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White bowl of glossy apple butter BBQ little smokies with toothpicks

Apple Butter BBQ Little Smokies

Little smokies slow cooked in apple butter and barbecue sauce until hot and glossy. An easy 3-ingredient crockpot party appetizer.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours
Servings: 12 servings
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 28 oz little smokies cocktail sausages two 14-ounce packages, fully cooked
  • 1 cup apple butter
  • 1 cup barbecue sauce thick, sweet-smoky style
Optional add-ins
  • 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • ¼ tsp red pepper flakes

Equipment

  • 1 3- to 4-quart slow cooker
  • 1 Toothpicks

Method
 

  1. Lightly grease a 3- to 4-quart slow cooker and add the little smokies.
  2. Stir together the apple butter, barbecue sauce and optional vinegar and red pepper flakes.
  3. Pour the sauce over the sausages and stir to coat.
  4. Cover and cook on LOW 3 to 4 hours or HIGH 1½ to 2 hours, stirring once halfway, until hot and bubbling.
  5. Switch to WARM and serve with toothpicks.

Notes

A 3- to 4-quart slow cooker works best; in a larger cooker, stir more often so the sauce doesn't scorch. Hold on WARM and stir every 30 minutes, adding a splash of water if the sauce gets thick. Stovetop: simmer 15 to 20 minutes over medium-low heat. Refrigerate leftovers up to 4 days.