10+ Little Smokies Recipes to Spice Up Your Snack Game

Little smokies are a classic snack—honestly, who doesn’t love these tiny sausages? They’re super easy to cook and you can whip them up a bunch of different ways, depending on your mood.

They make a great appetizer or party food because they’re quick to prepare and pretty darn tasty.

You won’t need a ton of ingredients for most recipes, which is a lifesaver on busy days or when friends drop by unannounced.

Whether you go for sweet, savory, or wrap them in dough, little smokies have a way of making snack time feel special with very little fuss.

Ingredients

• Little smokies sausages
• Barbecue sauce or brown sugar (optional)
• Crescent dough (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Pick your recipe style.
2. If you want sauce, toss little smokies with it in a slow cooker or baking dish.
3. If you’re wrapping them, roll crescent dough around each sausage.
4. Bake at 350°F (175°C) until hot and cooked through, about 15–20 minutes.

1) Crockpot Little Smokies in Sweet BBQ Sauce

Just throw little smokies in a slow cooker with BBQ sauce and grape jelly. For some heat, sprinkle in red pepper flakes.

Mix everything so the sausages get coated well. Cover and let it cook on low for a few hours.

Ingredients:

• 2 packages of little smokies
• 1 cup BBQ sauce
• 1/2 cup grape jelly
• Optional: red pepper flakes

Cooking Instructions:

1. Whisk the BBQ sauce, grape jelly, and red pepper flakes in your slow cooker.
2. Add the little smokies and stir them around.
3. Cover and cook on low for 2-3 hours.
4. Stir once or twice, then serve warm.

2) Bacon-Wrapped Little Smokies with Brown Sugar Glaze

Wrap each little smokie in half a slice of bacon and stick a toothpick through it.

Sprinkle or brush brown sugar on top for a sweet glaze.

Bake them up and the bacon crisps while the sugar caramelizes. The combo of sweet and salty is just so good.

Ingredients

• 1 package little smokies
• 10 slices bacon (cut in half)
• ½ cup brown sugar
• Toothpicks

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Wrap each sausage with bacon and secure with a toothpick.
3. Lay them out on a lined baking sheet.
4. Sprinkle brown sugar all over.
5. Bake 20-25 minutes or until the bacon’s crispy and the sugar’s bubbly.
6. Let them cool just a bit before serving.

3) Pigs in a Blanket with Crescent Dough

Grab some store-bought crescent dough and wrap it around each little smokie.

The dough bakes up golden and a little sweet, playing off the smoky sausage inside.

If you want, brush melted butter on top for extra flavor. Serve these with ketchup or mustard—or both, why not?

Ingredients

• 1 package of little smokies sausages
• 1 can of crescent roll dough
• 1-2 tablespoons melted butter (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Split crescent dough into triangles.
3. Place a sausage on the wide end and roll it up.
4. Line a baking sheet with parchment and arrange them on it.
5. Brush with butter if you’re feeling fancy.
6. Bake 12-15 minutes until golden.
7. Let them cool a minute, then serve warm.

For more details, check out Pillsbury’s Pigs in a Blanket Recipe.

4) Little Smokies Simmered in Apple Cider Vinegar Sauce

Try simmering little smokies in a tangy apple cider vinegar sauce. The ketchup, brown sugar, and vinegar combo brings a sweet-and-sour kick.

Toss in Worcestershire sauce for a little extra depth. Let the sauce thicken, then add the sausages and cook until the flavors soak in.

Serve them warm with toothpicks—simple and snackable.

Ingredients

• 16 oz little smokies (cocktail sausages)
• 1 cup ketchup
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

Cooking Instructions

1. Mix ketchup, brown sugar, vinegar, and Worcestershire in a pot over medium heat.
2. Bring to a simmer and let it thicken a bit.
3. Add the little smokies and cook 15-20 minutes, stirring sometimes.
4. Serve warm.

More details at The Recipe Rebel.

5) Brown Sugar and Onion Baked Little Smokies

Mix brown sugar and chopped onion, then toss it with the sausages.

Baking brings out the sweetness and lets the flavors blend.

This one’s warm, gooey, and a bit sticky—just what you want for a cozy snack.

Ingredients

• 1 package little smokies
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 small onion, chopped

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Mix brown sugar and onion in a bowl.
3. Add little smokies and coat them.
4. Dump it all in a baking dish.
5. Bake 25 minutes or until bubbly.
6. Serve with toothpicks.

6) Easy 3-Ingredient Little Smokies Appetizer

If you want something ridiculously easy, go for this three-ingredient recipe. Just combine cocktail sausages with BBQ sauce and grape jelly.

The jelly gives it a sweet punch, while BBQ sauce adds smoky tang. Toss it all in a slow cooker and let it do its thing.

You can serve them right from the crockpot. Cleanup’s a breeze—one pot, that’s it.

Ingredients

• 1 package cocktail sausages
• 1 cup BBQ sauce
• 1 cup grape jelly

Cooking Instructions

1. Add sausages to your slow cooker.
2. Pour in BBQ sauce and jelly.
3. Stir gently to coat.
4. Cook on low for 2-3 hours or high for 1-1.5 hours.
5. Stir once or twice.
6. Serve warm.

More tips at 3-ingredient Crockpot Little Smokies recipe.

7) Maple-Glazed Little Smokies on Skewers

Wrap little smokies in bacon and slide them onto wooden skewers.

Mix up a glaze with maple syrup, brown sugar, and maybe a little mustard or cayenne if you’re adventurous.

Brush the glaze over the skewers and bake until the bacon crisps and the glaze gets sticky.

Serve these warm—they’re a hit at any party.

Ingredients

• 1.5 pounds little smokies
• 1 pound bacon
• ⅓ cup brown sugar
• ⅓ cup pure maple syrup
• 1 tablespoon whole grain mustard (optional)
• Pinch of cayenne pepper (optional)
• Wooden skewers

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 360°F (182°C).
2. Cut bacon into thirds.
3. Wrap each smokie with bacon.
4. Thread 3-4 onto each skewer.
5. Mix brown sugar, maple syrup, mustard, and cayenne.
6. Brush glaze on skewers.
7. Lay on a foil-lined baking sheet.
8. Bake 25-30 minutes, basting halfway through.
9. Serve warm.

Full recipe at Maple Glazed Bacon Weenies.

8) Spicy BBQ Little Smokies in Slow Cooker

This one’s for anyone who likes a little kick. Combine BBQ sauce, grape jelly, and red pepper flakes in your slow cooker.

Add the sausages and give everything a good stir. Cook until the sauce is bubbly and the sausages are hot.

You can adjust the spice to your liking. It’s a set-it-and-forget-it kind of snack.

Ingredients

• 1 package of little smokies
• 1 cup BBQ sauce
• 1/2 cup grape jelly
• 1/2 to 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (to taste)

Cooking Instructions

1. Add BBQ sauce and grape jelly to the slow cooker.
2. Stir in red pepper flakes.
3. Toss in the little smokies and coat them.
4. Cook on low for 2-3 hours or high for 1-2 hours.
5. Stir now and then.
6. Serve warm.

Check out more at Crockpot BBQ Little Smokies.

9) Cheesy Little Smokies with Cream Cheese Dip

Here’s a snack that’s both cozy and a little bit indulgent. Warm little smokies meet a creamy, cheesy dip—honestly, what could go wrong?

The dip starts with cream cheese, so it’s got that rich, smooth vibe. Cheddar or Velveeta melts right in, making everything gooey.

If you want to jazz it up, toss in some green onions or a pinch of your favorite spices. I usually just throw everything together and pop it in the oven.

Grab a smoky sausage and dunk it right into that warm, cheesy sauce. It’s not fancy, but it’s always a hit.

Ingredients

• 1 package little smokies
• 8 oz cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup shredded cheddar or Velveeta cheese
• 2 green onions, chopped (optional)
• Spices like garlic powder or paprika (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Put little smokies in a baking dish.
3. Mix cream cheese and shredded cheese in a bowl. Add green onions and spices if you like.
4. Spread the cheese mixture over the smokies.
5. Bake for 20-25 minutes, until everything’s bubbly and warm.
6. Serve hot with toothpicks or chips for dipping.

10) Mustard and Honey Glazed Little Smokies

You’ll love the sweet, tangy mix of mustard and honey on these little smokies. This combo makes a glaze that really clings to each sausage.

It’s one of those snacks that’s just as good for parties as it is for lazy afternoons. Honestly, I could eat way too many without even noticing.

The recipe’s easy—no fancy tricks here. Just toss the smokies into a saucepan with honey, mustard, and a couple other basics.

As the sauce simmers, it thickens up and gets sticky. Every sausage ends up perfectly coated.

Serve them warm straight from the pan, or keep them in a slow cooker if you want to graze all day. Kids and adults both go for these every time.

Ingredients:

• 2 packages of little smokies
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/4 cup Dijon mustard
• 1/4 cup yellow mustard
• 1/2 cup grape jelly

Cooking Instructions:

1. Put all the ingredients in a saucepan.
2. Warm everything over low heat, stirring often.
3. Let it simmer for 15-20 minutes until the sauce thickens up.
4. Serve warm, or just keep them in a slow cooker on low.