This Little Smokies recipe is made with just 3 ingredients – cocktail sausages, BBQ sauce, and grape jelly. A quick and easy appetizer that’s perfect for every gathering, from game day to holiday parties.
These crockpot little smokies couldn’t be easier to whip up. They’re one of our go-to appetizers for game day and holiday gatherings alike. Low effort and always a hit! I’m pretty sure some of the kids at our gatherings basically turn these into their whole meal.
Some of our other favorite appetizers are crack dip, jalapeño popper balls, mini deep dish pizzas, and skillet Mexican corn dip.
Why You’ll Love This Crockpot Little Smokies Recipe
Here are a few more reasons why we love this appetizer so much.
- A classic. This recipe has been around for a while, I’m pretty sure it’s one every family has their own variation of, and it’s one people tend to expect at holiday parties. Or at least my family does. According to them, it’s not a holiday party without some BBQ jelly little smokies.
- Only 3 ingredients. Truly, this is the best part of the recipe. There are only 3 ingredients and none of them require any chopping, dicing, or cutting. Just open the packages and dump them in the crockpot.
- Easy to serve. Little smokies make the best finger food. All you need is some toothpicks next to the crockpot and your guests can dive in. Or you can be a bit fancier and serve them on a platter but in my house, I prefer anything that results in fewer dishes to wash!
What You’ll Need
You only need 3 ingredients to make this popular party appetizer.
- Cocktail sausages – Hillshire Farm Lil’ Smokies is the most popular brand but you can use any. I used the regular unflavored ones in this recipe but you can use the all beef ones or even the kielbasa cocktail sausages too.
- BBQ sauce – Feel free to use any BBQ sauce you love to make these crockpot lil smokies. I’m partial to my homemade BBQ sauce though Sweet Baby Ray’s (especially the honey BBQ one) is great too.
- Grape jelly – Sweetens the sauce and adds a bit of a sticky texture.
How To Make Little Smokies In The Crockpot
Here’s an overview of how to make this super simple recipe. You can find the printable version of the instructions in the recipe card below.
- Combine the ingredients. Add the little smokies to the crockpot. Add a cup of BBQ sauce and the grape jelly. Stir to combine and cover.
- Cook. Cook on low for 2-3 hours. Then serve and enjoy!
Can These Be Turned Into Pigs in Blankets?
Pigs in a blanket is another fun appetizer, usually made with cocktail sausages wrapped in crescent rolls. Using these BBQ little smokies instead of plain ones is a fun way to take it up a notch.
Just follow the instructions above and once they are finished cooking, cut the crescent rolls into strips long enough to wrap around a sausage. Wrap the cocktail sausage in the crescent roll and bake at 350 for 10 minutes or so, until the crescent roll is golden brown.
Tips & Variations
Here are a few things to keep in mind as you make this simple appetizer, as well as a few variations.
- Try brown sugar instead of jelly. If you don’t have grape jelly on hand or prefer a sweeter, richer flavor, you can replace it with brown sugar. It will sweeten the BBQ sauce and still create the sticky texture.
- Add other flavor enhancers. I personally think the combination of BBQ sauce + jelly is perfection for these little smokies but you can add other ingredients for flavor. Ketchup is a good option for some acidity and Worcestershire sauce really enhances the “meaty” flavor. A splash or two of sriracha would add some heat as well.
- Cook on low. When cooking these crockpot little smokies, all you’re really trying to do is heat up the cocktail sausages and let them marinate in the sauce. Cooking them on low for 1-2 hours is plenty of time to heat them up and let the flavors meld.
- Keep warm. Once the cocktail sausages are heated through, you can switch the crockpot to the “warm” setting to keep them hot throughout the party.
- Add bacon. Follow our instructions for Bacon Wrapped Smokies also made in the crockpot.
Serving Suggestions
I love serving these little smokies at parties. To reduce the mess, I like to offer toothpicks in a cup next to the crockpot so guests can just grab one and go. It also helps keep the little smokies warm. If you’re having a more formal party, you can serve the cocktail sausages on a plate with the toothpicks already in them. I will also usually offer a dish of mustard for dipping.
These have been a hit at all holiday parties and even game day. I love to serve them as part of an appetizer spread with other favorites like buffalo chicken dip, a charcuterie tree (or a regular charcuterie board if it’s not the holidays), and sausage balls.
Proper Storage
- Fridge. IF you have leftover lil smokies (and that’s a big IF), they will keep for up to 5 days in the fridge. Make sure they are sealed in an airtight container.
- Reheat. To reheat, microwave for 1 to 2 minutes and serve. You can also warm them up on the stovetop.
More Appetizer Recipes
- Smoked Salmon Dip
- Crab Stuffed Mushrooms
- Buffalo Chicken Dip
- BBQ Kielbasa Bites
- Honey Garlic Chicken Wings
3-Ingredient Crockpot Little Smokies Recipe
Ingredients
- 20 ounces Lil' Smokies cocktail sausage
- 1 cup BBQ sauce
- 3/4 cup grape jelly
Instructions
- Place the little smokies in the crock pot.
- Pour in one cup of barbecue sauce.
- Add the grape jelly.
- Mix and cover.
- Cook on low for 2-3 hours.
- Serve & enjoy!
Last Step:
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6 comments on “Little Smokies”
Made them tonight and my family loved them and I loved them being so simple!!!!!
Glad to hear that Carol. Thanks!
Make it all the time wit5h currant jelly and mustard.
Turned out Delicious.
Can I use jam instead of jelly
Hi Theresa. You absolutely can use jam instead.