Slow Cooker Apple Butter Little Smokies
19 CommentsMar 28, 2025
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Slow Cooker Apple Butter Little Smokies are the perfect sweet and savory appetizer for anytime of year, not just fall! Made with cozy apple butter and tangy barbecue sauce, these bite-sized sausages simmer to saucy perfection in just a couple of hours. Great for parties, game day, or holiday gatherings!
I’ve been loving apple butter lately—not just on toast, but in savory dishes too. I tried it with slow cooker little smokies and added a touch of barbecue sauce for balance. The result? A sweet and tangy 3-ingredient appetizer that’s perfect for holidays or game day. There’s plenty of sauce to keep every bite flavorful and moist from start to finish!
Apple Butter Little Smokies Ingredients
You only need three ingredients to make this amazing appetizer. The full recipe is in the recipe card below the images.
- Apple butter – You can find a good apple butter in the jam section of the store, or you can use crockpot apple butter.
- Barbecue Sauce – A plain barbecue sauce works best, for that we use sweet baby rays.
- Little Smokies – or often spelled Lit’l smokies are found near the bacon section of the store. We also make Grape Jelly Little Smokies, or Meatballs and Little Smokies.
How to make Apple Butter Little Smokies in the slow cooker
Combine: Add the little smokies, barbecue sauce and apple butter to the slow cooker. Stir to combine.
Cook: Place the lid on the slow cooker and cook on LOW for 4-5 hours or on low for 2.5 hours, stirring occasionally.
My Tips for the Best Little Smokies
Here are a few tips to make sure your apple butter smokies turn out perfect:
- Let them cook for the full amount of time; don’t just heat them to temperature, for they get better when they cook and soak up the sauce.
- Stir the apple butter smokies occasionally during the cooking time (and serving time) so they don’t burn on the edges.
- Store the little smokies in the fridge for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
More recipes to try:
Slow Cooker Apple Butter Pork Chops are tender, flavorful, and perfect for a cozy fall dinner.
Apple Butter Little Meatballs are a sweet and savory 3-ingredient appetizer that’s always a hit at parties.
Caramel Apple Butter is a rich, spiced spread that tastes just like caramel apples in a jar—perfect on toast, biscuits, or straight from the spoon!
Apple Butter Little Smokies Recipe
How to Video
Equipment
Ingredients
- 42 oz lit'l smokies, Three – 14 oz packages; any style
- 1 1/2 cups apple butter
- 1 cup barbecue sauce
Instructions
- Add everything to the slow cooker and stir.
- Cover and cook on HIGH for 2.5 hour or on LOW for 4-5. The longer you cook these, the more the little smokies soak up the sauce.
- Serve and enjoy!
Sarah’s Notes
- Let them cook for the full amount of time; don’t just heat them to temperature, for they get better when they cook and soak up the sauce.
- Stir the apple butter smokies occasionally during the cooking time (and serving time) so they don’t burn on the edges.
- Store the little smokies in the fridge for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Nutrition
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
Took this to my daughters sorority dad’s weekend luncheon, it was a big hit. Almost every dad there asked what was the recipe was and I gave you full credit and shared the link. Terrific recipe, very easy, and only 3 ingredients. Came out great and the perfect balance of sweet and smoky. Will use this recipe again, definitely for tailgating.
So glad you liked this and thank you for sharing!!
These are good but add 1/2cup wild turhey 101 to the ingrédients
Great idea.
Could you wrap these in bacon too?
You could! Though you would want to cook on high, it will help cook the bacon.
Use precooked bacon from the store and wrap them up. Quickens cooking time too with much less grease.
Where do you find the apple.butter?
Most grocery stores carry it, in the jam section of the store.
Can these b frozen
Yes! They will freeze fine.
How would be with meatballs
Would be great!
OOOOHHHH nice!!
I’m can’t wait to make this
I’m making these now and they smell so gooood
You will love them!
I need to do more than 10 servings. Could I double the ingredients?
Yes you can double!