Description
Mississippi lil smokies weave Southern comfort into a crowd-pleasing appetizer that’s pure party magic. Saucy, sweet, and irresistibly addictive, these little sausages deliver a flavor explosion you can’t resist.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 2 packages (14 ounces / 397 grams) Lil Smokies (cocktail sausages)
- 68 pepperoncini peppers
Seasonings and Mixes:
- 1 packet (1 ounce / 28 grams) ranch seasoning mix
- 1 packet (1 ounce / 28 grams) au jus gravy mix
Fats and Sweeteners:
- ½ cup (1 stick / 113 grams) unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons pepperoncini jar juice
- ¼ cup brown sugar (optional, for sweetness)
Instructions
- Prepare the slow cooker base by whisking together ranch seasoning, au jus gravy mix, and pepperoncini juice to create a flavorful liquid foundation.
- Slice butter into small cubes and distribute evenly across the liquid mixture, ensuring uniform melting and flavor distribution.
- Carefully chop pepperoncini peppers into manageable pieces, allowing their tangy essence to infuse throughout the cooking process.
- Gently place little smokies into the seasoned liquid, ensuring each sausage is completely coated with the aromatic mixture.
- Cover the slow cooker and set to low heat, allowing the ingredients to meld together and the smokies to absorb the rich, zesty flavors.
- Cook for several hours, occasionally stirring to prevent sticking and promote even seasoning absorption.
- Once the little smokies are thoroughly heated and have absorbed the pepperoncini and ranch-infused sauce, they are ready to serve.
- Transfer to a serving dish, spooning any remaining sauce over the top to enhance the robust flavor profile.
Notes
- Choose high-quality little smokies for maximum flavor and tender texture.
- Swap ranch seasoning with homemade mix to control sodium and customize taste profile.
- For a gluten-free version, use gluten-free ranch and au jus mix alternatives.
- Keep pepperoncini peppers on the side for guests who prefer milder options, allowing everyone to customize their heat level.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 2-3 hours
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 10
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 14 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg