BBQ Meatballs and Lil Smokies

These BBQ Meatballs and Lil Smokies combine tender meatballs and savory cocktail sausages in a thick, sweet, smoky barbecue sauce. Everything cooks together in the slow cooker, making this an easy appetizer for parties, game day, holidays, potlucks, and family gatherings.

Serve them directly from the slow cooker with toothpicks, or turn them into a complete meal with rice, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, or toasted rolls.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 2–4 hours
Total Time: Approximately 4 hours
Servings: 12–16 appetizer portions

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Only a few minutes of preparation
Uses convenient frozen meatballs
Sweet, smoky, and savory sauce
Perfect for feeding a crowd
Easy slow-cooker recipe
Stays warm during parties
Simple to transport
Easy to customize
Can be served as an appetizer or meal
Requires no complicated ingredients

Ingredients

Meatballs and Sausages

1 package (28–32 ounces) frozen fully cooked meatballs
2 packages (12–14 ounces each) Lil Smokies or cocktail sausages

BBQ Sauce

2 cups barbecue sauce
1 cup grape jelly
¼ cup packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon yellow or Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon smoked paprika
¼ teaspoon black pepper
1–2 teaspoons hot sauce, optional

Optional Garnishes

Chopped fresh parsley
Sliced green onions
Crushed red pepper flakes
Sesame seeds
Crispy fried onions

How to Make BBQ Meatballs and Lil Smokies

Step 1: Prepare the Slow Cooker

Lightly coat the inside of a 6-quart slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray.

This is optional, but it makes cleanup easier because barbecue sauce can become sticky around the edges.

Step 2: Add the Meatballs

Place the frozen fully cooked meatballs in the slow cooker.

There is no need to thaw them first unless the package specifically instructs otherwise.

Use plain homestyle or beef meatballs rather than strongly seasoned Italian meatballs for the most traditional barbecue flavor.

Step 3: Add the Lil Smokies

Drain any liquid from the packages of cocktail sausages.

Add the Lil Smokies to the slow cooker with the meatballs.

Gently stir to distribute the sausages throughout the pot.

Step 4: Prepare the Sauce

In a medium bowl, combine the barbecue sauce, grape jelly, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, black pepper, and hot sauce.

Whisk until the ingredients are evenly blended.

The jelly may not become completely smooth until it warms in the slow cooker.

Step 5: Add the Sauce

Pour the prepared barbecue sauce over the meatballs and sausages.

Stir carefully until everything is coated.

Make sure some sauce reaches the bottom of the slow cooker to prevent scorching.

Step 6: Cook

Cover and cook on low for 3–4 hours or high for 1½–2 hours.

Stir once or twice during cooking if possible.

The meatballs and sausages should be thoroughly heated, and the sauce should be smooth and bubbling gently around the edges.

Step 7: Check the Temperature

Make sure the center of the meatballs reaches at least 165°F before serving.

Cooking times may vary depending on the size of the meatballs, the temperature of the ingredients, and the slow-cooker model.

Step 8: Adjust the Sauce

If the sauce is thicker than you prefer, add one or two tablespoons of water, pineapple juice, or apple juice.

If the sauce is too thin, remove the lid and cook on high for approximately 15–20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Step 9: Keep Warm

Once everything is hot, change the slow cooker to its warm setting.

Stir occasionally so the sauce does not become excessively thick around the edges.

Step 10: Garnish and Serve

Sprinkle the BBQ meatballs and Lil Smokies with parsley, green onions, sesame seeds, or crushed red pepper flakes.

Serve them directly from the slow cooker with toothpicks or small appetizer forks.

The Best Meatballs to Use

Frozen fully cooked meatballs make this recipe quick and convenient.

Suitable varieties include:

Homestyle meatballs
Beef meatballs
Turkey meatballs
Chicken meatballs
Pork meatballs
Plant-based meatballs
Homemade cooked meatballs

Small cocktail-size meatballs are best for appetizers because guests can eat them easily with toothpicks.

Larger meatballs work well when serving the recipe as a main dish.

Can I Use Homemade Meatballs?

Yes.

Prepare and cook your favorite homemade meatballs before adding them to the slow cooker. Browning or baking them first helps them hold their shape in the sauce.

You can make simple meatballs with:

Ground beef
Breadcrumbs
Egg
Finely diced onion
Garlic powder
Salt
Black pepper
Worcestershire sauce

Cool the cooked meatballs before refrigerating if you’re preparing them in advance.

What Are Lil Smokies?

Lil Smokies are small, fully cooked smoked sausages commonly served as appetizers.

They may be labeled:

Cocktail sausages
Cocktail wieners
Mini smoked sausages
Beef smoked sausages
Turkey cocktail sausages

Because they are already cooked, they only need to be heated thoroughly in the barbecue sauce.

The Best Barbecue Sauce

Choose a barbecue sauce you already enjoy because it provides most of the recipe’s flavor.

Good options include:

Sweet and smoky barbecue sauce
Honey barbecue sauce
Hickory-smoked sauce
Brown-sugar barbecue sauce
Spicy barbecue sauce
Kansas City-style sauce
Carolina-style sauce

A thick, sweet barbecue sauce works especially well with the grape jelly and smoky sausages.

If your barbecue sauce is already very sweet, reduce the brown sugar or grape jelly.

Why Add Grape Jelly?

Grape jelly melts into the barbecue sauce and creates a glossy, sweet, tangy coating.

It does not make the finished dish taste strongly like grapes. Instead, it balances the smoky, salty flavors of the sausages and meatballs.

You can replace the grape jelly with:

Cranberry sauce
Apricot preserves
Peach preserves
Apple jelly
Orange marmalade
Pineapple preserves
Red pepper jelly

Each substitute creates a slightly different flavor.

BBQ Meatballs and Lil Smokies Without Jelly

You can prepare the sauce without grape jelly.

Combine:

2½ cups barbecue sauce
⅓ cup brown sugar
¼ cup honey
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon mustard
1 teaspoon garlic powder

Cook as directed.

This version has a more traditional barbecue flavor with less fruitiness.

How to Make Them on the Stovetop

Add the barbecue sauce, grape jelly, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, and seasonings to a large saucepan or Dutch oven.

Heat over medium-low heat until the jelly melts and the sauce becomes smooth.

Add the frozen meatballs and Lil Smokies.

Cover and simmer over low heat for approximately 25–35 minutes, stirring occasionally, until everything is thoroughly heated.

Avoid using high heat because the thick sauce can scorch on the bottom of the pot.

How to Make Them in the Oven

Preheat the oven to 350°F.

Place the meatballs and Lil Smokies in a large baking dish.

Mix the sauce ingredients and pour them over the meat and sausages.

Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for approximately 35–45 minutes, stirring halfway through.

Remove the foil during the final 10 minutes if you want the sauce to thicken slightly.

Spicy BBQ Meatballs and Lil Smokies

Add one or more of the following:

Cayenne pepper
Crushed red pepper flakes
Hot sauce
Diced jalapeños
Chipotle peppers in adobo
Spicy barbecue sauce
Red pepper jelly

Begin with a small amount and add more after tasting the warmed sauce.

Honey Garlic BBQ Version

Replace the grape jelly with ¾ cup honey.

Add four minced garlic cloves and one tablespoon of soy sauce.

The result is sweet, sticky, garlicky, and especially delicious over rice.

Bourbon BBQ Meatballs and Smokies

Add ¼ cup bourbon to the sauce.

Cook the mixture on high long enough for the sauce to become hot and thick.

For a nonalcoholic alternative, use apple juice with a small amount of vanilla extract.

Pineapple BBQ Meatballs and Smokies

Add one drained 20-ounce can of pineapple chunks.

Replace part of the grape jelly with ½ cup pineapple preserves or use pineapple juice to thin the sauce.

This variation creates a sweet tropical barbecue flavor.

Cranberry BBQ Meatballs and Smokies

Replace the grape jelly with one can of whole-berry cranberry sauce.

This variation is especially good for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and winter parties.

Add a small amount of orange zest for extra flavor.

Bacon BBQ Meatballs and Smokies

Cook and crumble six slices of bacon.

Stir half into the slow cooker during the final 30 minutes.

Sprinkle the remaining bacon over the top before serving.

Brown Sugar Mustard Version

Reduce the grape jelly to ½ cup.

Increase the brown sugar to ½ cup and the mustard to three tablespoons.

This creates a sweet and tangy sauce with a stronger mustard flavor.

Can I Add Vegetables?

Yes.

Suitable additions include:

Diced bell peppers
Sliced onions
Pineapple chunks
Jalapeños
Mushrooms
Green onions

Sauté onions, peppers, and mushrooms before adding them if you prefer a softer texture.

Avoid adding too many watery vegetables because they can thin the sauce.

Can I Double the Recipe?

Yes, as long as your slow cooker is large enough.

Do not fill the slow cooker more than approximately three-quarters full. Overfilling can prevent the ingredients from heating evenly.

For a very large party, divide the recipe between two slow cookers.

A doubled batch may need additional cooking time.

How Many Appetizer Portions Does This Make?

This recipe makes approximately 12–16 appetizer portions, depending on how many other dishes are available.

For a large party with several appetizers, plan on approximately two meatballs and three cocktail sausages per guest.

If this is the main appetizer, prepare a larger amount.

How to Serve Them at a Party

Keep the slow cooker on the warm setting.

Place toothpicks, small plates, and napkins beside the slow cooker.

Set out a small bowl or disposable cup for used toothpicks.

Stir the mixture occasionally and replace the lid afterward to maintain a safe serving temperature.

What to Serve with BBQ Meatballs and Lil Smokies

As an appetizer, serve them with:

Cheese and crackers
Vegetable trays
Potato skins
Chicken wings
Chips and dip
Deviled eggs
Sliders
Soft pretzel bites

As a main dish, pair them with:

Mashed potatoes
Macaroni and cheese
White rice
Baked potatoes
Coleslaw
Cornbread
Roasted vegetables
Dinner rolls

You can also place the meatballs and sausages inside toasted slider buns.

Can I Prepare Them Ahead?

Yes.

Combine the sauce ingredients up to three days ahead and refrigerate them in an airtight container.

You can also place the meatballs, sausages, and sauce in the slow-cooker insert the night before. Cover and refrigerate.

Allow a cold ceramic insert to warm slightly before placing it in the slow-cooker base, following the manufacturer’s safety instructions.

The refrigerated ingredients may require additional cooking time.

Storage

Allow leftovers to cool before transferring them to an airtight container.

Refrigerate for up to 3–4 days.

Store the meatballs, sausages, and sauce together so the meat remains moist.

Do not leave the dish at room temperature for more than two hours.

How to Reheat BBQ Meatballs and Lil Smokies

Reheat leftovers in a saucepan over medium-low heat until thoroughly hot.

Add a small splash of water or barbecue sauce if the mixture has become too thick.

Individual portions can be reheated in the microwave in short intervals, stirring between each interval.

For a larger batch, return everything to the slow cooker and heat on high until it reaches 165°F, then change the setting to warm.

Can You Freeze BBQ Meatballs and Lil Smokies?

Yes.

Cool the mixture completely and transfer it to a freezer-safe container.

Freeze for up to 2–3 months.

Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat gently on the stovetop or in the slow cooker.

The sauce may appear slightly separated after thawing, but stirring during reheating should restore its consistency.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add frozen meatballs directly to the slow cooker?

Yes, as long as they are fully cooked frozen meatballs. Make sure they reach 165°F before serving.

Do I need to cook Lil Smokies first?

No. They are already cooked and only need to be heated thoroughly.

Can I omit the grape jelly?

Yes. Replace it with honey, brown sugar, cranberry sauce, or another fruit preserve.

Can I use Italian meatballs?

Yes, although their herb flavor may be more noticeable in the barbecue sauce.

Why is my sauce too thin?

Remove the slow-cooker lid and cook on high for 15–20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Why is my sauce too thick?

Stir in a small amount of water, fruit juice, or additional barbecue sauce.

Can I make this recipe spicy?

Yes. Add hot sauce, jalapeños, cayenne, chipotle peppers, or spicy barbecue sauce.

Can I use turkey meatballs?

Absolutely. Turkey or chicken meatballs work well.

Can I use only meatballs?

Yes. Replace the sausages with an additional package of meatballs.

Can I use only Lil Smokies?

Yes. Omit the meatballs and use additional cocktail sausages.

How long can they stay on the warm setting?

They can remain on warm during the party for a few hours. Stir occasionally and make sure they remain safely hot.

How long will leftovers keep?

Refrigerated leftovers will keep for approximately three to four days.

Pro Tips

Use fully cooked frozen meatballs for the easiest preparation.

Choose a thick barbecue sauce because the sausages may release some liquid as they heat.

Taste the sauce before adding all the brown sugar. Some barbecue sauces and fruit preserves are already very sweet.

Stir the mixture occasionally so the meatballs and sausages remain evenly coated.

Keep the slow cooker on warm during serving for the best combination of tender meatballs, smoky sausages, and glossy barbecue sauce.

Final Thoughts

These BBQ Meatballs and Lil Smokies are an easy, crowd-friendly appetizer made with tender meatballs, smoky cocktail sausages, and a sweet, tangy barbecue glaze.

Serve them for game day, holidays, potlucks, birthday parties, or casual family gatherings. With easy variations like spicy barbecue, honey garlic, pineapple, cranberry, bourbon, or bacon, this simple slow-cooker recipe can suit almost any occasion.