Lil Smokies Recipe (3 Ingredients) - I Heart Naptime (2024)

Lil Smokies Recipe (3 Ingredients) - I Heart Naptime (1)

Jamielyn Nye
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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 Recipe (3 Ingredients) - I Heart Naptime (2)

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Table of Contents

  • Best Lil Smokies Appetizer
  • 3 Ingredients
  • How to Make Little Smokies
  • Recipe FAQ
  • What Goes with Little Smokies for Dinner?
  • Lil Smokies Recipe Printable Recipe

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 blanket,jalapeno 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

Lil Smokies Recipe (3 Ingredients) - I Heart Naptime (3)

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 co*cktail 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

Lil Smokies Recipe (3 Ingredients) - I Heart Naptime (4)

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 co*cktail 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.

Lil Smokies Recipe (3 Ingredients) - I Heart Naptime (5)

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.

  • Rice
  • Mixed vegetables
  • Mashed potatoes
  • Glazed carrots
  • Macaroni and cheese
  • Sweet potato fries or potato wedges
  • Roasted broccolior cauliflower

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Lil Smokies Recipe (3 Ingredients) - I Heart Naptime (6)

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 mins

Cook Time: 2 hours hrs

Total Time: 2 hours hrs 5 minutes mins

Servings: 16

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Video

Ingredients

  • 28 ounces little smokies
  • 1-1 ½ cups BBQ sauce
  • ½ cup light brown sugar (or grape jelly)
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

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!

Categorized as: American, Appetizers, Crockpot, Crockpot, Kid-Friendly, Mini appetizers, Reader Favorites, Super Bowl

Lil Smokies Recipe (3 Ingredients) - I Heart Naptime (7)

Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is also the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook. Here you will find easy family-friendly recipes for every occasion.

More about Jamielyn Nye

Add a comment

80 comments

    • Janie

    My crock pot is broken. How else can I make this recipe?

    • Reply
      • Jamielyn Nye

      You can warm them up on a stove in a small sauce pan (should only take 5-10 minutes over medium heat).

      • Reply
    • Doreen
    • Lil Smokies Recipe (3 Ingredients) - I Heart Naptime (8)

    Amazing how we forget our old time recipes, yes, I did make these a lot years ago. Thanks for giving us reminders, no recipe it too simple.

    • Reply
    • SHERRY H FITZGERALD

    Which flavor of Sweet Baby Ray’s do you use?

    • Reply
      • I Heart Naptime Community

      Hi Sherry! I love the Original but you can use whatever one you like :)

      • Reply
    • Hildie Johnson
    • Lil Smokies Recipe (3 Ingredients) - I Heart Naptime (9)

    We make this for Football dinners all throughout the Fall season! It’s a simple side dish that’s loved by all!

    • Reply
    • Lorrie
    • Lil Smokies Recipe (3 Ingredients) - I Heart Naptime (10)

    Forgot to mention, I really enjoy your recipes. Love new tips and twists.

    • Reply
      • I Heart Naptime

      Thank you so much! I am so glad that you love these lil smokies.

      • Reply
    • Lorrie
    • Lil Smokies Recipe (3 Ingredients) - I Heart Naptime (11)

    These have been around for a long time. An oldie goodie! The original recipe I made a jillion times was a bottle of chile sauce, grape jelly and little smokies. Always a hit no matter what you use. So good!

    • Reply
    • Luz
    • Lil Smokies Recipe (3 Ingredients) - I Heart Naptime (12)

    Used the brown sugar and everyone said they tasted great and wanted the recipe.

    • Reply
      • I Heart Naptime

      Sounds like you made it perfectly! I am so glad it was a hit!

      • Reply
    • M.Ramos
    • Lil Smokies Recipe (3 Ingredients) - I Heart Naptime (13)

    Luv this idea!!👍👌✌

    • Reply
    • Lil 1A
    • Lil Smokies Recipe (3 Ingredients) - I Heart Naptime (14)

    Soooo gooooooooood!

    • Reply
    • Kathy

    How are these served? On a platter with toothpicks?

    • Reply
      • Jamielyn Nye

      Yes you can serve them that way. I like to keep them in the crockpot on warm and have a spoon with toothpicks :)

      • Reply
    • Patty McDonald
    • Lil Smokies Recipe (3 Ingredients) - I Heart Naptime (15)

    Love this recipe!! So simple and very tasty!!

    • Reply
      • Jamielyn Nye

      So glad you enjoyed the lil smokies!

      • Reply
    • Abby
    • Lil Smokies Recipe (3 Ingredients) - I Heart Naptime (16)

    These are my favorite. I’ve made them a few times now and me and my kids love them.

    • Reply
      • Jamielyn Nye

      So glad your kids enjoyed the lil smokies recipe!

      • Reply
    • Julia
    • Lil Smokies Recipe (3 Ingredients) - I Heart Naptime (17)

    I have never heard of these before, so it peaked my curiosity. Yall, this turned out so good! We had trouble stopping eating them!

    • Reply
    • Allyson Zea
    • Lil Smokies Recipe (3 Ingredients) - I Heart Naptime (18)

    Perfect game day appetizer! Everyone always loves these!!!

    • Reply
      • Jamielyn Nye

      Always a hit on game day!

      • Reply

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Lil Smokies Recipe (3 Ingredients) - I Heart Naptime (2024)

FAQs

What are the ingredients in little smokies? ›

Ingredients. Pork, Mechanically Separated Chicken, Water, Corn Syrup, Contains 2% or Less: Potassium Lactate, Dextrose, Natural Flavors, Salt, Oat Fiber, Calcium Lactate, Monosodium Glutamate, Sodium Diacetate, Sodium Phosphate, Sodium Erythorbate, Beef Stock, Sodium Nitrite.

What are the ingredients in Eckrich Lil Smokies? ›

Mechanically Separated Chicken, Pork, Water, Pasteurized Process Cheddar Cheese (Cheddar Cheese [Cultured Milk, Water, Cream, Sodium Phosphates, Salt, Sorbic Acid, Artificial Color, Enzymes], Powdered Cellulose), Corn Syrup, Modified Food Starch, Contains 2% Or Less Of: Salt, Flavorings, Sodium Lactate, Potassium ...

Do little smokies have to be cooked? ›

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.

How do you cook eckrich little smokies? ›

Microwave on high (100% power) 3 links for 2-3/4minutes and 6 links for 3-1/2 minutes, or until hot. Let stand covered for 1 minute. you may need to adjust the time for your microwave.

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.

Do Smokies have cheese in them? ›

Ingredients: pork, water, sugars (glucose solids, brown sugar,dextrose), cheddar cheese (milk), salt, sodium phosphate, ascorbic acid,spices, garlic powder, sodium nitrite, smoke.

What are the ingredients in Hillshire Farm beef Lit L Smokies? ›

Ingredients. Beef, water, corn syrup, Contains 2% or less: salt, potassium lactate, dextrose, natural flavor, calcium lactate, sodium phosphate, monosodium glutamate, sodium diacetate, sodium erythorbate, sodium nitrite.

What are Oscar Mayer Smokies? ›

Oscar Mayer Hardwood Smoked Smokies Uncured Smoked Sausages are made with no added nitrates or nitrites except those naturally occurring in cultured celery juice, no artificial preservatives, colors or flavors. Every package has no fillers or by-products so you can enjoy the great taste and quality you expect.

What are the ingredients in Johnsonville smoked sausage? ›

Ingredients: Pork, water, and less than 2% of the following: corn syrup, salt, dextrose, sodium phosphate, natural flavors, garlic powder, maltodextrin, onion powder, sodium erythorbate, sodium nitrite, beef collagen casing.

How do you know if little smokies are bad? ›

Strong or unpleasant odor: A strong or unsavory smell is the first sign your sausage has gone bad. If your sausage has a fish-like, acidic or sour smell, you'll likely want to throw it away. Cooked sausage often has a rotten smell when it's gone bad, so even if you bought it precooked, toss it if you notice that smell.

What is the best way to cook Eckrich sausage? ›

If you are grilling them, cook them for approximately 10-12 minutes, turning occasionally. If you are pan-frying, cook the sausages over medium heat for about 8-10 minutes, turning them frequently. For boiling or simmering, cook the sausages for around 10 minutes.

Should I boil or fry Smokies? ›

Grilling and frying sausages can make the sausages pop with flavour. Boiling sausages is a faster method but you will have to part with some of the flavour unless you fry them after boiling them.

Are Smokies ready to eat? ›

The Smokie is a type of ready- to- eat smoked sausage that can be made of pork, beef, chicken or a blend of all these meats and other flavourful inclusions.

Are Smokies healthy? ›

Processed meats such as bacon and hot dogs are linked to mental breakdowns, a study suggests. Patients taken to hospital with manic episodes were more than three times more likely to have recently eaten meats such as ham, salami or beef jerky.

Are Lil Smokies all beef? ›

Ingredients. Beef, Water, Corn Syrup, Contains 2% Or Less Of: Flavorings, Modified Food Starch, Salt, Sodium Lactate, Potassium Lactate, Sodium Phosphates, Dextrose, Sodium Diacetate, Sodium Erythorbate, Sodium Nitrite, Extractives Of Paprika.

What kind of sausage are little smokies? ›

These little smokies are co*cktail sausages simmered in the crockpot in a sweet and savory barbecue sauce. A super easy slow cooker appetizer that takes just minutes to put together and always gets rave reviews.

Can you eat Lil Smokies raw? ›

No, it is not recommended to eat pre-cooked sausages raw. While they have already been cooked, they may still contain harmful bacteria that can cause foodborne illness if consumed without further cooking.

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