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Lil Smokies Recipe (3 Ingredients)

These crockpot lil smokies are simple, juicy, smothered with BBQ sauce and made with 3 simple ingredients. They make the perfect appetizer for any occasion.

Lil smokies in a white crockpot.
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Best Lil Smokies Appetizer

If you love my crockpot BBQ meatballs, you’re going to love this lil smokies recipe too! They couldn’t be easier to whip up and are one of our top appetizer recipes for game day. Some of our other favorites are pigs in a blanketjalapeno poppers and bacon wrapped smokies.

If you’ve been following me for awhile, you know I’m all about quick and easy recipes that taste delicious. And these little smokies (aka lil smokies) are just that! They are seriously so simple and take only a few minutes to prep. Plus they’re pretty similar to my famous crockpot BBQ meatballs recipe, so you know they’re going to be good. :)

We love to make these lil smokies when entertaining or bringing an appetizer to a party. They are so fun to serve with fancy toothpicks and are always a big crowd favorite. You can even make them for dinner too…they really are perfect for any occasion.

The little smokies sauce tastes so rich and flavorful…you would never know that there are only 3 ingredients in this recipe! One of my favorite easy appetizer recipes.

3 Ingredients

Little smokies ingredients on the counter.

What I love about these lil smokies is that they are made with just 3 simple ingredients in the crock pot! Find the printable recipe below.

  • Little smokies: AKA mini pork cocktail sausages. I love the Hillshire farm brand.
  • BBQ sauce: Sweet Baby Ray’s is my go-to barbecue sauce for this recipe. You could also add in a squeeze of ketchup.
  • Brown sugar: I love the sweetness this adds. You could omit or swap with grape jelly if you prefer.
  • Worcestershire sauce: This is optional, but I love adding a dash for extra flavor. Sometimes I’ll add a dash of garlic powder as well.

How to Make Little Smokies

Little smokies crockpot.

It honestly doesn’t get any easier than this crockpot little smokies recipe. Just follow the simple steps below to get started. Scroll down for the printable recipe for lil smokies.

  1. Combine: Add BBQ sauce and brown sugar in bottom of crockpot and stir. Then add lil smokies and mix until well coated.
  2. Cook: Just add the ingredients to the bottom of your slow cooker, mix together, then cook for 1-2 hours. You can either serve immediately or keep on warm until ready to serve. SO easy and delicious!

Recipe FAQ

Do Lil Smokies have to be cooked?

The smokies are fully cooked, so all you need to do is let them marinate in the sauce while they heat up. It should only take about an hour or two for the lil smokies to warm up in the crockpot.

Are little smokies the same as cocktail sausages?

Yes, they are the same. These mini sausages come pre cooked and are available at grocery stores in beef or pork.

How Long do Little Smokies Last in the Fridge?

If you have leftover lil smokies, they will keep in the fridge for about 3 to 5 days. Just make sure to store in an airtight container.

To reheat, simply microwave for 1-2 minutes or cook in a pot on the stove until warm. You could also warm back up for a few minutes in the oven as well, if preferred.

How do you eat Lil Smokies?

I love to serve them with toothpicks. You can also serve them with mini forks.

Can little smokies be frozen?

Yes, you can freeze lil smokies. Allow to cool and then store in a covered container. If using a frozen pack for this recipe, allow to thaw slightly and then add to crockpot. You may need to add an extra hour to cook time if they are not thawed.

Little smokies recipes.

What Goes with Little Smokies for Dinner?

These lil smokies also make a quick and easy dinner! They’re great for busy weeknights since you can throw all the ingredients in the crockpot and they’ll be ready in a couple of hours! Below are a few of our favorite sides to serve with lil smokies.

Looking for more delicious appetizers? Try my bacon wrapped dates or meatballs with grape jelly and chili sauce.

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Lil smokies in a white crockpot with a spoon.

Lil Smokies Recipe

4.99 from 171 votes
↑ Click stars to rate now!
Author: Jamielyn Nye
These crockpot lil smokies are simple, juicy, smothered with BBQ sauce and made with 3 simple ingredients. They make the perfect appetizer for any occasion.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 2 hours
Total Time: 2 hours 5 minutes
Servings: 16

Video

Ingredients 

Instructions

  • Stir together the BBQ sauce, brown sugar and Worcestershire sauce in the bottom of a crockpot. Add the little smokies and stir until coated.
  • Cook on low for 2-3 hours or until ready to serve. Stir and then turn to warm until ready to serve.

Notes

Cook on stove top: If you want to make these cook faster, you can combine the ingredients in a saucepan and simmer for 20 minutes or until warm. 
Storage: Store leftovers in a covered container for up to 4 days. 
Variations:
  • Swap out the BBQ sauce for a chili sauce, sweet and sour or teriyaki sauce. 
  • Swap the brown sugar for grape jelly (similar to my grape jelly meatballs).
  • Use leftovers to make pigs in a blanket.

Nutrition

Serving: 5smokies | Calories: 206kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 32mg | Sodium: 696mg | Potassium: 139mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 40IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 17mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.

Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American

Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!

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