Little Smokies for Little Fingers
There’s something about miniature smoked sausages that little kids love. Maybe it’s their small size or their delectable smoked flavor; either way, with these little sausages you can get dinner on the table in a flash. Especially with this simple Crock-Pot recipe that requires only five minutes of prep time.
Traditionally used as an appetizer, little smoked sausages can also be turned into a meal all on their own. Think making them into sliders or pigs in the blanket, wrapping them in cheese or serving them alongside mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, or pasta.
Total Time: 6 hours, 5 minutes | Prep Time: 5 minutes | Serves: 5
Ingredients:
- 2 (14-ounce) packages miniature smoked sausages
- 1 (28-ounce) bottle barbecue sauce
- 1 1/4 cups water
- 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
Directions:
- Turn your slow cooker to high and allow it to heat.
- Remove the sausages from their packaging and place them in the Crock-Pot.
- In a large bowl, combine the barbecue sauce, water and Worcestershire sauce. Stir with a whisk until the ingredients are blended well.
- Pour the brown sugar into the sauce mixture. Stir until the sugar is blended in with the sauce. Pour the sauce over the sausages.
- Add the pepper, garlic powder and onion powder to the Crock-Pot. Cover and turn the cooking temperature to low. Cook the sausages for 6 hours.
- Use a wooden spoon to stir the contents of the cooker when the sausages are done cooking. Transfer to a bowl or serving plate.
Tip
- Use your slow cooker to make this Little Smokies recipe overnight. In the morning, fill a hot food thermos with the little delectables and send your kids off to school with a delicious hot lunch. Pack whole grain bread and fresh fruit in their lunchbox for a well-rounded, nutritious meal.
- For dinner, serve the sausages alongside buttered noodles. Cook your kids' favorite type of noodles, such as elbow macaroni, linguine or penne. After draining the water, toss the noodles with butter, Parmesan cheese, sea salt and pepper, to taste.
- Use dinner rolls or mini hot dog buns to make homemade Little Smokies sliders. Place the mini sausages on the bun, and pile on your favorite toppings, such as shredded cheddar cheese, ketchup, mustard, relish, sauerkraut or even baked beans. Get creative with some nontraditional toppings, like pineapple, mango relish or roasted red peppers.
References
Writer Bio
Beth Rifkin has been writing health- and fitness-related articles since 2005. Her bylines include "Tennis Life," "Ms. Fitness," "Triathlon Magazine," "Inside Tennis" and others. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Temple University.