Air Fryer Little Smokies with Maple BBQ Sauce
These air fryer little smokies get tossed in a homemade maple BBQ sauce that's sweet, smoky, and a little tangy - nothing like just dumping straight barbecue sauce over the sausages. The air fryer crisps the casings so they snap when you bite into them, and the sauce thickens into a sticky glaze that clings to every sausage. They're ready in about 15 minutes from start to plate, which makes them one of the easiest appetizers you can pull together for game day, a holiday party, or just a weeknight snack.
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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:
| 💡 Angela's Tip |
| Before air frying, pat the sausages dry with a paper towel. Removing the moisture from the package helps the casings crisp up faster and gives you better browning. |
What Makes This Sauce Different
Most air fryer little smokies recipes just brush BBQ sauce on the sausages and call it done. This recipe builds a more layered sauce using five ingredients that each do something different: BBQ sauce provides the smoky base, cocktail sauce adds a subtle horseradish kick and tomato brightness, maple syrup brings natural sweetness that caramelizes beautifully, brown sugar adds depth and helps the sauce get sticky, and Worcestershire sauce rounds everything out with umami. The result is a glaze that tastes more complex than the sum of its parts - and people will assume you spent a lot more time on it than you did.
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.
| 💡 Angela's Tip |
| Don't stack the sausages in the air fryer basket. If they overlap, the ones in the middle will steam instead of crisp. Cook in two batches if you're doubling the recipe. |
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.
Looking for some great air fryer tips, check out my Ultimate Guide to Crispy Air Fryer Food Every Time and 5 Air Fryer Mistakes Everyone Makes (And How to Fix Them)
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.
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.
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
Yes. Toss the sausages with all the sauce ingredients in a baking dish and bake at 350°F for 15 to 20 minutes, until heated through and the sauce has thickened and glazed the sausages.
Yes. Whisk the sauce ingredients directly in the slow cooker, add the sausages, and cook on low for 2 to 3 hours. You'll miss the crispy casing from the air fryer, but the flavor is the same. Keep on warm for serving at a party.
Yes. Air fry the sausages and make the sauce up to a day ahead. Refrigerate separately, then combine and reheat in a saucepan over medium heat or transfer to a slow cooker set on warm when guests arrive.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. Reheat in the microwave, on the stovetop, or back in the air fryer at 350°F for 3 to 4 minutes.
Yes. Let them cool completely, then transfer to a freezer-safe bag. They'll keep for up to three months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
BBQ Little Smokies in the Air Fryer
Equipment
Ingredients
- 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!
