Description
A simple, 3-ingredient party appetizer featuring small smoked sausages simmered in a sweet and sticky honey barbecue sauce. This slow cooker recipe requires zero prep work and is perfect for feeding a crowd on a budget.
Ingredients
- 18 oz (510g) Little Smokies (frozen or thawed)
- 18 oz (500g) Barbecue Sauce (medium-thick consistency)
- 1/2 cup (170g) Honey
- 1–2 tbsp Jalapeños, chopped (optional)
- 2 tbsp Brown Sugar (optional, for extra stickiness)
Instructions
- Prep the sausages: If frozen, let sit for 10-15 minutes to make handling easier. Pat dry with a paper towel to remove excess moisture.
- Combine ingredients: Place sausages in a 4-quart slow cooker. Pour the barbecue sauce over them, then drizzle the honey on top. Add jalapeños or brown sugar if using.
- Stir gently: Using a silicone spoon, gently fold the sausages into the sauce to coat them evenly. Avoid aggressive stirring to prevent breaking the links.
- Cook: Cover and cook on LOW for 2 to 4 hours. Stir gently once at the 2-hour mark to prevent sticking. Do not cook on HIGH to avoid burning the sugar.
- Adjust consistency: If the sauce is too thin, leave the lid off for the last 30 minutes to reduce. If too thick, add a splash of water or apple cider vinegar.
- Serve: Give one final stir and serve warm with toothpicks or small forks.
Notes
[‘Never use the HIGH setting as the sugar in the honey and BBQ sauce will burn.’, ‘Stir gently to keep sausages intact.’, ‘For meal prep, assemble ingredients in the slow cooker the night before and refrigerate. Cook in the morning.’, ‘Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Do not freeze as texture will suffer.’, ‘To reduce sodium, rinse sausages before cooking.’]
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 2-4 hours
- Category: Appetizer
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4-5 sausages
- Calories: 280
- Sodium: 650
- Fat: 18
- Carbohydrates: 22
- Protein: 8
Keywords: game day food, crockpot recipes, little smokies, party dip, slow cooker appetizer, honey BBQ sauce, easy party food, budget friendly recipes