Easy Crockpot Grape Jelly and BBQ Sauce Little Smokies

Ingredients

You will need these simple ingredients you can find at your grocery store to make this recipe.

Miniature Smoked Sausages: If you prefer, you can use other types of mini sausages, such as cocktail wieners or Vienna sausages, depending on your taste preferences. And if you can't find any of the little sausages, you can also use hot dogs that you cut in bite sizes.

Barbecue Sauce: Opt for your favorite barbecue sauce or one with a flavor profile that complements the sweet and tangy elements of the recipe. Experiment with different barbecue sauce varieties, such as hickory, mesquite, or honey-infused, to add unique twists to the dish.

Chili Sauce: Chili sauce adds a subtle heat and tanginess to the overall flavor. f you don't have chili sauce, you can substitute it with ketchup mixed with a dash of hot sauce for a similar effect.

Grape Jelly: Grape jelly contributes sweetness to the sauce and helps create a sticky, caramelized glaze on the sausages. Feel free to experiment with other fruit jellies or preserves, such as apricot or peach, for different flavor variations, you can also use cranberry sauce for holiday parties

Optional additions: red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper, garlic powder, dark brown sugar, green onion, and fresh parsley.

See recipe card for quantities.

Step-by-step instructions with photos

In a medium-sized bowl, combine BBQ sauce, chili sauce, and grape jelly until well combined.

Place the miniature smoked sausages in the slow cooker.

Pour the sauce mixture over the sausages, ensuring that each sausage is coated evenly.

Gently stir the sausages to ensure they are well coated with the sauce.

Set the slow cooker to low heat and cook for 2-3 hours. This slow cooking time allows the flavors to meld and the sausages to absorb the delicious sauce.

If possible, stir the sausages occasionally during the cooking process to ensure even coating with the sauce.

Once the sausages are cooked through and have absorbed the flavors of the sauce, you can keep the slow cooker on the warm setting until you're ready to serve.

Just before serving, you can garnish with chopped fresh parsley or green onions for a pop of color and added freshness.

Provide toothpicks or small skewers for easy serving. Your Slow Cooker Sweet and Tangy Grape Jelly BBQ Little Smokies are ready to be enjoyed.

Tips

• Adjust the cooking time based on your slow cooker. Cooking times can vary, so check for doneness and flavor absorption as you approach the 3-4 hour mark.
• If you prefer a thicker sauce, you can transfer the cooked sausages and sauce to a saucepan on the stovetop and simmer for a few minutes until it reaches your desired consistency.
• If you're hosting a larger gathering, consider doubling the recipe. These Little Smokies are known to disappear quickly, and having extra ensures everyone gets a taste.
• Provide an additional bowl of the sauce for dipping. This gives your guests the option to add extra sauce to their Little Smokies or use it as a flavorful dip.
• Pair these Little Smokies with complementary side dishes, such as a cool and crisp coleslaw or a refreshing cucumber salad, to balance the richness of the sausages.

Storage

Allow any leftover Lil Smokies to cool to room temperature before storing them.

Transfer the sausages and sauce to an airtight container or a covered dish.

Refrigerate the leftovers promptly, within two hours of cooking.

Store the leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Beyond this point, the quality may start to decline, and there could be a risk of spoilage.

Reheat the Little Smokies in a microwave, on the stovetop, or in the oven.

While it's possible to freeze Little Smokies, keep in mind that the texture of the sausages might change slightly upon thawing. If you plan to freeze them, do so without any garnishes or fresh herbs.

Freeze Little Smokies in a freezer-safe, airtight container, leaving some space for expansion.

Label the container with the date and freeze for up to 2-3 months.

Thaw the frozen Little Smokies in the refrigerator overnight.