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The BEST game day snack! This Little Smokies CrockPot recipe is swimming in a sweet and savory Bourbon BBQ sauce that’s simple to whip up in minutes. Bourbon BBQ CrockPot Smokies are quick and easy to make for a flavorful last minute appetizer.
I’m not much of a football fan but I’m always there for the food. This is the time of year that I’m dreaming of a hometown hero when our beloved Eagles get to show the world that they are #1, yet again. And I get to invite my friends over to feed them all the things I love about football season.
Gooey Hot Spinach dips, crunchy nachos on giant sheet pans, festive cupcakes and a slow cooker filled with Bourbon BBQ Lil Smokies. If there’s one thing that hasn’t changed about my childhood palate it would be my love for little smokies. They’re the bite size appetizer I just can’t get enough of.
Aside from the fact that these Bourbon BBQ CrockPot Little Smokies are super easy to make, they’re strangely addicting. The salty, smokiness of the little smokies drenched in the sweet and savory sauce is seriously epic in every way. It’s like mini weiners on steroids. I’m not even kidding.
While I love a great Pigs in a Blanket recipe, my little smokies recipe is quick and easy to make because you just dump everything into the slow cooker, cover and go about your party planning.
Ingredients You Will Need
When you’re hosting a party, it’s great to have a recipe up your sleeve that’s no fuss. This Lil Smokie recipe is just that. Simple, quick and easy.
- Little Smokies – Think cocktail franks, cocktail sausages or cocktail weiners but smokey. They’re little smoked sausages available in both beef and pork. Any brand of lil smokie will work.
- Brown Sugar – You can use dark brown sugar or light brown sugar.
- Barbecue Sauce – You can use your favorite brand of bbq sauce or make my favorite Spicy Barbecue Sauce.
- Bourbon – Use your favorite bourbon here since the flavor is pronounced during the cooking process.
For the full ingredient list and instructions see the recipe card below.
How To Make Little Smokies
Little Smokies come fully cooked already so all you need to do is heat them up. You can heat them in the microwave on their own and serve with a dipping sauce or heat them in a saucepan with a bottle of barbecue sauce but we love cooking them in a slow cooker.
- Place all the little smokies in the crock pot or slow cooker.
- Add the brown sugar, barbecue sauce and bourbon to the slow cooker and stir. (No need for salt and pepper, there’s plenty of sodium in there already.)
- Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours or high for 3 hours.
- Serve right from the slow cooker with toothpicks.
That’s it! How easy is that?
When I was little, my aunt used to make something called Drunken Dogs and my guess that it was something very similar to this recipe here. The kids were not allowed to eat them and my hot dog loving self has held a big grudge ever since.
I’ve also seen them made into a Grape Jelly lil smokies treat that’s really pretty satisfying, too!
What To Serve With Lil Smokies
Just about anything goes with this Little Smokies recipe but here are some of our favorites:
- Easy Creamy Coleslaw recipe
- Potato Salad with Egg and Dill is always a classic side.
- Easy Macaroni Salad is my absolute favorite with lil smokies.
- A nice pile of Boston Baked Beans isn’t too shabby, either.
Want even more easy GAME DAY recipe? Follow us over on Instagram as we eat our way through football season!
More Easy Appetizer Ideas
- Easy Italian Antipasto Skewers…no cooking required!
- HOMEMADE Pigs in a Blanket are simple and amazing.
- Crab Stuffed Mushrooms are super easy!
- Our FAVORITE Sweet and Spicy Candied Bacon
- Spicy Slow Cooker Meatballs
CrockPot Little Smokies Recipe
Equipment
- slow cooker or CrockPot
- measuring cups
Ingredients
- 4 lbs cocktail sausages, 4-16 ounce package
- 18 ounces barbecue sauce
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar
- 1/4 cup bourbon
Instructions
- Place the cocktail sausages in the bottom of a crockpot or slow cooker.
- Add the barbecue sauce, brown sugar and bourbon. Stir to combine.
- Place the lid on the slow cooker and cook on high for 2-3 hours or low for 4-5 hours.
- Serve the Little Smokies directly from the crockpot with toothpicks for serving or transfer to a chafing dish to keep warm.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
