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I stumbled upon these Mississippi Cocktail Sausages while planning a sports viewing party and they've now become my favorite crowd favorite. The way these smoky little links soak in that zesty pepperoncini butter mixture creates something downright incredible in your crockpot. Whenever I bring these tasty bites out, they vanish before I can even count them.
Irresistible Party Bites
What I really dig about this dish is how it basically cooks itself. You'll spend just a few minutes prepping, then your crockpot handles everything else, building those wonderful Mississippi flavors. That blend of zesty pepperoncini, smooth butter and well-seasoned smokies keeps folks coming back for more.
What You'll Need
- Lit'l Smokies: These small sausages work perfectly though I've tried cut-up kielbasa with great results too.
- Pepperoncini Juice: It brings that wonderful zing but you can use water if you want something milder.
- Au Jus Gravy Mix: This makes that deep, tasty base and I grab low sodium when I'm watching my salt intake.
- Ranch Seasoning Mix: It adds that perfect tangy flavor and sometimes I whip up my own mixture.
- Unsalted Butter: This pulls everything together with its creamy goodness.
- Pepperoncini Peppers: They add that mild kick you want and banana peppers can work in a pinch too.
Let's Get Cooking
- Into the Pot
- First dump those smokies into your crockpot and pour that pepperoncini juice right over them.
- Season with Love
- Scatter your seasonings across everything then add butter chunks and those tangy peppers.
- Low and Slow
- Let everything cook together for several hours giving it a stir now and then to mix the flavors.
- Ready to Share
- Serve them warm right from the pot or transfer to a nice serving dish and don't forget to put out toothpicks.
Perfect Pairings
These tasty morsels go great with hot garlic bread or crunchy breadsticks. I'll sometimes put them on mashed potatoes or rice for something more filling. No matter how I serve them, they're always the first thing gone at get-togethers.
Make Life Easy
I usually get everything ready the night before and just stick the bowl in my crockpot when it's time to cook. Any leftovers stay good in the fridge for snacking during the week or can be frozen perfectly for later gatherings.
Mix It Up
I'll throw in some chopped onions or sprinkle extra chili flakes when I want more spice. Melting some shredded cheese on top at the end makes for an amazing finish. You can try all sorts of things once you get the hang of the basic approach.
Why Everyone Loves These
There's just something about how these flavors work together that makes people grab seconds and thirds. They're super easy to make but taste like you spent hours cooking, which makes these little sausages a winner at any party. They always wow people whether you're serving them as starters or with dinner.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- → How can I make these milder?
For a less spicy version, swap the pepper juice with water and skip the peppers altogether.
- → What’s the best way to prepare ahead?
Cook them as usual, then set your slow cooker to warm. They’ll keep just fine for a few hours.
- → Why are both au jus and ranch used?
The mix of these two gives that signature Mississippi flavor—a mix of savory and tangy yumminess.
- → Can this be doubled?
Sure! Just make sure your slow cooker can fit everything, and keep ingredient amounts proportional.
- → Do I need to defrost frozen sausages first?
Yep, thaw them first so they cook evenly in the slow cooker.