BBQ Little Smokies
BBQ Little Smokies are such an easy appetizer to make for a number of different occasions! These little sausages are so tasty when cooked in BBQ sauce. You can use your stove top or slow cooker for this versatile recipe.
If you’re enjoying this recipe, be sure to check out Bacon Wrapped Little Smokies!
Table of Contents
Besides meatballs, these bite-sized sausages are my favorite appetizers to serve at a party. Not just at a party, I like to snack on them anytime too.
The best and the most simple way to serve little smokies sausages is to cook them in sauce. BBQ sauce is the favorite for most people, but you can always get adventurous and variate the flavors.
Some other ways to cook these sausages is to wrap them in bacon and roast in the oven, or wrap them in pieces of dough to make pigs in the blanket. Little smokies are so much tastier in pigs in a blanket than vienna sausages are!
This truly is one of the simplest and tastiest appetizers you can serve at a party that will satisfy everyone.
Ingredient Notes
Little Smokies – I use beef ones, but chicken or pork can be used if you’d like.
Ketchup – Heinz is my favorite, but any other brand also works well! If you have any left over, use it to make some more Homemade BBQ Sauce.
Chicken Broth – I love using Homemade Chicken Stock in all of my recipes. However, this easy recipe also works great with store-bought stock.
Molasses – This really deepens the flavor of the BBQ sauce in the best way.
Maple Syrup – Here’s the deal. You can use honey instead, but the flavor won’t be as rich! I’ve experimented with both and maple syrup always yields better results.
Bourbon – Make sure that your bourbon is good quality so it lends a nice flavor. You can also use the rest of the bourbon to enjoy a classic Old Fashioned – cheers!
See the recipe card below for the full list of ingredients and instructions.
How to Make BBQ Little Smokies
Make the BBQ Sauce. Whisk all of the ingredients for BBQ sauce in a pot over medium heat. Whisk until smooth. (1)
Add the sausages. Add the little smokies to the pot (2).
PRO TIP: If any of the juices go with the sausages, that’s a good thing! The extra liquid will cook out and lend a great flavor to the sauce.
Simmer. Give everything a good stir and let simmer for about 20 minutes (3). Stir often!
Recipe FAQs
Little smokies generally come fully cooked, so you can eat them before cooking. Do note that they contain fat and it’s not the most pleasant taste to chew on solidified fat. So it’s better to cook them first for the taste and texture purposes. As always, check the packaging on the little smokies.
Yes, this recipe is gluten free and little smokies are gluten free in most brands. Remember to always check the packaging before buying!
You can always keep these little smokies in a slow cooker, on a warm setting, during the party. You can quickly cook them on stove-top and then transfer cooker sausages with the sauce into a slow cooker. Keep it warm and make sure to keep the lid on. You can also use a chafing dish or a chafing dish set to keep your hot party foods warm.
First, combine ingredients for the sauce in the Crockpot and whisk it together.
Add sausages but not the juices that they are packed with to the sauce and stir well.
Cover and cook on high for about 2 hours or on low for about 4 hours.
You can always set the Crockpot to warm setting after sausages are cooked and serve it at the party right in the Crockpot.
More of the Best Appetizer Recipes
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BBQ Little Smokies Recipe
Ingredients
- 24 oz beef little smokies (chicken/pork ones can be used as well)
BBQ Sauce:
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
- 1/4 cup water
- 3 tbsp maple syrup (honey can be substituted)
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp fresh cracked black pepper
- salt to taste
Instructions
- Combine ingredients for BBQ sauce in a medium sauce pot, gently whisk until smooth. Set heat to medium.
- Add the content of little smokies package to the sauce. (There are some juices in the package as well and if you’re cooking them on stove-top, add the juices as well. Some of the liquid will cook out during the simmering time and this flavor will be a nice addition.)
- Stir everything well and simmer over medium heat for about 20 minutes. Stir often.
- Take off heat and serve.
To make little smokies in the Crock Pot:
- Combine BBQ sauce ingredient in the Crock Pot and whisk together. Add little smokies sausages to the sauce but not the juices in the package. Cover and cook on high for about 2 hours or on low for about 4 hours. You can serve them right in the Crock Pot.
- Double the recipe if needed.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Originally published on Will Cook For Smiles in December, 2018.
All images and text ©Lyubov Brooke for ©Will Cook For Smiles. Please do not use my images without prior permission. If using my posts in collections and features, please link back to this post for the recipe.
Disclaimer: Nutrition information shown is not guaranteed to be 100% accurate as most ingredients and brands have variations.
Ditto bourbon and chicken broth. We’re just adding them in by taste.
~2-3 oz bourbon and 1/4 cup chicken broth.
That sounds so good! Glad you liked them! 🙂
Turned out excellent. My autistic son who can be picky at times absolutely LOVED this sauce for the lil smokies. Been trying to find one for awhile. Used it just tonight for the Lil smokies but willing to try on chicken and few other things since he loves it that much!
100% Recommend to others!
Thank You ❤️
Best wieners and super quick! Thank you!!
Thanks, Nanci!
I am considering making these for my superbowl party. This will be my first time so mu question is do the little smokers come in big cans and are the smokers the same as vienna sausages
They come in little sealed packages that are most of the time by deli meats at your super market.
They come in little sealed packages that are most of the time by deli meats at your super market.
(1st didn’t go through I guess for my reply to you!)