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A beige bowl filled with saucy Crockpot Little Smokies with two forks ready for serving on a blue table.

Tangy BBQ Slow Cooker Little Smokies

These easy slow cooker little smokies are coated in a sweet and tangy BBQ sauce, making them the perfect effortless appetizer for parties, game days, or family gatherings.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 10 minutes
Servings: 10 servings
Course: Appetizer, Snack
Cuisine: American
Calories: 250
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 (14 ounce) packages little smokies sausages
  • 1 (18 ounce) bottle BBQ sauce e.g., Sweet Baby Ray's or similar
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar packed
  • 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
  • pinch cayenne pepper optional, for a kick

Equipment

  • Slow Cooker (6-quart or larger)
  • Mixing Bowl
  • Whisk

Method
 

Prepare the Sauce
  1. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the BBQ sauce, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, and smoked paprika. Whisk until the brown sugar is fully dissolved and the sauce is well combined. If using, add a pinch of cayenne pepper.
Combine with Little Smokies
  1. Drain any liquid from the little smokies packages. Add the little smokies to the mixing bowl with the sauce. Stir gently to ensure all the sausages are thoroughly coated.
Cook in Slow Cooker
  1. Pour the coated little smokies and sauce mixture into your 6-quart (or larger) slow cooker.
Cooking Time
  1. Cover and cook on LOW for 3-4 hours, or on HIGH for 1.5-2 hours, stirring occasionally (every hour or so) to ensure even heating and coating. The sausages should be heated through and the sauce should be bubbly and thickened slightly.
Serve
  1. Once cooked, switch the slow cooker to the "WARM" setting if serving directly from it. Serve hot with toothpicks.

Notes

For a different flavor profile, try adding a tablespoon of Dijon mustard, a splash of liquid smoke, or even a can of drained crushed pineapple to the sauce. Leftover little smokies can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave. These are fantastic for potlucks, game day parties, or any casual gathering. Keep them warm in the slow cooker for easy self-serving.