Drizzle in some organic honey. It’ll not only thicken the sauce and sweeten it, it’ll amplify the flavor to deliver the deep umami taste you’ve been craving.
FOR A LITTLE KICK: Add red pepper flakes or hot sauce like Frank’s Red Hot or sriracha sauce. Or garnish the dish with diced jalapeño peppers.
FOR A MEATIER APPETIZER: Wrap the little smokies in thin-sliced bacon. Secure them with a toothpick before arranging them inside the crockpot. Cook as directed in this recipe (with no further changes).
- Prep Time: 5 Minutes
- Cook Time: 2 Hours
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: BBQ Little Smokies, Crockpot Little Smokies, Little Smokies Recipe, Little Smokies Appetizers
BBQ LITTLE SMOKIES > JOIN THE CONVERSATION
Did you grow up enjoying BBQ little smokies served from a crockpot during parties and family gatherings? Was it at Thanksgiving or for backyard tailgating? Share your memories about cocktail weenies in the comments!