This quick and easy Little Smokies Recipe combines little smokie sausages in a sweet, tangy barbecue sauce with a hint of spice. They are almost impossible to stop eating and are always a huge party hit.
I love to serve them for movie nights, game days, potlucks, and patio parties or as a main course over white rice or mashed potatoes.
This savory recipe without the grape jelly is adaptable to a slow cooker, the stovetop, or the oven. It takes less than 5 minutes of prep time and is easily customizable to suit your taste.
Little smokies come in various flavors, including beef, pork, chicken, and turkey. They are available at most grocery stores year-round and make a fabulous, quick, and easy appetizer recipe. Grab a toothpick and enjoy. If you love these, you will also enjoy my recipe for pigs in a blanket.
Ingredients Notes and Substitutions
- Little smokies: beef, turkey, chicken, or pork
- BBQ sauce: I like spicy ones, but you can use your favorite
- Worcestershire sauce: for some flavor dimension
- Chili sauce: like sambal oelek for a little kick (this is optional)
Three Ways To Cook Them
- Crockpot: add the little smokies to the crock pot. Pour the rest of the ingredients into the crock pot and stir to combine. Cover and heat on low for 2-3 hours.
- Stovetop: add the little smokies to a skillet or saucepan. Add the rest of the ingredients and stir to combine. Cook over low heat on the stove until the little smokies are glazed and warmed through or for about 20 minutes.
- Oven: add the little smokies to a baking dish. Add the rest of the ingredients and stir to combine. Bake in a 350-degree preheated oven for about 30 minutes or until glazed and heated through.
Preparation Tips and Storage
- I like to use a Kansas City-style BBQ sauce with lots of spice and flavor, but you can use any BBQ sauce.
- Little smokies are available in several flavors, including beef, chicken and pork, turkey, and Polish smoked sausage. Our favorite is the chicken and pork, but they all taste good in this recipe.
- The chili sauce is optional but highly recommended. It gives the sauce a much-needed kick but is not overly spicy. The sweetness of the brown sugar and BBQ sauce tames it. Sriracha or hot sauce works as a good substitute.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat leftovers in the microwave at reduced power.
Variations
- Sauce: swap out the sauce for your favorite sweet and sour sauce or try homemade sweet and sour sauce or homemade BBQ sauce.
- Meatballs: use frozen or homemade meatballs in place of the smokies
- Jelly: in place of the sauce ingredients, add one cup grape, peach, or cranberry jelly.
More Appetizer Recipes
Little Smokies Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 16 ounce packages little smokies
- 1 cup bbq sauce
- 1 cup ketchup
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1-2 tablespoons chili sauce or sambal oelek optional
Instructions
- Crock Pot – add the little smokies to the crock pot. Add the rest of the ingredients to the crock pot and stir to combine. Cover and heat on low for 2 hours.
- Stovetop – add the little smokies to a skillet. Add the rest of the ingredients and stir to combine. Cook over low heat until the little smokies are glazed and warmed through or for about 20 minutes.
- Oven – add the little smokies to a baking dish. Add the rest of the ingredients and stir to combine. Bake in a 350-degree preheated oven for about 30 minutes or until glazed and heated through.
Notes
- I like to use a Kansas City style bbq sauce with lots of spice and flavor, but you can use any kind of bbq sauce.
- Little smokies are available in several flavors, including beef, chicken and pork, turkey, and Polish smoked sausage. Our favorite is the chicken and pork, but they all taste good in this recipe.
- The chili sauce is optional but highly recommended. It gives the sauce a little needed kick, but it is not overly spicy. The sweetness of the brown sugar and bbq sauce tames it.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat leftovers in the microwave at reduced power.
Nutrition
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Tanya B
Your Little Smokies Recipe was absolutely irresistible! The sweet and tangy barbecue sauce with a hint of spice was the perfect combination. I made them for a little get together with friends and they were a big hit. Thanks for the recipe, Beth! I will make these again soon.
Beth Pierce
The pleasure is all mine, Tanya!
Ree
These little smokies are impossible to resist. I made them for the office potluck and everyone devoured them! So delicious and easy to make.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Ree! I am glad that you liked them!
Maria
These little smokies were perfect for movie night. Everyone loved them. I am really getting into these Hallmark Christmas movies.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Maria! I am glad that everyone enjoyed them.
Yeah Lifestyle
These little smokies are so tasty. I love the combo of the little sausages and the bbq sauce together, they are so moreish!
Indu
Something different to try. Smokies recipe can be added to my weekend party menu. My friends will love it.
Lisa
I love these little tasty dogs. I make them in a crockpot and the kids snack on them after school. Or I make a big pan of them on the stove and serve over egg noodles or mashed potatoes. So yummy!
Catalina
This is such a delicious snack. I made it for movie night and everyone loved it.
Sam
Delicious little smokies recipe. They are quick, easy, and everyone loves them! Thanks for sharing!
Erin
Always a hit on our table! This is definitely a must make!
justin
This is my new, go-to little smokies recipe. I’ve always made the grape jelly version, but this recipe has layers of flavor that go well with HF beef smokies. I didn’t change anything from the recipe. I used a KC-style sweet and spicy bbq sauce, and I used 1.5 TBSP Sriracha.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Justin! So glad that you like the little smokies. We lovew them too!
Deshay
This is so good! My family loves it!!
Christian Foremost
Yum yum yum, great recipe. Perfect easy last minute game day food. Everyone loves them.
dorry
They were very tasty and easy to make! Thank you for the recipe
Neely Moldovan
OH I haven’t had these in years. Looks so good!
Bryan
Little Smokies make for a good snack/meal. I like the beef variety best. Perhaps a good choice for the upcoming MLB games and World Series?
Beth Pierce
Yes so true!
Beti
Oh my goodness! These are amazing!! My favorite appetizer! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Beth Pierce
The pleasure is all mine Beti!