Sweet and Spicy Little Smokies
Give these Sweet and Spicy Little Smokies a try at your next gathering. Forget plain old BBQ sauce, these little smokies are taken to the next level with a sweet and spicy twist. With just a few ingredients and a slow cooker, you’ll have a delicious appetizer with minimal work. These cocktail wieners with grape jelly and chili sauce, are sure to pack a flavorful punch and become everyone’s new favorite.
This Sweet and Spicy Little Smokies recipe is a crowd-pleasing appetizer that’s effortlessly prepared in a slow cooker. Combining the sweet tang of grape jelly with the zesty kick of chili sauce, this dish coats cocktail wieners in a flavorful glaze that’s both sugary and spicy. Perfect for holiday parties, game days, or family movie nights, these smokies are cooked low and slow for four hours, then served with toothpicks for easy snacking. Simple to make and packed with bold flavors, this recipe is a must-try for any gathering!
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Little smokies are probable one of the easiest appetizers to make. We all have so many different ways to season these little cocktail wieners, usually just using BBQ sauce. But this recipe for sweet and spicy little smokies is just as easy and ever so much more flavorful.
Sweet and Spicy Little Smokies Recipe:
Ingredients:
- 14-ounce package little smokies
- 18-ounce jar grape jelly
- 12-ounce bottle chili sauce
- Cooking Spray
Equipment:
- Slow Cooker
- Small mixing bowl
- Whisk
- Toothpicks
🥣 Recipe Tips
- Choose the Right Chili Sauce for Heat Level: Select a chili sauce that matches your spice preference—Heinz chili sauce offers a mild kick, while a spicier option like sriracha-based chili sauce can amp up the heat. Taste the sauce before mixing to ensure the balance with the sweet grape jelly suits your crowd.
- Enhance Flavor with a Touch of Acid: Add a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar or a squeeze of fresh lime juice to the grape jelly and chili sauce mixture before pouring it over the smokies. This subtle acidity cuts through the sweetness, creating a more complex, tangy flavor profile.
- Keep Smokies Warm for Serving: After cooking, switch the slow cooker to the “warm” setting to maintain the smokies’ temperature during a party. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking, and provide a small ladle or slotted spoon alongside toothpicks for easy, mess-free serving.
How to make Cocktail Wieners with Grape Jelly and Chili Sauce:
- Lightly spray the inside of your slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray, then add all the little smokies.
- In a small bowl, combine the grape jelly and chili sauce.
- Whisk vigorously until the mixture is smooth and fully blended—no lumps!
- Pour the smooth jelly-chili sauce mixture evenly over the little smokies in the slow cooker. Give everything a good stir to coat the smokies completely.
- Pop the lid on, set the slow cooker to low, and cook for 4 hours—perfect timing for the flavors to meld and the sauce to get nice and sticky!
- Once the 4 hours are up, remove the lid and give the little smokies a good stir to coat them evenly in that delicious sticky sauce.
- They’re ready to serve and enjoy while nice and warm!
Serve by placing a toothpick in each of these sweet and spicy little smokies and place on a serving dish.
🥣 Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 14 ounce package little smokies
- 1 18 ounce jar grape jelly
- 1 12 ounce jar chili sauce
- Cooking Spray
Instructions
- Lightly spray the inside of your slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray, then add all the little smokies.
- .In a small bowl, combine the grape jelly and chili sauce.Whisk vigorously until the mixture is smooth and fully blended—no lumps!
- Pour the smooth jelly-chili sauce mixture evenly over the little smokies in the slow cooker. Give everything a good stir to coat the smokies completely.
- Pop the lid on, set the slow cooker to low, and cook for 4 hours—perfect timing for the flavors to meld and the sauce to get nice and sticky!
- Once the 4 hours are up, remove the lid and give the little smokies a good stir to coat them evenly in that delicious sticky sauce.
- They’re ready to serve and enjoy while nice and warm!
Nutrition
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