Slow Cooker Little Smokies Recipe (co*cktail Weenies) | foodiecrush.com (2024)

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This easy and addictive little smokies recipe is made even simpler thanks to the Crockpot and is perfect for game days and parties.

CrockPot Little Smokies Appetizer

Every year around this time, it’s the same thing.

The phone rings. Well, it used to ring. Now it just buzzes with texts.And then I hear read, “Heidi, can you send me your Little Smokies recipe again?”

Yep, like clockwork.

As the big game daydraws near, I starthearing—make that seeing—the requests. And every year I sendthe same little smokies recipeout to friends who have had these sweet little barbecued sausages in the crockpot (or my new Instant Pot) on game days of yearspast.

They’recraving them again, but this time in the comfort of their own home where the game day bets are a little looser, and a whole lot more forgiving.

I never thought this humble lil smokies recipe was worthy ofa blog post, but given the requests I stillreceive, andthe fact thatI crack open my war-torn recipe binderfor the recipeeachyear, I realized me and my friends might notbethe only ones in need of a super simple, slow cooker game dayappetizer.

What’s in This Little Smokies Recipe?

These days there are a variety of co*cktail weiner flavors out there. Turkey. Beef. Sausage, and combos of them all. I chose traditionalpork sausages but also threw in a package of cheddar-stuffed weiners for a little once-in-a-few-bites surprise.

A basic store-bought barbecue sauce is the base for this sauce, so Ichoose a quality, honey sweetened version tolendthesmoky, sweet flavor.

White vinegar adds tang and a puckery punch. I don’t use apple cider vinegar because it comes off a little too strong.

And then there’s beer. What would game day be like without another layer of it?

How to Make Little Smokies

This game day appetizer couldn’t be simpler. Just add everything to your slow cooker, pop the lid on, and let the co*cktail weenies cook on high for 2 to 3 hours until warmed through.

Once cooked, turn the heat to “warm” to keep the lil smokies warm all afternoon.

Can I Omit the Beer?

The alcohol from the beer cooks out of the co*cktail sausages, but if you’d rather not add the beer, addthe same amount ofwater or sparkling cider in its place.

What Type of Beer Should I Use?

You want to use a light beer in this recipe. Bud Light or something similar will work.

Tips for Making Little Smokies

I add ½ cup brown sugar to the lil smokies sauce to amp up its sweet flavor. If you don’t like your little smokies to be too sweet, scale back the amount of sugar you use.

I don’t recommend using granulated sugar in place of brown sugar, as brown sugar’s caramel-y flavor pairs better with the honey barbecue sauce.

If serving this little smokies recipe to guests, be sure to plonk a serving spoon into the slow cooker so they can easily serve themselves. A stash of clean toothpicks to eat these co*cktail weenies with also makes for less cutlery to clean after the big game.

More Easy Appetizers You’ll Love

  • Bacon Beer Cheese Dip
  • Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Cheese Dip
  • Easy Yogurt Fruit Dip
  • French Onion Dip
  • Pigs in a Puff Pastry Blanket

If you make this recipe, please let me know! Bookmark this recipe and leave a comment below, or take a photo andtag me on Instagramwith #foodiecrusheats.

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4.13 from 358 votes

Slow Cooker Little Smokies

This easy and addictive little smokies recipe is made even simpler thanks to the Crockpot and is perfect for game days and parties.

Course Appetizer

Cuisine American

Keyword little smokies, slow cooker

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 2 hours hours

Total Time 2 hours hours 5 minutes minutes

Servings 28

Calories 103kcal

Ingredients

  • 4 14- ounce packages co*cktail sausages
  • 16- to 18- ounce bottle honey-flavored barbecue sauce
  • ½ cup light brown sugar
  • ¼ cup white vinegar
  • 12- ounce bottle lager beer

Instructions

  • Place the sausages in the bowl of a slow cooker. Add the barbecue sauce, brown sugar, vinegar, and beer and stir to combine.

  • Cook on high for 2 to 3 hours or until the sausages are warmed through.

  • Lower heat and keep warm to serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 103kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 12mg | Sodium: 354mg | Potassium: 78mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 36IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 11mg | Iron: 1mg

More Slow Cooker Recipes to Master

  • Slow Cooker Healthy Turkey and Sweet Potato Chili with Quinoa
  • Slow Cooker Sriracha Meatballs
  • Easy Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
  • Slow Cooker Whole Chicken
  • Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken

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Slow Cooker Little Smokies Recipe (co*cktail Weenies) | foodiecrush.com (2024)

FAQs

Are co*cktail franks the same as little smokies? ›

Conversely, little smokies, a smoked version of a co*cktail frank, are half their size. co*cktail franks are often considered the ultimate hassle-free party food: Typically, the preparation consists of just opening a can, heating the sausages, and serving.

How do you cook Hillshire Farms little smokies? ›

Microwave on High for 20-25 seconds or until hot. (For compact or microwave ovens lower than 850 watts add 5-10 seconds, if needed). Let stand in microwave for 1 minute, before serving. CAUTION: PRODUCT WILL BE HOT!

Are little smokies and smoked sausage the same thing? ›

The short answer is that; smokies are technically a type of sausage. Yes, they are sausages but with different ingredients and are smoked unlike regular sausages,( that is why they are called smokies), and are ready to eat straight from the packet. Sausages on the other hand are raw and need to be cooked to be edible.

How long are cooked co*cktail weenies good for? ›

Information. All sausages- except dry sausage - are perishable and therefore must be kept refrigerated or frozen. Uncooked fresh sausage can be stored in the refrigerator one to two days; after cooking, keep for three to four days refrigerated (40 °F or less).

What are the black spots on little smokies? ›

Bacteria, Carnimonas nigrificans, was found responsible for the development of these spots, or black spots in cured meat products. Its development is favored by the addition of dextrose, maltose or dextrin, while inhibited by the addition of sodium nitrite or potassium bisulphite.

Are co*cktail smokies fully cooked? ›

Fully cooked and loaded with natural hardwood smoked amazing flavor, our co*cktail smokies make the perfect appetizer – year round!

Are little smokies already precooked? ›

Yes! Like most smoked sausages, little smokies are already fully cooked. You'll want to heat them through before serving. We think the easiest way is to toss them in the slow cooker with a simple three-ingredient pantry sauce.

Can you eat little smokies without cooking? ›

To prevent foodborne illness, uncooked sausages that contain ground beef, pork, lamb or veal should be cooked to 160°F. Uncooked sausages that contain ground turkey and chicken should be cooked to 165°F. Ready-to-eat sausages are dry, semi-dry and/or cooked. Dry sausages may be smoked, unsmoked or cooked.

Does Oscar Mayer make little smokies? ›

Great for entertaining. Franks made with chicken, pork & beef. Visit us at: oscarmayer.com.

Are expired hot dogs OK to eat? ›

A “use-by” date is the last day a producer recommends eating a hot dog, and a “best if used by” date indicates when the hot dogs will pass peak quality. In general, you should consume uncooked hot dogs before the “use-by” date or within two weeks of the “best-by,” “sell-by,” or “best if used by date.”

Can you eat expired hot dogs if they were frozen? ›

If you notice that the date on the frozen food package has already passed, you may be wondering if that food is still safe to eat. The good news is that you can eat frozen food that has passed its expiration date — although in some cases, the flavor, color, or texture may have decreased in quality (1).

Can you eat cooked hot dogs left out overnight? ›

Cooked hot dogs that have been sitting out for longer than 2 hours (or 1 hour above 90° F) should be discarded. The reason is that bacteria grow rapidly when cooked hot dogs (or wieners/frankfurters) are kept at temperatures between 40° F and 140° F.

What is another name for Lil Smokies? ›

Lit'l Smokies – AKA co*cktail sausages.

What is another name for co*cktail frankfurts? ›

co*cktail sausages, franks, cheerios, or 'little boys'

Apparently, the humble co*cktail frankfurt, or co*cktail sausage, is a party referred to as 'little boys' in New South Wales, savs or saveloys in South Australia, and cheerios in Queensland.

What are co*cktail franks called? ›

There were terms like 'red hot lovers', 'red sausages', 'co*cktail weenies' and 'little weenies' in the comments section, which were the more unusual suggestions.

What are co*cktail frankfurts called? ›

$9.50. A co*cktail sausage is a smaller version of the saveloy, about a quarter of the size – in Australia sometimes called a “baby sav”, a “footy frank” or a “l*ttle boy” Categories: Pork, Sausages & Burgers, Small Goods.

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