13 Delicious Appetizers To Make With Little Smokies

Little smokies, also known as cocktail hot dogs, cocktail weenies, or cocktail wieners, are miniature smoked sausages. 

They are super versatile and tasty and can be included in a variety of recipes, especially appetizers. 

This article is going to be providing you with a list of some of the best little smokies’ appetizer recipes (see also ‘38 Baby Shower Appetizers Recipes Your Guests Will Adore’). They are easy and fun to make, and are perfect if you’re hosting! 

1. Cheesy Little Smokie Cups 

These cheeky little smokie cups are a fun way to prepare your little sausages as an appetizer or snack! 

They’re also super easy to make! All you need to do is arrange wonton wrappers into a cupcake tin, and prepare your mixture of cooked little sausages, barbecue sauce, and any cheese of your choice. 

Then, place them in the oven and bake them for around 5 minutes, and you’re done!

2. Bacon Wrapped Little Smokie Jalapeno Poppers

This next appetizer is perfect for those who love jalapeño peppers! These peppers are stuffed with cream cheese, cheddar cheese, little smokies and some bacon. 

This recipe also includes some chipotle for an extra smoked and spicy flavor – this really complements the peppers, sausages, and bacon nicely. 

These are perfect as an appetizer, or a midday snack if you want something quick but tasty!

3. Sticky Sesame Soy Little Smokies 

For more of an Asian twist, this recipe combines soy sauce, sesame sauce, honey, and sesame seeds in order to create a delicious little appetizer. 

All you need to do combine the sauce ingredients together, lay your little sausages out on a baking tray, and drizzle with the sauce. The best part is this only takes 10 minutes to cook! 

Sprinkle with some sesame seeds and green onions, and you’ve got yourself the perfect little Asian snack! 

4. Sausage Stuffed Avocado

This next appetizer idea has more of a Mexican twist to it (see also our favorite Mexican appetizers). This recipe idea involves chopping avocados into quarters (removing the seeds), and scooping out some flesh, while still leaving some behind. 

Then, mix the avocado flesh with your cooked sausages, some corn, and black bean salsa. Scoop this mixture into the avocado quarters, top with some cheese and bake for 10 minutes. 

The result is a deliciously cheesy and tasty snack that your guests will never get tired of.

5. Mini Sausage Rolls 

This is another appetizer that’s perfect if you’ve got guests coming over. In this recipe, your little smokies are wrapped in delicious puff pastry in order to make tiny little sausage rolls that are to die for. 

The process of making them is also super simple. All you need to do is roll out your puff pastry, cut it into squares, and brush each one with Dijon mustard and place a sausage in each.

Then, roll up the pastry over the sausage, brush with an egg wash and bake for around 15 minutes. 

You’ll then be left with some crispy, golden little sausage rolls that are perfect for any kind of gathering. They’re also great little additions to any lunch box!

6. Crockpot Honey Garlic Little Smokies

As soon as winter starts to settle in, the crock pot appears, and this honey garlic little smokie recipe is the perfect little snack or appetizer for those winter months. 

This recipe involves mixing some brown sugar, honey, ketchup, soy sauce, and garlic together, and pouring the mixture over your sausages in a crock pot (see also ‘The Best 25 Beef Crock Pot Recipe Out There‘). 

Cook this on high for around 3 hours, or on low for 4 hours. This is the perfect option if you need to cook something while you get on with other chores at home. 

If you enjoy the taste of these, you can make it a proper meal by adding large sausages and serving with rice or some vegetables!

7. Barbecue Little Smokies

These little sausage appetizers can only be described in one word – addictive! 

It is also the most simple recipe you’ll ever come across, as it uses only two ingredients, barbecue sauce, and little smokie sausages – duh! 

All you need to do is cover your sausages with the sauce and heat them on the stove for around 10 minutes.

Alternatively, you can place them in your crock pot covered in sauce, and cook on high for for around 2 hours.

This is the best option if you need something quick to set up, that you can just cook in the background while you complete your to-do list. Your house will also smell beautiful as you do this. 

8. Bacon-Wrapped Little Smokies

These bacon-wrapped little smokies are the ultimate party food (see also ‘32 Smart And Delicious Graduation Party Food Ideas‘), or go-to snack. Each little sausage is covered in a mouthwatering slice of bacon, and then covered with either barbecue sauce, sriracha, or left as is for a milder taste. 

They are then baked in the oven for around 35 minutes, and the result is a lovely little snack that’s crispy on the outside, and bursting with flavor on the inside. 

9. Brown Sugar Bourbon Little Smokies

This appetizer idea takes things to a whole new level, as it adds some bourbon whiskey to the mix! 

A deliciously thick and tasty sauce is made with brown sugar, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, and a dash of bourbon. The result is a very rich flavor that clings to each sausage, giving you a wonderful taste with each bite. 

This recipe can be made in your crock pot, or on the stove, depending on your personal preference. 

10. Grape Jelly Little Smokies

Another wonderful sauce to add to your little smokies is this grape jelly sauce. It contains chili sauce and grape jelly, and they complement each other perfectly. 

All you need to do is mix the sausages, chili sauce and grape jelly together in a crock pot, and stir until combined.

Then, either cook on high for 2 and a half hours, or on low for 4 to 5 hours. 

If you’d like some extra spice, you can add some sriracha to the mix, or cayenne pepper. You can also add some barbecue sauce instead of the chili sauce, if that’s a flavor you prefer.

11. Air Fryer BBQ Little Smokies

This is another super simple recipe that only needs three ingredients! 

All you need is your little smokies, barbecue sauce, and brown sugar.

Begin by cooking your sausages in the air fryer for around 6 minutes, and then brushing them with the barbecue and brown sugar mixture before cooking them for a further 3 minutes. 

Once done, the sugar should have caramelized, leaving a lovely glaze over each and every one of your little sausages. 

12. Cocktail Franks With Apples And Onions

Although this next recipe has slightly more ingredients, it is still wonderfully easy to whip up. 

All you need to do is slice up your onions and apples, layer them in a baking dish along with a sprinkle of brown sugar, and let it cook for an hour.

The apples add a delicious, fruity element to the dish, while not overpowering the flavor of the sausages. 

This is perfect as a side dish, or can be had as a main meal with some mashed potatoes (see also ‘29 Of The Best Recipes For Leftover Mashed Potatoes‘) or rice. 

13. Mini Chili Cheese Dogs 

For the grand finale, we have these little chili cheese dogs, that are perfect for any game days, or even just as a snack. 

They are very simple to make, all you need to do is place a little sausage into each bun, drizzle some chili over each, and top with cheddar cheese. 

Lastly, you’re going to bake them for around 10 minutes so all the delicious cheese melts, and ta da! 

Final Thoughts

To conclude, Little Smokies are tiny cocktail sausages, that can be cooked and prepared in a number of ways. 

As you’ve seen in this article, these sausages pair very well with condiments such as sugar and barbecue sauce, as the sweetness complements the smokiness of the sausages very well. 

These little sausages are perfect for any gatherings, snacks, or lunch boxes, and can be made with all kinds of your favorite additives. 

We hope this article has given you inspiration on the different types of appetizers you can make with your little smokies. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What Pairs Well With Little Smokies? 

These little sausages go very well with maple syrup. The sweetness of the syrup complements the smoky flavor of the sausages brilliantly, resulting in a lovely side, or main dish. 

How Long Do Little Smokies Last In The Fridge? 

Once you have opened your little smokies, they can last in your fridge for up to 7 days max. If they have not been eaten after this date, then you should discard them. 

Can You Refreeze Thawed Little Smokies? 

Refreezing meat after it has been thawed can result in moisture loss and may make for an unpleasant taste or freezer burn.

Therefore, you should try and use your frozen sausages within one month. If you leave them in the freezer for longer than this, then they won’t taste as fresh.