Slow Cooker Recipe: Sweet and Spicy Bbq Sausage (2024)

September 2, 2014 By Nicole Harris 47 Comments

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This Slow Cooker Appetizer Recipe for Sweet and Spicy Bbq Sausage is perfect for game day, family gatherings or an easy dinner! Load up your slow cooker with Butterball Turkey Sausage, barbecue sauce, apricot jam and hot sauce for an easy appetizer or meal.

Crockpot Sausage Recipe

I love appetizers more than any meal. Snackable little bites are so fun to eat and perfect for any occasion.

Whether you need a tailgating slow cooker recipe or a quick weeknight meal, this Butterball Turkey Sausage slathered in sauce will be a guaranteed crowd pleaser. Forget the version that uses grape jelly. This sauce made with apricot jam is to die for!

This Slow Cooker Sweet and Spicy Bbq Sausage works for dinner too. Just serve the flavorful sausage over rice with a vegetable on the side and dinner is done!

Butterball turkey products allow you to make better choices for your family without sacrificing any flavor. Wholesome, budget friendly meals that taste fantastic!

Slow Cooker Appetizer Recipe: Sweet & Spicy Bbq Sausage

Yield: 1

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 4 hours

Total Time: 4 hours 5 minutes

This Slow Cooker Appetizer Recipe for Sweet and Spicy Bbq Sausage is perfect for game day, family gatherings or an easy dinner! Load up your slow cooker with Butterball Turkey Sausage, barbecue sauce, apricot jam and hot sauce for an easy appetizer or meal.

Ingredients

2 Packages Turkey Sausage, cut into 1½ inch pieces
1½ Cups Barbecue Sauce
1 Cup Apricot Jam
2 teaspoons Sriracha Hot Sauce for mild, 3-4 tsp for spicy
1/4 Cup Water

Instructions

Combine all ingredients in slow cooker. Cook on low 5-6 hours. Increase heat to high the last 30 minutes. (or cook on high 3-4 hours)
Stir every hour while cooking to rotate sausages from top to bottom.

Nutrition Information

Yield 8Serving Size 1
Amount Per ServingCalories 226Total Fat 2gSaturated Fat 0gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 1gCholesterol 17mgSodium 735mgCarbohydrates 48gFiber 1gSugar 35gProtein 5g

Nutritional information on WonkyWonderful is provided as a courtesy and is approximate only. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information given for any recipe on this site.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

Christine at Cook the Story says
September 3, 2014 at

You’re right… these are perfect for game day!
Reply
- Nicole Harris says
  September 4, 2014 at
  
  Thanks Christine!
  Reply
Chris @ Shared Appetite says
September 5, 2014 at

Love this simple and easy app idea! That glaze looks amazing!!
Reply
- Nicole Harris says
  September 5, 2014 at
  
  Thanks Chris!
  Reply
  See Also
  Easy Pot Roast Recipe from Jenny Jones | Jenny Can Cook Paleo Ropa Vieja Recipe 21 Delicious Whole30-Friendly Recipes Soothing and Satisfying, These Quick Sunday Night Dinner Recipes Are Just What You Need
Leslie says
September 8, 2014 at

Ohhh, YES! The perfect little party appetizer!
Reply
Marnely Rodriguez-Murray says
September 8, 2014 at

These look like the perfect party treat!
Reply
- Nicole Harris says
  September 8, 2014 at
  
  Thanks Marnely!
  Reply
Amanda says
September 8, 2014 at

I had no idea Butterball made so many products! I just added these to my grocery list, as your recipe is mouth watering1
Reply
- Nicole Harris says
  September 8, 2014 at
  
  Thanks Amanda! The Butterball Sausage is a nice alternative to the beef sausages. Enjoy!
  Reply
Lisa+@+Garnish+with+Lemon says
September 8, 2014 at

Perfect football food!
Reply
- Nicole Harris says
  September 8, 2014 at
  
  It’s all about the appetizers on game day! Thanks Lisa!
  Reply
Cookin Canuck says
September 8, 2014 at

Perfect for game day! And I love the kick of sriracha in there.
Reply
- Nicole Harris says
  September 8, 2014 at
  
  Thanks! I would even add more sriracha if I could. But I wanted the kiddos to eat it too 🙂
  Reply
Brenda @ a farmgirl's dabbles says
September 8, 2014 at

Perfectly simple. And I gotta love that sriracha!!
Reply
- Nicole Harris says
  September 8, 2014 at
  
  Thanks Brenda! Everythings better with Sriracha!
  Reply
Shawn @ I Wash You Dry says
September 8, 2014 at

These look wonderful! Perfect game-day appetizer!
Reply
- Nicole Harris says
  September 8, 2014 at
  
  Thanks Shawn!
  Reply
Deborah says
September 9, 2014 at

Oh my goodness – I could eat a whole bowl of this!
Reply
- Nicole Harris says
  September 9, 2014 at
  See Also
  Slow Cooker Beef Stew Recipe
  
  Yep! I did eat a whole bowl 😀
  Reply
Lori @ RecipeGirl says
September 9, 2014 at

Perfect for game day! I’m loving that sauce!
Reply
- Nicole Harris says
  September 9, 2014 at
  
  Thanks Lori! It’s all about the sauce!
  Reply
Miss @ Miss in the Kitchen says
September 9, 2014 at

My guys would love these and I love that you make them in the crockpot!
Reply
- Nicole Harris says
  September 10, 2014 at
  
  This is definitely a great guy food! Thanks!
  Reply
Kristen says
September 9, 2014 at

These would be so good this football season! Love the creativity!
Reply
- Nicole Harris says
  September 10, 2014 at
  
  Thanks Kristen!
  Reply
Lauren @ Healthy Delicious says
September 11, 2014 at

I had no idea butterball made sausage! Love the sweet and spicy combo you have going on here – my husband would love this!
Reply
- Nicole Harris says
  September 15, 2014 at
  
  Thanks Lauren! The Butterball sausage tastes great!
  Reply
victor says
October 13, 2014 at

this will make an easy addition to tailgate times!
Reply
- Nicole Harris says
  October 13, 2014 at
  
  Sure will, Enjoy!
  Reply
Todd Neill says
November 7, 2014 at

I’m crockpotting this now for the Blackhawks game….look forward to power graising it!!!!
Reply
- Nicole Harris says
  November 11, 2014 at
  
  Awesome!!!
  Reply
I_Fortuna says
December 21, 2014 at

Great recipe. This is also great using Oscar Meyer Select hot dogs (no nitrates or nitrites). When I make them, I don’t use the BBQ sauce but I use apricot jam and a splash of cognac or any brandy. They are delicious as well.
Reply
- Nicole Harris says
  December 22, 2014 at
  
  That does sound delicious!
  Reply
Ana says
January 29, 2015 at

What kind of BBQ sauce did you use?
Reply
- Nicole Harris says
  January 29, 2015 at
  
  I usually use either Sweet Baby Ray’s or KC Masterpiece. I think I used Sweet Baby Ray’s for this recipe. Enjoy!
  Reply
Nadine says
October 25, 2016 at

Hi Nicole,
Can little smokies be used in this recipe or will it mess up the flavor since they aren’t turkey? Thanks,
Reply
- Nicole Harris says
  October 27, 2016 at
  
  Lil Smokies are perfectly fine. I love Them!
  Reply
Karla says
June 8, 2017 at

How many people does this recipe serve?
Reply
- Nicole Harris says
  June 8, 2017 at
  
  I suppose it depends on how hungry everyone is but it should serve 10-12 🙂
  Reply
hinh nen says
June 30, 2017 at

I like Slow Cooker Appetizer Recipe Sweet & Spicy Sausage I am so excited to try these recipes. I have wrote down a bunch and bookmarked your page just incase I lose the pages!! It all looks so good.
Reply
- Nicole Harris says
  July 3, 2017 at
  
  Thanks! I hope you enjoy 🙂
  Reply
Anna says
July 18, 2017 at

I love your recipes, the pictures to go along with the step by step instructions are great.
Reply
- Nicole Harris says
  July 19, 2017 at
  
  Thanks!
  Reply
Sydney says
January 25, 2018 at

This sounds super easy and yummy, do you think I could substitute the apricot jam for raspberry or strawberry jam and substitute the turkey sausage for pork sausage links and it still taste as good??
Reply
- Nicole Harris says
  January 26, 2018 at
  
  Absolutely! In fact, that sounds delicious 🙂
  Reply
Matt says
March 8, 2018 at

How many ounces of meat? Your picture shows 40 oz packages… Is it really 80 oz total?
Reply
- Nicole Harris says
  March 12, 2018 at
  
  This is meant for a party or feast! But, feel free to halve the recipe for a smaller family get-together 🙂
  Reply

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Slow Cooker Recipe: Sweet and Spicy Bbq Sausage (2024)

FAQs

Why brown sausages before slow cooking? ›

Technically you don't need to brown the sausages before placing in the crock pot, but the caramelization gives the dish a delicious depth of flavor. Plus Aunt Mary always did it so we should too.

Keep Reading ›

How long does it take to preheat a slow cooker? ›

Preheat. To minimize the risk of food becoming unsafe by remaining in the temperature danger zone for too long, preheat your empty slow cooker on the highest setting for approximately 1 hour. Use the time to prepare your ingredients.

Read On ›

What happens if you don't brown meat before slow cooker? ›

"Browning, or caramelizing, meat before putting it into a slow cooker isn't 100 percent necessary, but it is well worth the effort for the most flavorful and full-bodied end result," he says. "The caramelized surface of the meat will lend rich flavor and color to the finished dish."

Know More ›

Should sausages be cooked fast or slow? ›

The secret of frying is to cook the sausages slowly over a low to medium heat, until just cooked through, while getting a nice brown on the outside.

Tell Me More ›

How do you know when sausage is cooked enough? ›

To determine whether it's done, you can measure the internal temperature with a meat thermometer. Sausages should reach 155–165°F (68–74°C). Alternatively, boiling them before cooking in a pan or on a grill can ensure that they're thoroughly cooked and remain moist.

Keep Reading ›

How long should sausage be cooked? ›

Put the vessel on the stove, turn the heat to medium-high, and cook just until the water reaches a gentle simmer—that should take about 6-8 minutes. Then turn off the heat and get those sausages out of the pot. Voila! Those little guys are cooked through, tender, and ready for step two.

Discover More Details ›

How do you make sausages taste better? ›

Ground spices are the best choice when making your own seasoning as they provide an even flavour throughout the sausages. Add a total of 4 teaspoons (7 grams) of your favourite herbs and spices into a bowl and mix all the ingredients together with a spoon. Experiment with different combinations to find your favourite.

Discover More Details ›

Is 4 hours on high the same as 8 hours on low in a slow cooker? ›

The difference between "High" and "Low" on slow cookers seems to differ with every brand and model. One thing that is consistent, though, is that food takes seven to eight hours to reach a simmer point (around 210°) on low; versus three to four hours on high.

Learn More ›

Is 4 hours enough to slow cook? ›

How long should I cook a slow cooker recipe? If a dish usually takes: 15-30 mins, cook it for 1-2 hours on High or 4-6 hours on Low. 30 mins – 1 hour, cook it for 2-3 hours on High or 5-7 hours on Low.

View Details ›

Is it better to cook on low or high in a slow cooker? ›

Certainly, foods will cook faster on high than on low. However, for all-day cooking or for less-tender cuts, you may want to use the low setting. It's safe to cook foods on low the entire time -- if you're leaving for work, for example, and preparation time is limited.

Know More ›

Should you stir a slow cooker? ›

Resist the urge. Every time you lift the lid, heat escapes and adds up to 30 minutes longer to your cook time. Slow cookers are made so you don't have to stir with the low cooking temperature, so relax. Leave it.

Get More Info Here ›

Can I leave food in a slow cooker overnight off? ›

Is it safe to leave a slow cooker on overnight? The short answer: Yes. slow cookers are made to cook food for extensive periods of time (some can be left up to 24 hours). But, of course, follow safe practices outlined in your instruction manual, and keep the appliance on low or warm, as opposed to high, overnight.

Show Me More ›

What happens if you don't preheat a slow cooker? ›

Preheating the crock before adding ingredients or cooking on the highest setting for the first hour will ensure a rapid heat start and will shorten the time foods are in the temperature danger zone. This is highly recommended when cooking meat or poultry in a slow cooker.

Discover More ›

Do sausages need to be brown all over? ›

Instead, it should be brown all the way through. Once the sausages are done cooking, they will be ready to eat.

Read The Full Story ›

Why brown pork before slow cooking? ›

Preparing the pork

I prefer to season the meat before adding it to the slow cooker with my favourite spices, along with salt and pepper. I also recommend browning the meat slightly prior to slow cooking which will help maximise the flavour. However, this is a step that can be left out if you don't have enough time.