10 Easy Little Smokies Appetizers

Despite what many people think, pigs in a blanket aren’t the only little smokies appetizers out there for you to enjoy. 

In fact, they aren’t even the best little smokies appetizers out there, at least in my opinion. 

Don’t get me wrong, pigs in a blanket are delicious and will always remind me of any family get-together I ever attended in the 80s and 90s, but there are just so many more options.

There are little smokies wrapped in bacon, apple butter little smokies, smoked whiskey little smokies, and everything in between. 

I’ve focused on ten of the all-time best little smokies appetizers here. Hopefully, you’ll find one (or 10) that you’ll love. 

1. Little Smokies Wrapped in Bacon (Just 3 Ingredients!)

What would you say if I told you that you could bring a bit of heavenly yumminess into your kitchen with only three ingredients?

Whether you believe it or not, it’s 100% true. I’ve often called these simple smokies the “holy grail” of appetizers, and I stand by that description. 

You get the succulent juiciness of the sausage, the salty crunchiness of the bacon, and the sweetness of brown sugar.

They might take less than 30 minutes to make, but they’re still masterpieces.

2. Crockpot Little Smokies

There are plenty of recipes out there for making little smokies in the Crockpot. However, if you want the one with the perfect balance of sweetness and savoriness, this recipe is it.

You’ll combine them in a mixture of barbecue sauce, light brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce. They have a robust, warm flavor that nearly makes them addictive.

Some people use grape jelly instead of light brown sugar, but I think the sugar pairs better with Worcestershire and barbecue sauces. 

But feel free to play around with the recipe, as you might find that you prefer grape jelly. 

3. 2-Ingredient Barbecue Little Smokies

If you’re a BBQ fanatic, then these two-ingredient, 10-minute smokies may be more your style. All you’ll need are smokies, BBQ sauce, and a saucepan. 

You can also make them in a slow cooker. Doing so takes longer, but it also gives them more time to soak up all the rich flavors of the sauce. 

Whichever way you make them, people will love them, so don’t be surprised when there aren’t any left when it’s time to clean up. 

4. Little Smokies Crescent Rolls aka Mini Pigs in a Blanket

Okay, so just because everyone knows about pigs in a blanket doesn’t mean that I would leave the recipe off the list. I did say I was going to add the ten all-time best appetizers, didn’t I?

These combine the juicy, smoky flavor of little smokies with soft, buttery crescent roll crusts. They take less than 30 minutes to make and feature only those two ingredients. 

If you need a last-minute appetizer for any occasion, you can’t go wrong with mini pigs in a blanket. 

5. Crockpot Honey Garlic Little Smokies

If that first recipe for Crockpot little smokies wasn’t for you, give this one a try instead. It also features the complex sweet and savory flavor of the first, but these have a lot more garlic. 

There’s also soy sauce, ketchup, honey, and brown sugar. Like most options you’ll find here, these are insanely easy to make, requiring no more than 5 minutes of prep time. 

Of course, they’ll take a bit longer than that to cook since you’ll be cooking them in a Crockpot or slow cooker. Just remember: The longer they cook, the more flavorful they’ll be. 

6. Smoked Whiskey Little Smokies

These little smokies have a dark, earthy flavor that’s as complex and layered as it is delectable. They’re meaty, buttery, and covered in a rich, sweet, and tangy sauce. 

These are probably the smokiest little smokies on the list, so only try them if you’re a fan of smoked meats. 

If you do like smoked meats, be sure to make a couple of batches because once you start eating these, it’s incredibly hard to stop. 

7. Air Fryer BBQ Little Smokies

If you want to make the sweet and smoky little smokies above but don’t have a Crockpot or slow cooker handy, you can make them in the air fryer instead. 

Making them this way is also an excellent idea if you’re in a hurry, as they shouldn’t take longer than 15 minutes to prepare and cook. 

The ingredients list is short and straightforward, as well, combining little smokies, brown sugar, and BBQ sauce. They’re a little bit messy and a little bit sticky, but they pack a whole lot of flavor.

8. Slow Cooker Apple Butter Little Smokies

If you love the sweet and smoky flavor of slow cooker little smokies but want something that gives you more of an applewood bacon taste, use apple butter. 

It’s not something many people think of when they’re making little smokies; instead, they usually reach for sugar or grape jelly. 

Apple butter, though, is unbelievably delicious. It gives the smokies the same underlying sweetness and richness, but there’s also a bright hint of apples in every bite. 

Unfortunately, it also makes them a little high in carbs. Still, if you’re looking for a tasty treat that’s full of protein, you’ll enjoy slow cooker apple butter little smokies. 

9. Slow Cooker Cranberry BBQ Little Smokies

If you want your appetizers to have a bit of a holiday flair, add some cranberry sauce into the regular brown sugar and BBQ sauce mixture. 

These have a lovely reddish-orange glaze that makes them look as festive as they taste, and you’ll love how easy they are to make. 

Furthermore, because you’ll cook them so long (6 hours or so), they’re incredibly tender and juicy in the center but still have that satisfying snap when you first bite into them.

10. Instant Pot BBQ Hawaiian Little Smokies

Finally, if you want to make your little smokies even sweeter and smokier, you’ve got to try them Hawaiian style. 

These have a bit of everything in them, including jalapenos, BBQ pork rub, paprika, raspberry jam, pineapples and pineapple juice, and BBQ sauce. 

You’ll get a variety of flavors in every bite, and everyone who tries them will want to come back for seconds, thirds, or more.