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Crockpot Mississippi Lit’l Smokies: A Flavorful Appetizer Delight

These Crockpot Mississippi Lit’l Smokies are sure to become a favorite appetizer at any gathering. With just a few minutes of prep time, you can transform classic cocktail sausages into delicious, flavor-packed bites. Let’s dive into this easy recipe that will have everyone asking for seconds!

Why You’ll Love These Crockpot Mississippi Lit’l Smokies

Budget & Freezer-Friendly: This recipe utilizes simple and affordable ingredients, making it perfect for serving a crowd. If you have leftovers, they can be frozen for up to three months and enjoyed later in sandwiches or over rice.

Crowd-Pleaser: The combination of ranch seasoning, au jus gravy, and zesty pepperoncini creates a sauce that’s hard to resist. Its savory and tangy flavor profile captivates both adult and kid palates!

Customizable Heat Level: You can easily adjust the spice level by varying the amount of pepperoncini and juice you add. For a milder version, simply substitute water for the pepperoncini juice.

Sausages cooked with savory gravy sauce inside a crockpot.

Ingredients

Lil Smokies: These adorable mini smoked sausages are the stars of the dish, perfect for soaking up all that incredible flavor.
Pepperoncini Juice: This adds a tangy and mildly spicy kick to the sauce, helping to create that signature Mississippi flavor. For a gentler taste, feel free to replace it with an equal amount of water.
Au Jus Gravy Mix: It’s the rich and savory base for your sauce, giving it that coveted deep, beefy flavor we love in Mississippi-style dishes.
Ranch Seasoning Mix: This adds a creamy, herby component to the dish, enhancing all of the other flavors beautifully.
Unsalted Butter: This rich ingredient helps create a creamy, luxurious sauce without overwhelming saltiness since we’re already using salty components.
Pepperoncini Peppers: These mild, tangy peppers add both flavor and a pop of color to your dish.

Sausages cooked with savory gravy inside a crockpot.

How to Make Crockpot Mississippi Lit’l Smokies

Making these bite-sized delights is a breeze! Just fill the Crockpot, let it do its magic, stir, and enjoy the deliciousness.

1. Fill the Crockpot

Start by adding the Lit’l Smokies to a 6-quart slow cooker. Pour in the pepperoncini juice (or water), sprinkle the au jus gravy mix and ranch seasoning over the top, and add the cubed butter. Finish off by placing the pepperoncini peppers on top.

2. Cook

Cover your Crockpot and let it cook on low for about 2 to 3 hours. This allows all the flavors to meld together beautifully!

3. Stir and Serve

Once done, remove the lid and give everything a good stir to mix the seasonings. Serve it warm and get ready for the compliments!

Lit’l Smokies sausages cooked with savory sauce served in a white plate.

Tips for the Best Crockpot Mississippi Lit’l Smokies

While this recipe is straightforward, here are a few tips to ensure your dish is the best it can be.

Go easy on the salt: Stick with unsalted butter to maintain a lower sodium content. Low-sodium seasoning packets are another great option!
Keep them toasty: After your sausages finish cooking, switch your Crockpot to the “warm” setting. This will help keep them at a lovely serving temperature during gatherings.
Can’t find Lit’l Smokies? Don’t worry! Regular Polish sausage cut into rounds can make a wonderful substitute.

How to Store

If you end up with leftovers (which is unlikely, but still!), here’s how to store them properly.

To Store: Allow the leftovers to cool, then store them in an airtight container in the fridge for about 3-4 days. Keeping the sauce with the sausages will ensure they stay moist and flavorful!

To Freeze: Transfer completely cooled sausages and sauce into a freezer-safe container (for Ziploc bags, remove as much air as possible). You can freeze them for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to enjoy them again, thaw in the fridge overnight and then reheat.