Easy Instant Pot Little Smokies Recipe

Lil’ Smokies are a tried and true appetizer. Easily make this Instant Pot dish for your next gathering!

Little Smokies, also known as cocktail sausages or cocktail wieners, are small, bite-sized sausages that are typically made from a combination of pork and beef. They are fully cooked before packaging, so they can be eaten cold or heated for serving.

These sausages are often enjoyed as appetizers, party snacks, or finger foods at gatherings and events. Due to their small size, they are convenient for skewering with toothpicks or serving with dipping sauces. Little Smokies are versatile and can be prepared in various ways, such as simmered in a sauce, wrapped in bacon, or grilled.

Ingredients

• 1 cup BBQ sauce
• 3/4 cup grape jelly
• 1/4 cup water
• 2 packages Lil Smokies

Instructions

Combine BBQ sauce, grape jelly, and water in the pot of your Instant Pot. If you have a particularly thick BBQ sauce, you may want to use a little more water

Add in the Lil’ Smokies and stir until covered.

Place the lid on top of the Instant Pot and set to seal.

Set the Instant Pot to manual high pressure for ten minutes.

When the timer goes off, quick pressure release all the remaining pressure.

Remove the lid and set the Instant Pot to saute. Mix the sauce and sausages around until you reach the desired thickness. Remove smokies and enjoy!

Recipe Tips

Making Lil Smokies in the Instant Pot is a quick and convenient way to prepare these tasty cocktail sausages. One idea is to use the sauté function on your Instant Pot to brown the Lil Smokies before pressure cooking. This step adds flavor and caramelization to the sausages.

Once the cooking time is complete, perform a quick pressure release to stop the cooking process immediately. This helps prevent the Lil Smokies from overcooking and becoming mushy. If you’re making Lil Smokies for a party or gathering, use the Instant Pot’s “Keep Warm” function to maintain the temperature while serving. After cooking, you can thicken the sauce by using the sauté function. Mix a small amount of cornstarch with water and stir it into the sauce until it thickens to your liking

If your sauce is a little runny you can turn the Instant Pot to saute for a bit, you should be able to thicken it up!

Substitutions And Additions

Lil Smokies are versatile and can be customized with various substitutions and add-ons to suit your taste. Instead of traditional Lil Smokies, try using different types of sausages such as kielbasa, cocktail wieners, or even vegetarian sausages for a meatless option.  Experiment with different sauce bases.

Instead of the usual barbecue sauce, consider using teriyaki sauce, honey mustard, buffalo sauce, sweet and sour sauce, or a combination of your favorite sauces.  If you want to cut down on sugar or prefer alternative sweeteners, use honey, maple syrup, agave nectar, or brown sugar substitutes in your sauce. 

Storage Recommendations

Place any leftover uncooked little smokies in an airtight container or resealable plastic bag. They can stay fresh in the refrigerator for about 5-7 days. To freeze cooked little smokies, place them in a freezer-safe container or bag. They’ll last up to 2 months. Reheat from frozen in a pan, oven, or microwave for convenience.

To reheat:

Microwave: Heat in 20-30 second increments until warmed through.Oven: Bake at 350°F (175°C) for about 10 minutes, or until hot.Stovetop: Heat in a skillet over medium heat until warmed through.

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Bust out your Instant Pot for this simple and savory recipe for bite-sized Lil’ Smokies!