Little Smokies in Crockpot

There’s always one appetizer at every party that people crowd around. These little smokies in the crockpot are that one. They disappear fast, stay warm for hours in the slow cooker, and the flavor is ridiculously good thanks to a sweet and tangy homemade barbecue-style sauce.

I make this recipe just about every time we have people over, and it never fails, especially when I double it. If you’re in the mood for something a little crispier, try our bacon wrapped Lil’ Smokies baked in the oven.

Same great flavor, just with that salty bacon crunch on the outside.

Ingredients

• 2 (14 oz) packages of little smokies (cocktail sausages)
• 1 (18 oz) bottle of barbecue sauce
• ½ cup ketchup
• ¼ cup light brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• ¼ teaspoon paprika

How to Make Little Smokies in a Slow Cooker

Add both packages of little smokies to the bottom of your slow cooker. In the same crockpot, pour in the barbecue sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, Worcestershire, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika.

Stir everything together until the sausages are evenly coated.

Cover and cook on low for 2 hours until the sausages are warmed through and the sauce is hot and slightly thickened.

Once they’re ready, switch your slow cooker to warm and serve straight from the pot with toothpicks.

This recipe makes about 60 sausages, which usually works out to around 12 servings based on five links per person. It’s perfect for smaller gatherings but easy to double if you’re expecting a bigger group.

Tips, Notes and Serving Info

I used what I think was a 3-quart slow cooker, and it held both packages of sausages with no problem. These smaller slow cookers don’t always have the size clearly marked, so just estimate the fit.

After two hours on low, they were hot and ready to serve. From there, I just switch the crockpot to warm so they stay ready for guests.

If you use a larger crockpot, the sausages may heat through a little faster, so check them a bit earlier. More notes on this in the recipe card.

Each 14-ounce package contains about 30 cocktail sausages, and based on what we served, five links per person seems like a good estimate. That means the full recipe makes roughly 12 servings if you’re not adding anything else.

It’s an easy one to double if you’re expecting a crowd, as long as your slow cooker can handle the volume.

What to Serve With Little Smokies

If you’re building a whole spread, here are a few other reader-favorite appetizers that go great alongside these crockpot little smokies. I’ve made all of these for parties and they always go fast.

The Slow Cooker Velveeta Cheeseburger Dip is creamy, cheesy, and easy to keep warm in the crockpot right next to your smokies. Our Knorr Spinach Dip is served chilled, which makes it great for balancing out the hot dishes on the table. If you’re into something bold and spicy, the oven-baked Buffalo Chicken Dip without Ranch has just the right amount of heat and creamy texture.

How to Store and Reheat Little Smokies

If you have leftovers, let them cool, then transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate. They’ll keep for up to three days. You can reheat them in the microwave or put them back into the slow cooker on low until warmed through.