Crock Pot Root Beer Litl Smokies are sweet, tangy, and super easy. Cocktail sausages simmer in a thick root beer BBQ sauce for a simple snack or appetizer!A Sweet and Tangy Slow Cooker Appetizer These little smoked sausages are so simple to whip up and are so yummy. Everyone loves them! I make them a variety of ways and they are always a huge hit! The combination of brown sugar, barbecue sauce, root beer and Worcestershire creates a tasty flavor that pairs perfectly with the smoky sausages!Frequently Asked Questions:Are these Root Beer Little Smokies spicy? No, theyre mostly sweet and tangy. The red pepper flakes add a small amount of heat, but theyre optional and can be left out if you prefer zero spice. Do I need to stir this? I like to stir this halfway through so that the sauce coats everything evenly. The sauce is too thin, how can I thicken it? Just remove the lid during the last bit of cooking and the sauce will thicken up a bit. If that doesnt do the trick enough, mix two Tablespoons of cornstarch with two Tablespoons of cold water to make a slurry. Stir it into the slow cooker and cook on high for about 15-30 minutes until the sauce thickens into a sticky glaze. Can I make this on the stovetop instead? Yes. Since the sausages are already fully cooked, the Crock Pot is mainly used to warm them and allow the sauce to simmer and develop flavor. To make them on the stovetop, combine all ingredients in a saucepan, cover and simmer over low heat for about 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Can I make these ahead of time? Yes. These can be made a few hours in advance and kept warm in the slow cooker on the warm setting until ready to serve. Stir occasionally so the sauce coats the sausages evenly. Some slow cookers can run hot and you dont want it burning around the edges. How do I store leftovers? Store leftover Slow Cooker Litl Smokies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 to 4 days. Reheat them in the microwave, on the stovetop over low heat, or in a Slow Cooker until warmed through. The sauce may thicken in the fridge, so you can add a splash of water or root beer while reheating if needed. Ingredients Needed: (See Recipe Card Below For The Full Recipe)Hillshire Farm Litl Smokies if you have another brand that you prefer, you can certainly use that. If you want to change things up, go for some cocktail meatballs instead of the smokies.root beer I suppose you could use a diet root beer alternative. Im not quite sure how that would taste though as I havent tested it. If you are using it because you need less sugar, you would then want to get a sugar free BBQ sauce and perhaps not use the light brown sugar or use a sugar free substitute.light brown sugar if you dont want to add anymore sugar to this, you can leave it out but it does turn the sauce into a really nice glaze because of the molasses in the brown sugar.bbq sauce if you like, you can use a spicy bbq sauce or a sugar free one. Or you can even make a Homemade BBQ Sauce.Worcestershire saucered pepper flakes I use this as an optional ingredient if you like a tin y kick of spice. It doesnt make it spicy in my opinion but everyone has a different level of tolerance.Worcestershire sauce not pictured. How To Make Crock Pot Root Beer Litl SmokiesPlace the litl smokies into a 4 quart slow cooker.Pour in the root beer followed by the brown sugar, bbq sauce, Worcestershire sauce and red pepper flakes (if using) and give it a gentle stir. Cover and cook on low for 34 hours, stirring occasionally.NOTE: If you want a thicker sauce, combine 2 Tablespoons cornstarch with 2 Tablespoons COLD water in a small bowl. Add to the slow cooker and stir. Turn on high for about 15 minutes and it should thicken up nicely.Optional: Top with a little freshly chopped parsley. Serve warm directly from the slow cooker.Craving More Recipes?Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Litl SmokiesCrock Pot Mississippi Litl SmokiesCrock Pot Honey Garlic MeatballsBacon Wrapped Little SmokiesHomemade Grape Jelly Meatballs PrintCrock Pot Root Beer Little SmokiesThese sweet and tangy smoked sausages cook in a tasty sauce in the Slow Cooker, making a super simple Crock Pot appetizer. Course Appetizer, Lunch, SnackCuisine AmericanPrep Time 5 minutes minutesCook Time 4 hours hoursTotal Time 4 hours hours 5 minutes minutesServings 10Calories 304kcalAuthor Brandie SkibinskiIngredients28 ounce package Hillshire Farms Litl Smokies1 cup root beer cup light brown sugar, packed cup bbq sauce1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)chopped fresh parsley (or dried parsley, optional garnish)InstructionsPlace contents of 28 ounce package Hillshire Farms Litl Smokies into a 4-5 quart slow cooker.Pour in 1 cup root beer followed by cup light brown sugar, packed, 1/4 cup bbq sauce, 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce and 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (if using) and give it a gentle stir. Cover and cook on low for 34 hours, stirring occasionally.NOTE: If you want a thicker sauce, combine 2 Tablespoons cornstarch with 2 Tablespoons COLD water in a small bowl. Add to the slow cooker and stir. Turn on high for about 15 minutes and it should thicken up nicely. Optional: Top with a little chopped fresh parsley (or dried). Serve warm directly from the slow cooker. NotesPlease refer to my FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) and ingredient list above for other substitutions or for the answers to the most common questions.NutritionCalories: 304kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 21g | Sodium: 777mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 16g