Crock Pot BBQ Cocktail Sausage (Printable)

Smoked sausages slow-cooked in tangy BBQ sauce with apricot jam and aromatic vegetables.

# 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 additional heat
13 - Salt to taste

# How to Make It:

01 - Add sliced cocktail sausages, chopped onion, red bell pepper, and minced garlic to the slow cooker.
02 - Pour chicken broth, BBQ sauce, and apricot jam into the slow cooker. Stir until jam dissolves completely and mixture is well combined.
03 - Incorporate drained diced tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, black pepper, and cayenne pepper if desired. Stir gently to integrate all seasonings.
04 - Cover and cook on low setting for 4 hours until vegetables become tender and flavors fully develop and meld together.
05 - Taste the soup and adjust salt as needed. Serve hot, optionally garnished with fresh chopped parsley.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The slow cooker does all the heavy lifting while you get to be the kitchen hero who makes the house smell incredible for hours.
  • The unexpected marriage of smoky sausages with sweet apricot jam creates this addictive flavor that even my pickiest friends request by name.
02 -
  • Do not cook this on high thinking youll save time, I learned the hard way that the sauce can burn on the edges and give the whole soup a bitter undertone.
  • Allowing the soup to cool completely before refrigerating leftovers actually improves the flavor for day two, as the sausages continue to infuse the broth overnight.
03 -
  • The quality of your BBQ sauce makes a huge difference, so use one youd happily eat on its own, my favorite trick is to mix equal parts of a smoky and a sweet variety for depth.
  • When reheating leftovers, add a small splash of fresh chicken broth or even apple juice to revive the flavors and maintain the perfect consistency.
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