Instant Pot Little Smokies are a classic sweet and savory appetizer that’s perfect for any gathering.

Smoky BBQ sauce combined with grape jelly gives these Instant Pot Little Smokies a bold, crave-worthy flavor that keeps guests coming back for more.

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I grew up attending many church suppers and potlucks, and food was always central to those gatherings. Before I was old enough to bring a dish, there were a few items I hunted for first when the kids were released to fill their plates.

Grape jelly Little Smokies were always at the top of my list. There’s something irresistible about those bite-sized sausages swimming in sweet and smoky sauce. The only downside back then was when a crockpot was set too hot—shriveled sausages and burnt sauce quickly ruined the dish.

Thankfully, technology has made this easier. I now make Little Smokies in the Instant Pot—no overcooked sausages and no long simmering. These Instant Pot cocktail sausages cook in just minutes and are perfect for parties, game day, New Year’s, potlucks, and church suppers.

More Instant Pot Appetizers:

• Easy Instant Pot Party Foods
• Instant Pot Sweet and Sour Meatballs
• Instant Pot Boiled Peanuts

Tips For Making Lil Smokies in the Instant Pot

Grape jelly and BBQ sauce are the classic pairing for this recipe, but you can easily tweak flavors to taste. Tips and variations:

• Jelly – Classic grape is great, but blackberry, strawberry, raspberry, or citrus marmalade all work. Hot pepper jelly adds a spicy-sweet kick if you like heat.
• BBQ Sauce – BBQ sauces vary from sweet to tangy to spicy. Choose your favorite or mix two varieties to change the profile slightly.
• Chili Sauce – Heinz chili sauce is an easy, flavorful substitute for BBQ sauce if you prefer.

Occasionally the sauce can be a bit watery after cooking. If that happens, switch the Instant Pot to Sauté and simmer, stirring frequently, until the sauce reduces and thickens. Serve with a slotted spoon for the best presentation.

How to Make Instant Pot Little Smokies

This is a very simple, dump-and-cook recipe that yields crowd-pleasing results in minutes.

Ingredients You’ll Need:

• Little Smokies cocktail sausages (two 16-oz packages)
• 1 cup BBQ sauce
• 3/4 cup grape jelly
• 1/4 cup water

How to Make It:

(Full printable recipe is available below)

Dump and Set. Add all ingredients to the Instant Pot insert and stir gently to combine. The water helps thin the sauce slightly so it won’t scorch on the bottom.

Close the lid, seal the vent, and set the Instant Pot to High Pressure for 4 minutes.

After cooking, allow a 5-minute natural pressure release, then perform a quick release for any remaining pressure.

Stir and Serve. Stir to coat the sausages in sauce and serve warm. If preparing ahead of time, use the Keep Warm setting to keep them ready for guests.

Notes and Adaptations:

• If you prefer a thicker sauce, use the Sauté function to simmer off extra liquid, or stir in a cornstarch slurry and cook briefly until thickened.
• Any BBQ sauce you enjoy works fine—Sweet Baby Ray’s is a common choice, but pick your favorite.
• Heinz chili sauce can replace BBQ sauce, and blackberry jelly can replace grape jelly for a slightly different flavor.

Yield: 8 Servings

Instant Pot Little Smokies

Instant Pot Little Smokies are a simple, crowd-pleasing appetizer for parties, game day, and holiday gatherings.

Prep Time
2 minutes

Cook Time
4 minutes

Additional Time
15 minutes

Total Time
21 minutes

Ingredients

• 2 16-oz packages of Little Smokies cocktail sausages
• 1 cup BBQ sauce
• 3/4 cup grape jelly
• 1/4 cup water

Instructions

1. In the Instant Pot insert, combine all ingredients and stir gently to combine.
2. Close the lid and set the vent to sealed. Select 4 minutes at high pressure.
3. When cooking finishes, allow a 5-minute natural release, then quick release remaining pressure.
4. Stir and serve warm.

Notes

• To thicken the sauce, simmer on Sauté until it reduces or add a cornstarch slurry and cook briefly.
• Use any BBQ sauce you enjoy; Sweet Baby Ray’s is commonly used but not required.
• Heinz chili sauce and blackberry jelly are good substitutions.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

8

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving:
Calories: 530
Total Fat: 36g
Saturated Fat: 14g
Trans Fat: 0g
Unsaturated Fat: 17g
Cholesterol: 71mg
Sodium: 1406mg
Carbohydrates: 34g
Fiber: 1g
Sugar: 25g
Protein: 15g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated and is not guaranteed for accuracy.

Don’t forget to save this recipe to your Instant Pot board on Pinterest!