This Crockpot Little Smokies recipe is an easy appetizer that is always a crowd pleaser. Even better, these can be whipped up the day before and put out before a party.
If there is one type of recipe I will never tire of making, it is easy appetizers and snacks. You have gotten several from me this month in preparation of the holidays and New Year’s Eve. But I have one more for you.
This Crockpot Little Smokies recipe comes together with just a few ingredients – most of which I think you will find in your refrigerator and pantry. After you add all the ingredients to your slow cooker, it does the rest of the work for you. The little smokies appetizer is the perfect last minute recipe to make for a party as you are wrapping that last present.
I made the homemade BBQ sauce to go with the Lil Smokie recipe and it is awesome!!! Thank you so much for sharing! It’ll be a keeper for me when I need to make these for get togethers!
How to Cook Little Smokies
This is a brief overview of how to make this delicious recipe. For the full recipe with all of the measurements, see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
- Make BBQ sauce. Given the large role BBQ sauce plays in this recipe, I highly recommend taking 20 minutes to make up a homemade batch. (My recipe is linked in the sentence above and in the recipe card below.)
- Combine all of the ingredients in a crockpot. Put the cocktail weenies in the slow cooker with the remainder of the ingredients and cook on low for 2 hours.
- Remove the cover of the slow cooker. Continue cooking for 1 hour. This step is optional, but it will help thicken up the sauce.
- Serve with little toothpicks.
BBQ Sauce for Crockpot Little Smokies
Besides the lil smokies, the barbecue sauce is really the star of the show. While you can absolutely buy a store-bought brand you love for this recipe, keep in mind that if you don’t like the brand you buy, you really won’t like this recipe.
My homemade BBQ sauce is a five star recipe, that has rave reviews. It is simple to make and comes together in about 20 minutes. Additionally, it makes the exact amount used in this BBQ little smokies recipe, and compliments everything else happening here perfectly.
BBQ Sauce Recipe
Using Whiskey in our Little Smokies Recipe
You’ll notice that I call for 1/2 a cup of whiskey in this recipe, but list it as optional. I love the flavor that whiskey brings to this recipe. It is subtle and delicious. This little smokies recipe cooks for 3 hours. That is enough time for the alcohol in the whiskey to cook off while leaving it’s flavor behind. That being said, if you are serving someone who is sober, I highly recommend either skipping the whiskey all together or asking them what their preference is.
Serving Size
You will note that this lists 14 servings. That is each person having 5 little weiners. If you are bringing this to a large party with more than 14 people where everyone is bringing something, I think you will still be safe keeping the recipe as is. There tends to be so much food at parties, that likely you will have enough.
Storing Leftovers
If you have leftover crockpot little smokies, these can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for three to four days. Do not reheat them multiple times. If you bring out the whole batch and reheat it a second time, any leftovers from that reheating should be tossed.
Slow Cooker
FAQ
Yes! Beef little smokies come fully cooked. We are cooking them in the slow cooker so they take on the flavor of the sauce, but you don’t need to worry about under cooking them.
Yes! This Little Smokies Recipe is dairy free.
What you see here is a 6 quart crockpot. These work great in that. That being said, this recipe also fits in a smaller, 1/2 quart, crockpot.
Other Great Holiday Appetizers
If you can’t get enough of party finger food recipes, here are some other great ideas:
If you make this Little Smokies recipe or any of my other recipes, please leave me a comment under the recipe card. I love hearing from you!
Little Smokies Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups bbq sauce (I highly recommend my homemade recipe, read more about it here)
- 1/2 cup whiskey optional (read more about using whiskey here)
- 1/2 cup brown sugar packed
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoon Worchestershire sauce
- 1 small yellow onion finely minced or grated
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 28 ounces cocktail wieners
Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients for the sauce and pour over the cocktail wieners in the slow cooker.
- Cook on low for 2 hours. Uncover and continue cooking on low for 1 hour. Turn to warm and cover, letting guests serve themselves as the party goes.
Jonna says
I wanted to know what you think. I don’t have any little smokies so I thought i would try cutting up some smoked sausage and also i don’t have any Worcestershire sauce. I was thinking of trying Heinz 57 or A1. And i only have fireball for whiskey. I thought might be ok with the cinnamon flavor. Will you please tell me your opinion on this. Thank you.
That’s a lot of changes! With that many, I think that it will probably all be okay, but the only way to know for sure is to go for it.
Ruthann says
I made the Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole just like the recipe was and i loved it I havent been getting any more recipes lately are u still sending them out thanks
Hi Ruthann, I’m not sure what happened! We are still sending out recipes – about four a week. If you want to email me at [email protected] I can look into it for you!
Mary Ellen says
I made this sauce today for a party I went to tonight. The flavors in this sauce are so tasty, especially the whiskey and the brown sugar and are perfect for this recipe. I poured it over some cooked meatballs and kept them warm in the crockpot. Everyone enjoyed this and many compliments flowed!
I’m so happy to hear that, Mary!
Fred McEVOY says
LISA, you’ve always got some great tasting, easy-to-follow, made with usually-on-hand ingredients and great pics. I look forward to your mailings and trying your new recipes. Thanks — keep-up the great work. Merry Christmas and Happy 2023! Fred
Thank you so much for these kind words, Fred! Merry Christmas!
Kandi says
I made the homemade BBQ sauce to go with the Lil Smokie recipe and it is awesome!!! Thank you so much for sharing! It’ll be a keeper for me when I need to make these for get togethers!
I’m so glad you liked it!
Brittney says
If I want to make these the day before, do I cook it entirely like in your directions and then just leave them in the fridge? Warm them up the next day? For how long? Thank you so much!
Yes, that is how I would do it. I would think the day of you would need 1 to 2 hours of them on low and then turn the slow cooker to warm.