Air Fryer Little Smokies Recipe (Without BBQ Sauce)
This easy air fryer little smokies recipe without barbecue sauce is a less messy version of a popular party food. They’re juicy, caramelized, and delicious!
14Ouncepackage cocktail sausages(such as Hillshire Farms Lit’l Smokies)
½Tbspolive oil
2Tbspbrown sugar
1Tbspbarbecue seasoning
½Tspgarlic powder
Instructions
Preheat your air fryer to 350°F
In a medium bowl, toss the little smokies with the olive oil so they’re evenly coated
14 Ounce package cocktail sausages, ½ Tbsp olive oil
Add the brown sugar, barbecue seasoning, and garlic powder, and stir to distribute
2 Tbsp brown sugar, 1 Tbsp barbecue seasoning, ½ Tsp garlic powder
Place the seasoned little smokies into the preheated air fryer basket in a single layer
Cook on the air fry setting for 10 minutes at 350°F, pausing halfway to flip or shake the basket
Add additional time if you’d like them to be a deeper brown (but not too much as the sugar can burn)
Serve with toothpicks for easy snacking
Notes
Any brand of cocktail sausages works fine. Hillshire Farms is pretty common, but Eckrich is another popular brand. Note that these are not the same as cocktail wieners, which are small hot dogs
The brown sugar may be swapped for honey, maple syrup, or apricot, peach, or grape jam if preferred
Any dry barbecue seasoning or rub works great. You can also use ¼ cup liquid barbecue sauce if you prefer
This little smokies recipe is designed without barbecue sauce. If you use sauce, you’ll want to either baste the sausages or use a cake or loaf pan to prevent the sauce from getting all over the air fryer
Don’t worry if your sausages seem misshapen when you remove them from the package. They’ll plump up and return to a normal shape as they cook
The glaze will thicken slightly after a minute or two after you stop cooking them, but they will still be tacky (just not saucy)
They’re delicious on their own, but I often serve ketchup or barbecue sauce as dippers for my lil smokies
Store leftover little smokies in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. They should not be frozen after cooking
To reheat cocktail sausages, microwave on high for 3 seconds, warm in a pan on the stove, or air fry for 3-5 minutes at 350°F, until warmed through
Exact nutritional values will vary based on brand and flavor of ingredients, any sauces or sides added, and quantity consumed, so please consider this a guideline only
Keyword air fryer cocktail sausages, air fryer little smokies, beef little smokies recipes, cooking lil smokies, lil smokies, lil smokies air fryer recipe, little smokies, little smokies recipe without bbq sauce, ninja air fryer little smokies