Chipotle Honey Little Smokies
by This post may contain affiliate links.
If you’re looking for a super easy, irresistible party appetizer, this recipe for Chipotle Honey Little Smokies is about to be your new go-to! These bite-sized sausages simmer away in the crockpot in a sweet, smoky, slightly spicy sauce that’s packed with bold flavor. With just 6 simple ingredients and hands-off cooking, this crowd-pleasing recipe is perfect for game day, holidays, or anytime you need an appetizer that all of your guests will love!
Why you’ll love these little smokies
I can’t remember a party from my childhood, or that I’ve hosted as an adult, where I didn’t serve CrockPot little smokies in bbq sauce.
For my birthday party this year, I decided to mix things up and make a simple chipotle honey sauce to toss on them, and my friends went crazy for them! So of course, I had to share the recipe! And you better believe I’ll be making these for my annual Super Bowl party! They’re the perfect game day appetizer. Here’s why you’ll love them:
- You can set-it-and-forget-it! Since this recipe is made in a crockpot, you can prep it in 5 minutes, then let the slow cooker do the work! This recipe is perfect for stress-free entertaining and keeps itself warm for parties.
- You’ll love the sweet, smoky, spicy flavor! If “swicy” sauces are your thing, this chipotle honey sauce delivers big, bold flavor in every bite, making these little smokies stand out from basic party appetizers.
- They’re a guaranteed crowd-pleaser! Bite-sized, saucy, and easy to grab with a toothpick, they’re ideal for feeding a crowd at parties.
Ingredients
Here I explain the best ingredients for this chipotle honey little smokies recipe, what each one does, and substitution options. For the exact ingredient measurements, see the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Honey
- Lime juice – I recommend fresh squeezed for the best flavor.
- Soy sauce – to add salt and flavor to the sauce.
- Chipotle peppers in adobo sauce – you will find these in a can at the grocery store, either in the Hispanic section, or near the other canned peppers and chilies. You’ll need both the peppers and adobo sauce from the can to make the sauce.
- Garlic powder
- Lit’l smokies or cocktail weenies
Instructions
I’ve included step by step photos below to make this recipe easy to follow at home. For the full detailed recipe instructions, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Make the sauce. Add honey, lime juice, soy sauce, garlic powder, chipotle peppers, and adobo sauce from the can of peppers, to a blender. I used my trusty Nutribullet. Blend until the sauce is smooth.
- Add everything to a Crock Pot. Add the little smokies to a Crock Pot. The one I used is 2.5 quarts, but you could also use something bigger. Pour the sauce over the little sausages, then toss until they’re fully coated in the sauce. Slow cook on high for 2 hours, or low for 4 hours.
After the cook time, you can change the Crock Pot setting over to warm for up to 6 hours for a party. Add a bowl of toothpicks next to the Crock Pot, so people can grab one or two little weenies to snack on!
More slow cooker appetizers
If you love these little smokies, I know you’ll love these other appetizer recipes that are so easy to make in a Crock Pot!
Little Smokies with Chipotle Honey Sauce
Ingredients
- ½ cup honey
- 3 tablespoons lime juice
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 3 chipotles in adobo sauce
- 2 tablespoons adobo sauce, from the can of chipotles
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 28 ounces little smokies, or any cocktail sausages
Instructions
- Add the honey, lime juice, soy sauce, chipotles, adobo sauce, and garlic powder to a blender. Blend until smooth.
- Place the little smokies in a slow cooker.
- Pour the sauce from the blender over the smokies in the slow cooker. Toss to make sure the sauce coats all of the little smokies.
- Cook in the slow cooker on high for 2 hours or on low for 4 hours.
- Turn the slow cooker to the warm function for up to 6 hours.
Notes
- You can also make this recipe quickly on the stove. Simply blend up the sauce, then add the little smokies and sauce to a pot on the stove over medium-high heat. Bring the sauce to a simmer, then reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 10-15 minutes before serving.
- The sauce can be made up to 5 days in advance and stored in the fridge until you’re ready to cook the little smokies. This is what I did for my birthday party and it worked out great! Prep time was literally 2 minutes on the day of the party.
- Store any leftover little smokies in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. You can reheat them for 90 seconds in the microwave, or in a pot on the stove for 4-5 minutes.
- You can also freeze the prepared little smokies for up to 6 months. Make sure they’ve cooled completely, then place them in a freezer-safe bag and into the freezer. Defrost in the fridge for 24 hours, then pour them back in a Crock Pot on low for 2-3 hours to heat them up.
Nutrition Facts
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
