Slow Cooker Little Smokies

Slow Cooker Little Smokies with a sweet and tangy sauce are fun and tasty appetizers sure to be a hit with the crowd. Super easy to make in the crockpot with only four ingredients!

With football season in full gear and the holidays fast approaching, I’ve been giving our favorite slow cooker appetizers such as beef queso more test runs than my waist care to count. You know, just to make sure the recipes work. *wink

These crockpot little smokies sausages are high up on our party food lineup for good reason and guests can’t get enough of them!

Why you’ll love them

• They’re generously smothered in a sweet and tangy sauce which complements the smoky flavors of the cocktail weiners.
• They come in fun bite sizes perfect for feeding a large crowd.
• They’re so easy to make with almost zero work and only four ingredients you probably already have on hand.
• They conveniently cook in the crockpot freeing up the stove or the oven for other things on the menu.
• They can be served and kept warm in the slow cooker for the party for less clean-up.

Are little smokies already cooked?

Yes, these cocktail weiners are fully cooked and can be eaten straight out of the bag. However, they are best enjoyed when heated, especially in a mouthwatering sauce such as in this slow cooker recipe.

Sauce ingredients

All you need to make the sweet and tangy sauce are only three pantry staples namely brown sugar, ketchup, and mustard.

There’s even no need to dirty another bowl. Just place the sausages in the crockpot and add the rest of the ingredients. Give everything a good stir, cover, and cook on LOW for about 3 to 4 hours or on HIGH for about 2 to 3 hours until heated through. That’s it!

Stovetop instructions

Doing the recipe in the slow cooker means tasty appetizers with hardly any effort but sometimes, 2 hours is too long to wait. You can easily make them on the stovetop and transfer them to the crockpot to keep warm.

1. In a saucepan over medium heat, combine brown sugar, ketchup, and mustard.
2. Bring to a boil for about 2 to 3 minutes, stirring regularly until sugar is dissolved.
3. Add sausages. Lower heat and simmer for about 8 to 10 minutes or until heated through and sauce is slightly reduced.

Bonus tips

How to serve and store

• These crock pot little smokies are delicious as an appetizer but also make a tasty main dish. Serve with sweet potato fries and steamed veggies for a simple lunch or dinner meal.
• Allow leftovers to cool completely and transfer to a container with tight-fitting lid. Refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 2 months.
• Reheat in saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring regularly to keep from burning.