Crock Pot BBQ Cocktail Sausage (Print version)

Smoked cocktail sausages simmered in tangy BBQ sauce and sweet apricot jam with vegetables for a hearty slow cooker meal.

# What You'll Need:

→ Meats

01 - 1 pound smoked cocktail sausages, sliced into bite-sized pieces

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
03 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced

→ Liquids & Bases

05 - 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
06 - 1 cup BBQ sauce, tangy-style preferred
07 - 1/2 cup apricot jam or preserves
08 - 1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes, drained

→ Seasonings

09 - 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
10 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
11 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
12 - 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional for heat
13 - Salt to taste

# Directions:

01 - Add the sliced cocktail sausages, chopped onion, red bell pepper, and minced garlic to the slow cooker
02 - Pour in the chicken broth, BBQ sauce, and apricot jam. Stir until the jam is dissolved and the mixture is well combined
03 - Add the drained diced tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, black pepper, and cayenne pepper if using. Stir gently to combine
04 - Cover and cook on low for 4 hours, or until the vegetables are tender and flavors have melded together
05 - Taste and adjust salt as needed. Serve hot, garnished with chopped parsley if desired

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It practically cooks itself while you do something else, yet tastes like you've been tending to it all day.
  • The sweet-and-tangy thing keeps happening in your mouth—apricot jam and BBQ sauce playing off each other in ways you didn't expect to work.
  • It's the kind of soup that works for a casual weeknight dinner or when you need to feed a crowd without stress.
02 -
  • If you add salt before cooking, you might regret it—slow cookers concentrate flavors, and what seemed perfectly seasoned at the beginning tastes salty after four hours, so wait until the end to taste and adjust.
  • The apricot jam needs to be stirred in thoroughly at the beginning, or it'll clump and you'll have pockets of pure jam that are cloying instead of creating that subtle sweetness throughout.
03 -
  • Brown the sausages quickly in a skillet before adding them if you want a deeper, richer flavor—it only takes five minutes and changes everything for special occasions.
  • Add fresh parsley or cilantro right before serving for brightness that cuts through the sweetness and makes each spoonful feel alive and fresh.
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