BBQ Little Smokies in the Air Fryer
If you're looking for a quick dinner idea or an easy appetizer for game day, you're going to love this simple air fryer recipe! On top of being packed with flavor, these easy BBQ little smokies are made with just a handful of ingredients. And with the help of your air fryer, you can have them ready in a matter of minutes, making them perfect for any get-together.
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What Do I Need to Make BBQ Little Smokies?
You're going to love the sweet and smoky combination of ingredients in this easy air fryer appetizer. And since it's made with just a few simple ingredients, you can have this party snack ready in just a few minutes. To make BBQ smokes in your air fryer, you'll need:
How Do I Make BBQ Little Smokies?
Using your air fryer is a quick and mess-free way to prepare this game day appetizer. And that means the recipe for BBQ little smokies is so easy! Just follow these simple steps to make your own sweet BBQ sausages.
Step One: Air Fry the Sausages
Start by spraying the basket of your air fryer with nonstick cooking spray. Then place the little smokies in an even layer in the basket, trying not to overlap the sausages. Set the air fryer to cook at 350 degrees for 7 to 8 minutes. Halfway through the cook time, remove the basket from the air fryer and toss to mix the sausages and help them cook evenly.
Step Two: Prepare the Sauce
While the sausages are cooking in the air fryer, you can prepare the sauce on the stovetop. Add the BBQ sauce, cocktail sauce, maple syrup, brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce to the pot. Cook over medium heat for three to five minutes, until the mixture begins to bubble and thicken. After that, remove the pan from heat and set it aside until the lil smokies finish cooking.
Step Three: Toss the Smokies in the Sauce
When the smokies are finished cooking in the air fryer, transfer them to the pot with the sauce. Stir to mix the sausages into the sauce until they're fully coated. Place a toothpick into each sausage before serving.
How Do You Store BBQ Little Smokies?
If you have sausages leftover after your party, transfer them to an airtight container. Place the container in the fridge and the smokies will stay good for up to three days.
The cooked sausages can also be stored in the freezer for more long-term storage. Allow the smokies to cool completely, then place them in a freezer bag. The smokies can be stored in the freezer for up to three months.
When you're ready to eat your frozen smokies, allow them to thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Then, you can reheat them in the microwave, on the stovetop, or in the air fryer.
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What are Little Smokies?
Little smokies are just mini smoked sausages. They typically come in two varieties - beef and regular (which is typically a blend of pork and chicken). When making this recipe, you can use any brand or variety you like!
Can I Make BBQ Smokies in the Oven?
In addition to cooking your smokies in the air fryer, they can also be baked in the oven. Start by combining the sausages with the BBQ sauce, cocktail sauce, maple syrup, brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce in a large bowl. Stir to mix all the ingredients together and transfer the mixture to a baking dish.
Bake the smokies at 350 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes, until the sausages are heated through and the sauce has thickened.
Can I Make BBQ Smokies in the Crockpot?
This recipe is so versatile, which means it can be made in a variety of ways! Since little smokies are already cooked, all you really need to do is heat them up. That means you can cook them using your air fryer, oven, and even your slow cooker.
To prepare this recipe in your slow cooker, start by mixing the BBQ sauce, cocktail sauce, maple syrup, brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce together in the bowl of your slow cooker. Add the sausages to the sauce and stir until all the little smokies are coated.
Then, set the slow cooker to cook on low for two to three hours, enough time to warm up the smokies and the sauce.
What Goes with BBQ Little Smokies?
These quick and easy sausages make a great appetizer for a party! And that means they pair perfectly with a variety of other finger foods. As you're planning your party menu, you could serve your BBQ smokies with:
- Meatballs
- Chips and dip
- Sliders
- Pizza
- Pinwheels
- Jalapeno poppers
- Mozzarella sticks
In addition to serving your BBQ smokies as an appetizer, they also make a great main course for dinner! If you're planning on serving your mini sausages for supper tonight, try serving them with these easy side dishes:
- Mashed potatoes
- French fries
- Tater tots
- Sweet potato fries
- Rice
- Macaroni and cheese
- Potato wedges
- Mixed vegetables
- Side salad
BBQ Little Smokies in the Air Fryer
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 14 oz packages lil smokies cocktail sausages
- ½ cup BBQ sauce
- ⅓ cup cocktail sauce
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- ½ tablespoon worcestershire sauce
- Cooking spray
Instructions
- Spray your air fryer tray with cooking spray.
- Add the lil smokies to your air fryer tray and cook at 350F on the air fry setting for 7-8 minutes, tossing halfway through.
- Meanwhile, add your remaining ingredients to a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook for 3-5 minutes or until the mixture begins to bubble and thicken. Remove from heat and set aside.
- When the smokies have finished cooking, add them to the saucepan or a bowl with the cooked sauce and toss to coat.
- Serve immediately with toothpicks, enjoy!
