Grape Jelly BBQ Little Smokies  (Crockpot)

Little Smokies with Grape Jelly and BBQ Sauce is an easy appetizer recipe that is always a crowd-pleaser. This delicious slow cooker appetizer comes together with 3 simple ingredients and takes about 5 minutes to prep. Perfect appetizer for a potluck, game day, holiday parties, and family gatherings.

✅Grape Jelly Little Smokies: At a Glance

• Three ingredients: Lit'l Smokies, BBQ sauce, grape jelly
• Prep: about 5 minutes
• Cook: 2-3 hours on low, then keep on warm, in a 3-quart slow cooker
• Serves: 16
• Make ahead: Freeze for 2-3 months

I remember being gobsmacked as a kid when my mom told me her crockpot lil smokies had grape jelly in them. To this day, it still sounds weird, but I've gotten over it, given how goshdarn good they are. 

And so easy. Just throw some mini cocktail wieners in a crockpot with grape jelly and barbecue sauce, and 2-3 hours later you'll have a delicious, sweet-savory appetizer that's always a huge hit.

Serve with Tortilla Pinwheels and Ham Pickle Roll Ups for the complete Midwestern party experience.

They're fun to eat straight for toothpicks, but even more fun in a build-your-own mini hotdog bar! Keep scrolling...I'll show you.

🍇Grape Jelly Little Smokies Ingredients

• Lil' smokies. Little smokies are fully cooked mini sausages, the perfect snack size for this tasty appetizer.
• BBQ sauce. I recommend Sweet Baby Ray's barbecue sauce, homemade Jack Daniel's BBQ sauce, or another sweet-and-tangy BBQ sauce. I avoid smoky BBQ sauces, they can get a little overpowering. You can substitute chili sauce for BBQ sauce if you prefer a milder flavor.
• Grape jelly. Grape jelly is a fan favorite for this classic recipe and adds rich sweetness to the sauce.

🥣How to Make Slow Cooker BBQ Little Smokies

Before you begin: Spray the insert of a 3-quart crockpot with cooking spray or use a crockpot liner.

Step 1. Combine BBQ sauce and grape jelly together in the crock pot. Add the little smokies and stir.

Step 2. Cook on low heat for 2-3 hours or until warmed through. Reduce heat to warm setting and serve.

♨️How to Make BBQ Little Smokies on the Stovetop

Add cocktail sausages, grape jelly, and BBQ sauce to a medium saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Simmer 5-10 minutes until the sauce is heated through and clings to the lil smokies. Remove from heat and serve with toothpicks.

💡Crock Pot BBQ Little Smokies Tips

• A sweet and tangy BBQ sauce adds the best flavor -- a smoky BBQ sauce may get overwhelming.
• Make more than you think you'll need -- these will go fast!
• If you like a little sweeter sauce for your bbq lil smokies, vs. a tangier one, use equal parts grape jelly and barbecue sauce.

🌭What to Serve with Little Smokies

These Lil Smokies with Grape Jelly and BBQ Sauce are so good on their own, all you really need are some toothpicks! But, I also love treating these little sausages like mini hot dogs!

Set up a whole build-your-own mini hotdog appetizer bar with toasted Hawaiian buns, chili, coleslaw, relish, diced onions, shredded cheese, and corn chips.

🧊Storage & Freezing Instructions

• To store. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
• To freeze. Freeze leftover lil smokies with grape jelly and bbq sauce in a freezer safe container for 2-3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator. 
• To reheat. Warm them up in the slow cooker, microwave, or on the stovetop.
  • Slow cooker: Add them to the crockpot and heat on low, stirring occasionally, until hot. Then switch to the warm setting.
  • Microwave: Heat in a microwave-safe bowl in short bursts, stirring in between, until heated through.
  • Stovetop: Warm in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring now and then, until hot.

🎉Make Ahead Crockpot Little Smokies

Cooking for a party? Make a batch ahead of time and freeze it. Thaw in the fridge the day before, then reheat in your slow cooker, on the stovetop, or in the microwave until warmed through. Keep them on the slow cooker's warm setting for serving.

❓Recipe FAQs

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