Easy Slow Cooker Little Smokies in BBQ Sauce
Easy Slow Cooker Little Smokies in BBQ Sauce are the ultimate party appetizer. After making these many times, I’ve discovered the trick to keeping them tender and perfectly coated in sauce. The warm, smoky aroma will make your home feel cozy and inviting. Try them with my Easy Hot and Sour Noodle Soup Recipe with Pork Topping for a complete meal. Jump to the recipe card or keep reading for my best tips. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Easy Hot and Sour Noodle Soup Recipe with Pork Topping and Easy No-Bake Peanut Butter Oat Bars for Quick Snacks.
Why This Easy Slow Cooker Little Smokies in BBQ Sauce Is Pure Comfort
- Tender and juicy sausages
- Perfectly coated in BBQ sauce
- Easy to make in the slow cooker
- Great for parties and potlucks
What You'll Need for Easy Slow Cooker Little Smokies in BBQ Sauce
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- 1 lb little smokies
- 1 cup BBQ sauce
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- Salt
- Pepper
- Garlic powder
- Optional: Chopped green onions
- Optional: Sesame seeds
📝 Ingredient Notes
- Little smokies: You can use regular or turkey little smokies.
- BBQ sauce: Use your favorite store-bought or homemade BBQ sauce.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Slow cooker — Cooks food evenly and frees up your oven for other dishes. → See on Amazon
- Meat thermometer — Ensures sausages are cooked to a safe temperature. → See on Amazon
How to Make Easy Slow Cooker Little Smokies in BBQ Sauce
- Step 1: Place little smokies in the slow cooker.
- Step 2: In a bowl, mix BBQ sauce, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
- Step 3: Pour the sauce mixture over the little smokies.
- Step 4: Cook on low for 3 hours, stirring occasionally.
- Step 5: Serve hot, garnished with chopped green onions and sesame seeds.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Easy Slow Cooker Little Smokies in BBQ Sauce
- Common mistake and fix: Don't overcook the sausages. They can become tough and dry. Use a meat thermometer to ensure they reach 160°F.
- Pro tip: For a thicker sauce, mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 1 tablespoon of water and stir it into the slow cooker during the last 30 minutes of cooking.
- Pro tip: To make these ahead, cook the sausages in the slow cooker, then refrigerate. Reheat in the slow cooker on low before serving.
Storing & Reheating Easy Slow Cooker Little Smokies in BBQ Sauce
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Make-ahead tip: You can make the sauce mixture up to a day ahead and store it in the fridge.
Freezing Easy Slow Cooker Little Smokies in BBQ Sauce
Freeze cooked sausages for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F for 10-15 minutes. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For a spicy version, add a pinch of cayenne pepper to the sauce mixture.
- Best substitution: You can use cocktail wieners instead of little smokies.
- Make-ahead: You can cook the sausages in the slow cooker up to a day ahead. Reheat in the slow cooker on low before serving.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled for larger crowds.
- Troubleshooting: If the sauce is too thin, mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 1 tablespoon of water and stir it into the slow cooker during the last 30 minutes of cooking.
Want to level up this recipe?
Slow cooker liners — Makes cleanup a breeze. → Check price on Amazon
Easy Slow Cooker Little Smokies in BBQ Sauce
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 lb little smokies
- 1 cup BBQ sauce
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
Seasonings
- Salt
- Pepper
- Garlic powder
Optional Toppings
- Chopped green onions
- Sesame seeds
Instructions
- Step 1: Place little smokies in the slow cooker.
- Step 2: In a bowl, mix BBQ sauce, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
- Step 3: Pour the sauce mixture over the little smokies.
- Step 4: Cook on low for 3 hours, stirring occasionally.
- Step 5: Serve hot, garnished with chopped green onions and sesame seeds.
Notes
- Chef tip: For a spicy version, add a pinch of cayenne pepper to the sauce mixture.
- Best substitution: You can use cocktail wieners instead of little smokies.
- Make-ahead: You can cook the sausages in the slow cooker up to a day ahead. Reheat in the slow cooker on low before serving.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled for larger crowds.
- Troubleshooting: If the sauce is too thin, mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 1 tablespoon of water and stir it into the slow cooker during the last 30 minutes of cooking.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- Freezer: Freeze cooked sausages for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
- Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F for 10-15 minutes.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes.
- Make ahead: You can make the sauce mixture up to a day ahead and store it in the fridge.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 180
- Protein: 8g
- Fat: 12g
- Carbs: 10g
- Fiber: 0g
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Cholesterol: 45mg
- Sat. Fat: 4g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Easy Slow Cooker Little Smokies in BBQ Sauce FAQs
Yes, you can cook the sausages in the slow cooker up to a day ahead. Reheat in the slow cooker on low before serving.
Overcooking can cause sausages to become tough and dry. Use a meat thermometer to ensure they reach 160°F.
Yes, you can freeze cooked sausages for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
Yes, you can bake the sausages in the oven at 350°F for 20-25 minutes, turning occasionally. Brush with the sauce during the last 10 minutes of cooking.
Reheat in the oven at 350°F for 10-15 minutes or in the microwave for 1-2 minutes.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Easy Slow Cooker Little Smokies in BBQ Sauce and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!
