Crock Pot BBQ Cocktail Sausage

My neighbor showed up at my door one Sunday morning with her crock pot tucked under one arm and a bag of groceries in the other. She was hosting a last minute watch party that afternoon and needed to prep at my kitchen counter while her oven finished something else. What came out of that crock pot four hours later had everyone crowding around with toothpicks, and I never looked at cocktail sausages the same way again. The smell alone turned my living room into the kind of place people didnt want to leave.

I made this for a birthday gathering once, and by halftime the crock pot was empty except for a few toothpicks floating in sauce. Someone asked if I had a backup batch hiding somewhere. I didnt, but I learned my lesson and now I always double the recipe when I know a crowd is coming. Watching people reach for one more, then just one more after that, is the best kind of kitchen validation.

Ingredients

• Cocktail smoked sausages: Little Smokies or any mini smoked sausage work beautifully here, they soak up the sauce and stay tender without drying out during the slow cook.
• Barbecue sauce: Use whatever style you love, whether its smoky, spicy, or sweet, because it becomes the backbone of the glaze.
• Apricot jam: This is the secret weapon that adds a fruity sweetness and helps the sauce cling to every sausage, you can also swap in grape jelly if thats what you have.
• Dijon mustard: A tablespoon or two cuts through the sweetness and adds a subtle sharpness that keeps the sauce from feeling one note.
• Apple cider vinegar: Just a splash brightens everything and balances the richness of the sausages.
• Worcestershire sauce: It adds a savory depth that makes the sauce taste more complex than the effort required.
• Black pepper: A little goes a long way to add warmth without overpowering the sweet and tangy vibe.

Instructions

Mix the sauce:

In a medium bowl, whisk together the barbecue sauce, apricot jam, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, and black pepper until the mixture is smooth and glossy. It should look like a thick, pourable glaze that smells sweet and tangy all at once.

Add the sausages:

Place the cocktail sausages directly into your crock pot, then pour the sauce over the top and give everything a good stir so each piece gets coated. Dont worry if it looks like a lot of sauce, it will thicken as it cooks and cling to the sausages perfectly.

Slow cook:

Cover the crock pot and set it to LOW for 2 hours, stirring halfway through to make sure the sausages on the bottom dont stick and everything heats evenly. The sauce will start bubbling gently and the kitchen will smell incredible.

Serve warm:

Once the sausages are heated through and the sauce is thick and glossy, you can serve them straight from the crock pot with toothpicks stuck in for easy grabbing. If youre transporting them, transfer to a serving dish, but keeping them warm in the pot is always easiest.

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A friend once told me she brought these to a potluck and three people asked for the recipe before she even sat down. She said it felt like showing up with magic in a crock pot, and honestly, thats exactly what it feels like every time. Its the kind of dish that makes you look like you tried harder than you did, and nobody needs to know it took less time than brewing a pot of coffee.

Flavor Variations

If you want a little heat, stir in a quarter teaspoon of cayenne pepper or a few dashes of your favorite hot sauce into the sauce mixture before cooking. For a different kind of sweetness, swap the apricot jam for grape jelly, which gives the sauce a deeper, almost winey flavor that pairs beautifully with the smoke from the sausages. You can also try adding a tablespoon of brown sugar if you want the sauce to caramelize a bit more and get extra glossy.

Serving Suggestions

These sausages are perfect on their own with toothpicks, but they also pair wonderfully with crusty bread for soaking up extra sauce, or alongside pickles and potato chips for a casual spread. If youre serving them at a party, set out small napkins because the sauce is sticky and delicious and people will want to lick their fingers. I like to keep the crock pot on the warm setting so guests can help themselves throughout the event without anything drying out.

Storage and Reheating

Leftovers keep well in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days, and they reheat beautifully in the microwave or back in the crock pot on low. The sauce might thicken up in the fridge, so add a splash of water when reheating to bring it back to that glossy, coating consistency. Honestly, theyre almost better the next day when the flavors have had even more time to meld together.

• Double the recipe if youre feeding a crowd, because these disappear faster than you think.
• Use a liner in your crock pot for the easiest cleanup, the sticky sauce can be a pain to scrub off.
• Keep a small bowl of toothpicks nearby so guests can serve themselves without hovering over the pot.

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This recipe has saved me more times than I can count, from last minute gatherings to game day spreads when I had no plan at all. It turns a bag of sausages and a few pantry staples into something people remember, and thats the kind of magic every cook needs in their back pocket.

Recipe Questions & Answers

→ Can I use a different type of sausage?

Yes, you can substitute cocktail sausages with kielbasa cut into bite-sized pieces or mini meatballs. Adjust cooking time if using larger pieces.

→ Can I make this on the stovetop instead?

Absolutely. Combine all ingredients in a large saucepan and simmer over low heat for 30-40 minutes, stirring occasionally until the sausages are heated through and the sauce thickens.

→ How do I store leftovers?

Store leftover sausages in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop until warmed through.

→ Can I prepare this ahead of time?

Yes, you can mix the sauce and sausages the night before, refrigerate, then transfer to the crock pot and cook when ready. This makes party prep even easier.

→ What can I substitute for apricot jam?

Grape jelly, peach preserves, or pineapple jam work wonderfully as alternatives. Each provides a slightly different sweet flavor profile that complements the tangy barbecue sauce.

→ How do I keep the sausages warm for serving?

Keep the crock pot on the WARM setting during your party. The sausages will stay at the perfect serving temperature for several hours without overcooking.