Crock Pot BBQ Cocktail Sausage

The smell hit me before I even opened the front door. My neighbor was hosting one of those casual drop-in parties, and someone had brought a crock pot full of glossy, sticky sausages that disappeared faster than anything else on the table. I asked for the recipe, expecting something complicated, and she laughed and said it was four ingredients and zero effort. I made it the next weekend and understood why people kept circling back to the slow cooker all night.

I brought this to a potluck once without high expectations, just something easy to throw together. By halftime, the pot was empty, and three people had texted me before I even got home asking how I made it. It became my default contribution to every gathering after that, the dish I could make half-asleep and still get compliments on.

Ingredients

• Cocktail smoked sausages: Little Smokies or any mini smoked sausage work beautifully here, they soak up the sauce and stay juicy without any effort on your part.
• Barbecue sauce: Use whatever brand you love, whether smoky, sweet, or tangy, because it sets the baseline flavor for the whole dish.
• Apricot jam or preserves: This is the secret ingredient that makes the sauce cling and shine, adding a fruity sweetness that feels a little fancy without any extra work.
• Dijon mustard: A spoonful cuts through the sweetness and gives the sauce a grown-up edge that keeps it from tasting like candy.
• Apple cider vinegar: Just a splash brightens everything and keeps the sauce from feeling too heavy or one-note.
• Worcestershire sauce: It adds a savory depth you cannot quite name but definitely notice when it is missing.
• Black pepper: A little heat in the background rounds out the flavors and makes each bite more interesting.

Instructions

Mix the sauce:

Whisk together the barbecue sauce, apricot jam, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, and black pepper in a medium bowl until it looks smooth and glossy. It should smell tangy and sweet at the same time, like the best kind of party food.

Add the sausages:

Dump the cocktail sausages into your crock pot and pour the sauce over them, then stir gently to coat every piece. They do not need to be perfectly covered, the slow cooking will do the rest.

Slow cook:

Cover the crock pot and set it to LOW for 2 hours, giving it a stir halfway through so nothing sticks to the bottom. The sauce will bubble and thicken, and the sausages will turn shiny and irresistible.

Serve warm:

Keep the crock pot on warm and set out a cup of toothpicks so people can grab them straight from the pot. If you transfer them to a serving dish, they cool down fast and lose that perfect sticky glaze.

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There was a Super Bowl party where I set this out and forgot about it, busy talking and laughing in the other room. When I finally checked, the pot was nearly empty and someone had written RECIPE PLEASE on a napkin and left it next to the crock pot. That is when I knew this was more than just an easy appetizer, it was the kind of food that makes people feel happy and cared for without you having to say a word.

Flavor Variations

Swap the apricot jam for grape jelly if you want a more familiar, classic taste that leans a little sweeter and less fruity. For heat lovers, stir in a quarter teaspoon of cayenne or a few shakes of your favorite hot sauce to give the sauce a warm kick that sneaks up on you. I have also used pineapple preserves once when I ran out of apricot, and it gave the whole thing a tropical vibe that people could not stop talking about.

Serving Suggestions

Set out a basket of crusty bread or buttery crackers so guests can soak up the extra sauce at the bottom of the pot, because it is too good to waste. Tangy pickles or crunchy potato chips on the side give people something to balance the sweetness and keep their hands busy. I like putting the crock pot on a small tray with napkins and toothpicks so everything stays tidy and people can serve themselves without hovering over the kitchen counter.

Storage and Reheating

Leftovers keep 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 thickens as it cools, so add a tablespoon of water when reheating if it looks too sticky. Honestly, I have eaten cold sausages straight from the fridge the next morning and they were still delicious, though I would not admit that to most people.

• Use a liner in your crock pot if you want cleanup to take thirty seconds instead of ten minutes of scrubbing.
• Double the recipe for big crowds and use a larger slow cooker, this scales up perfectly without any adjustments.
• If you are traveling with this, wrap the crock pot in a towel and set it in a box so it does not slide around in the car.

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This is the recipe I turn to when I want to feel like a generous host without spending all day in the kitchen. It never fails to make people smile, and that is worth more than any complicated dish ever could be.

Recipe FAQs

→ Can I use a different type of jam instead of apricot?

Yes, grape jelly is a popular alternative that creates a slightly sweeter flavor profile. Peach or pineapple preserves also work well with the barbecue sauce.

→ How do I make this spicier?

Add 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, a few dashes of hot sauce, or chopped jalapeños to the sauce mixture before cooking for extra heat.

→ 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. Stir halfway through and check that the sauce is bubbling and sausages are heated through.

→ How should I store leftovers?

Store cooled sausages and sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave or back in the slow cooker until warmed through.

→ What can I serve alongside these sausages?

Serve with crusty bread, dill pickles, cheese cubes, crackers, or potato chips. They also pair well with vegetable platters and other finger foods.

→ Can I double this for a larger crowd?

Absolutely. Double all ingredients and use a 6-quart slow cooker. Cooking time remains the same at 2 hours on low, though you may need to stir more frequently.