BBQ Crockpot Little Smokies Recipe

Crockpot Little Smokies

You can buy these babies packaged in the store. There are usually a few choices. There are darker versions that have more of a smoky flavor to them similar to a kielbasa. Others are just smaller hot dogs labeled little weiners that are a bit more “plain” by themselves.

First we made a batch of air fryer smokies wrapped in bacon and those were the most amazing finger foods we had ever tasted. You can only make a few at a time with that method though so if you are cooking for a large crowd for the Super Bowl or a party this is the way to go.

Let’s talk a little bit about slow cooking shall we?? First off I have a few different varieties and I love them all. Each one has an occasion to be used like….

1. This is my favorite 6 quart programmable one with a locking lid so it’s great for bringing to a potluck too.
2. I prefer not to use liners, but rather just spray olive oil inside before adding my food for easier cleanups.

Let me give you a peek of my pretty thang I bought recently. It goes with my kitchen so I can just leave it out on the countertop all the time. 😉

Hillshire Farm is my favorite brand to use for this and our brown sugar bacon smokies. You’ll want two packages of them to make this. It could be easily doubled too if you had a large group coming over. The beauty of this is you can cook, and then set to warm for another few hours of snacking.

Little Smokies in Crockpot

Now there are several different sauces you can use with this. If you want the easiest version, just pour 1-2 bottles of your favorite barbecue sauce and stir together. Done. Want to add some heat, do 1 bottle of bbq and 1 bottle of chili sauce. That will add a bit of heat but not overboard.

If you want grape jelly smokies you can follow the sauce recipe from our Instant pot frozen meatballs. That is a great snack too. This is what was added this time for a sweet and savory mixture.

1. 2 packages of smokies
2. Dijon mustard
3. Catalina salad dressing or you can use bbq sauce instead
4. Brown sugar
5. Cranberry sauce
6. Pineapple chunks or tidbits, drained

Drunken Little Smokies Recipe

You can dice fresh parsley and even add whole cranberries at the end for “prettiness”. Keep them in the Crock for serving or add to a cheap charcuterie board with other fun finger foods.

You can use this same sauce to make our air fryer bbq chicken wings too. Both are great served together as snacks when company comes over.

Hillshire Little Smokies Recipe

Questions you might have and I have received over the years that I want to answer ahead of time:

How many little smokies in a pack?

You will get about 40 pieces in 14 ounces. This calls for 28 so you will want to buy two of them, of the same type preferably, to feed about 20 people as an appetizer or snack. It’s the best football food ever y’all.

You can really use any sort of sauce you like, and any of your favorite add ins. Experiment if you like. Just whisk together your favorite ingredients and just as long as you have enough to coat your weiners you will be good. Thin it out with a little broth if necessary, add sweetness with brown sugar or honey, heat with Sriracha…..

BBQ Little Smokies

There is a complete printable recipe card at the bottom of this post. Here I will show you how quick and easy this cocktail weenie recipe is to make for game day or just because. We have several other appetizer recipes on our site but I will say this is the most popular in our slow cooker.

• This is super easy. You just empty your bags into the slow cooker. In a bowl whisk together all other ingredients listed until smooth.
• Pour this on top and stir so they are all nicely coated and wet.
• Cover with your lid and cook on low for 4 hours. You can garnish with some fresh pineapple chunks and chopped parsley if you want when it’s time to serve. Set to warm if it will be sitting for day long snacking.

Since smokies are already cooked you are just warming them up. They are actually pretty yummy at room temperature too when they cool off but hot is best. It is pretty hard to overcook them but I would definitely turn your pot off or on warm once your 4 hours is up.

Crockpot Appetizer Recipes

I like to use all my small kitchen appliances when it comes to the holidays. I can line my island with butcher paper, unplug each machine and just set them right down with a spoon next to each one. Use a marker or crayon to write what each one is and you’re set to serve!

• We have made Crockpot appetizer meatballs similar to this.
  • you can use fresh or frozen meatballs
• You can make teriyaki slow cooker chicken wings pretty easily.

If you want to make this easy recipe even faster, you can follow our Instant Pot smokies recipe you see here, or make it as a Traeger appetizer.

If you do have leftovers they save well. Just allow them to cool to room temperature and then transfer to an airtight container. Spoon in as much liquid as possible to keep them moist. Refrigerate for up to a few days and rewarm them in the microwave as a snack the next day.

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