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Plate of Mississippi Little Smokies served with dipping sauce

Mississippi Little Smokies

Mississippi Little Smokies is a quick, crowd-pleasing appetizer that's buttery, tangy, and perfect for any gathering.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours
Total Time 3 hours 10 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Appetizer, Snack
Cuisine: American
Calories: 300
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 2 packages cocktail sausages (Little Smokies) 14 oz each
  • 1 cup unsalted butter 2 sticks
  • 1 packet ranch dressing mix 1 oz
  • 1 packet au jus gravy mix 1 oz (or brown gravy mix)
  • 1 jar pepperoncini peppers 10–12 peppers, plus a few tablespoons of juice
Optional Garnishes
  • chopped fresh parsley for garnish
  • toothpicks for serving

Method
 

Slow Cooker Method
  1. Add the little smokies to the slow cooker, spreading them into an even layer.
  2. Place the sticks of butter on top of the sausages. Sprinkle the ranch dressing mix and the au jus mix evenly over everything.
  3. Toss in the pepperoncini peppers and pour in a tablespoon or two of the pepperoncini juice. Stir everything quickly.
  4. Cover and cook on low for 2–3 hours, or on high for 1–1.5 hours, stirring halfway through.
  5. Transfer to a serving bowl and garnish with chopped parsley if desired. Insert toothpicks for easy grabbing.
Stovetop / Oven Method
  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. In a medium saucepan over low heat, melt the butter. Add the dry mixes, sausages, pepperoncini, and a splash of pepperoncini juice. Stir gently until warmed through.
  3. For the oven, assemble in an oven-safe dish, cover with foil, and bake for 20–25 minutes until bubbling.
  4. Garnish and serve hot.

Notes

These flavors are forgiving — longer cooking times will meld everything together. Serve with mustard or ranch for dipping.