Crock Pot BBQ Cocktail Sausage

My neighbor showed up at my door one Sunday with her crock pot tucked under her arm and a bag of little sausages in her hand. She said she needed an extra outlet because her kitchen was full, and within an hour my apartment smelled like a county fair. I stood there watching those sausages bubble in that glossy sauce and realized I had been overthinking party food for years. Sometimes the best recipes are the ones that do all the work while you actually enjoy your guests.

I made this for a birthday party once and forgot to put out toothpicks at first. Within minutes, people were fishing sausages out with forks, fingers, even pretzel sticks. Someone joked that it was like bobbing for apples, and honestly, nobody cared about the mess. The sauce was so good that by the end of the night, someone was dipping bread into the leftover glaze at the bottom of the pot.

Ingredients

• Cocktail smoked sausages: These little guys are already cooked, so they just need to soak up the sauce and get hot, making this recipe nearly foolproof.
• Barbecue sauce: Use whatever style you love, smoky, sweet, or spicy, because it sets the flavor foundation for the whole dish.
• Apricot jam or preserves: This adds a fruity sweetness that balances the tang and makes the sauce shiny and sticky in the best way.
• Dijon mustard: A small amount cuts through the sweetness and adds a subtle sharpness that keeps the sauce from being one note.
• Apple cider vinegar: Just a tablespoon brightens everything and keeps the sauce from feeling too heavy.
• Worcestershire sauce: It adds a deep, savory layer that makes the sauce taste more complex than it actually is.
• Black pepper: A little pepper rounds out the flavors and gives a gentle warmth without any real heat.

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 smell sweet and tangy all at once.

Add the sausages:

Place the cocktail sausages directly into your crock pot, then pour the sauce over them and stir gently to coat every piece. They will look a little crowded, but that is exactly what you want.

Cook low and slow:

Cover the crock pot and set it to LOW for 2 hours, stirring halfway through to make sure the sausages on top get their turn in the sauce. The sauce will start bubbling and thickening as it heats.

Serve warm:

Once the sausages are heated through and the sauce is bubbling, you can serve them straight from the crock pot with toothpicks or transfer them to a serving dish. Either way, keep them warm.

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The first time I brought these to a potluck, I left them plugged in on a side table and people kept circling back. By the end of the night, someone asked for the recipe and I realized I had written it on a napkin three different times. That is when I knew this was a keeper, not because it was fancy, but because it made people happy without me having to stand in the kitchen all night.

Making It Your Own

If you want a little heat, add a quarter teaspoon of cayenne pepper or a few dashes of hot sauce to the sauce before you pour it over the sausages. I have also swapped the apricot jam for grape jelly when that is all I had, and it worked beautifully with a slightly different sweetness. Some people like adding a splash of bourbon or a sprinkle of smoked paprika, and honestly, this recipe is forgiving enough to handle whatever flavor direction you want to take it.

Serving and Storing

These sausages are best served warm, either straight from the crock pot with toothpicks or in a bowl with crusty bread on the side for dipping. Leftovers keep in the fridge for up to three days in an airtight container, and they reheat beautifully in the microwave or back in the crock pot on low. I have even served leftover sausages over rice for a quick weeknight dinner, and the sauce stretches further than you would think.

What to Serve Alongside

These sausages are rich and sticky, so I like to serve them with something crisp and refreshing to balance the sweetness. Pickles, potato chips, or even a simple veggie tray with ranch give people a break between bites.

• A platter of crackers and cheese adds variety without any extra cooking.
• Cornbread or dinner rolls are great for soaking up any extra sauce at the bottom of the pot.
• A cold pasta salad or coleslaw on the side makes this feel like a full spread instead of just one dish.

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This recipe has saved me more times than I can count, and it never feels like I am cutting corners. It just feels like I am being smart with my time and generous with my table.

Recipe FAQs

→ Can I make these cocktail sausages ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare the sauce mixture and store it in the refrigerator up to 24 hours in advance. When ready to serve, place sausages in the crock pot, add the sauce, and cook as directed.

→ What can I substitute for apricot jam?

Grape jelly is a popular alternative that creates a slightly sweeter flavor. You can also use peach preserves, orange marmalade, or pineapple preserves for different flavor variations.

→ How do I keep the sausages warm for serving?

Keep the crock pot on the warm setting and serve directly from it with toothpicks. This keeps the sausages at the perfect temperature throughout your event for up to 2-3 hours.

→ Can I cook these on high heat instead of low?

Yes, you can cook on high for 1 hour instead of low for 2 hours. However, cooking on low allows the flavors to develop more fully and prevents the sauce from reducing too quickly.

→ How do I make this spicier?

Add cayenne pepper, hot sauce, or use a spicy barbecue sauce. You can also include red pepper flakes or diced jalapeños to the sauce mixture for extra heat.

→ What type of sausages work best?

Little Smokies or any cocktail-sized smoked sausages work perfectly. Look for fully cooked varieties so you're simply heating and glazing them in the sauce.