It’s about to get real Midwest up in here! Little smokies or, if we’re feeling bold — cocktail weenies — were a staple at all social gatherings I attended growing up here in Iowa. Christmas party ➡️ crock pot full of cocktail weenies. Church potluck ➡️ giant vat of little smokies. Graduation party ➡️ you get the idea. No meat-eating person I know could resist a tiny hotdog on a stick coated in bubbling BBQ sauce. Well today we’re saying goodbye to appetizer past, and hello to appetizer present with Crock Pot Sweet Chili BBQ Kielbasa! Little smokies are swapped for sliced kielbasa smothered in a mixture of BBQ sauce and Thai Sweet Chili sauce before being slow cooked until sizzling. Each smokey, sweet, and slightly spicy bite of this crock pot appetizer recipe is totally addicting and perfect for sharing.
My Mom always has a bunch of appetizers out on holidays to nibble on before the big meal – chips and guacamole, meats and cheeses, hummus and crudites, a pickle and olive platter – and now we’ve got Crock Pot Sweet Chili Kielbasa to add to the mix. This three, yes THREE, ingredient appetizer recipe is perfect to have bubbling on the countertop with a bowl of toothpicks nearby so everyone can snag a bite or 17 as they’re walking by. This recipe is great for holidays and parties, but also perfect for game day when you want a salty/spicy/sweet bite to eat in between plays that will compliment the cold drink in your hand. Game day, holidays, any day is a good day to get this seriously simple and mouthwatering gluten-free appetizer recipe ready!
Start by slicing kielbasa into 1″ rounds or into ovals by slicing on the diagonal then add to a 6 quart crock pot (a 4 or 5 quart slow cooker would work just fine too.)
Next, stir together sweet chili sauce and your favorite BBQ sauce then pour over the kielbasa and stir to combine. I like Grama’s Sweet Chili Sauce, Sky Valley Sweet Chili Sauce, Frank’s Sweet Chili Sauce, and A Taste of Thai Sweet Chili Sauce, in that order. What can I say, I like sweet chili sauce!
Cover then cook the kielbasa on low for 3 hours, or on high for 1-1/2 – 2 hours, or until the kielbasa are hot, then remove the lid and let the sauce thicken up for 10-15 minutes before serving with toothpicks.
That’s all she wrote — told you it doesn’t get easier than this recipe! Whether you serve slow cooker appetizer as a holiday or game day nibble, or for any reason in between – enjoy!
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