Planning a gathering or looking for a super quick and tasty snack? This incredibly easy Instant Pot cocktail wieners recipe is your ultimate solution, requiring just two simple ingredients! Much like our popular BBQ Crockpot Little Smokies, these mini sausages transform into a mouth-watering pressure cooker appetizer in no time. They are consistently a massive hit at any party or family get-together, proving that delicious food doesn’t have to be complicated.
If your schedule is packed but you still love hosting fantastic parties complete with delectable appetizers, then this Instant Pot cocktail wiener recipe is absolutely perfect for you. Its simplicity makes it one of our favorite appetizer Instant Pot recipes shared on The Typical Mom blog. Get ready to impress your guests with minimal effort!
Instant Pot Little Smokies: A Versatile Delight
Let’s be completely honest here: I’ve often whipped up these little smokies for a quick, enjoyable dinner, served alongside some soft rolls. On those bustling nights, it feels like I’m a superhero to my kids, even if my husband raises an eyebrow at the unconventional meal. But hey, we’ve all made Instant Pot hot dogs for dinner before – they barely take any time! Consider this recipe a delightful twist on that original quick-meal concept, offering a savory, saucy alternative that everyone adores.
The beauty of this recipe lies in its adaptability. You can prepare these irresistible cocktail wieners in virtually any pressure cooker you own. Whether you’re using a Crockpot Express or transforming them into a simple Ninja Foodi recipe, the process and results remain consistently excellent. Moreover, the choice of sauce is entirely up to your culinary preference. While barbecue sauce is the most traditional and widely loved option, exploring alternatives like savory teriyaki or the classic sweet and tangy grape jelly combined with chili sauce can elevate these little bites to new flavor dimensions. We’ll delve into various sauce ideas later on to inspire your next batch!
If you’re new to the world of pressure cooking, you’ll be thrilled to discover a plethora of easy one-pot meal recipes available. To help you get started on the right foot with confidence, here are a few fundamental tips:
- Make sure to bookmark our comprehensive Instant Pot recipes page. We’re constantly adding new and exciting recipes each week, ensuring you’ll never run out of ideas!
- For quick reference, we highly recommend printing this essential guide: our Instant Pot cooking times cheat sheet. This invaluable tool will help you understand precisely how long different ingredients, such as meats, vegetables, and beans, take to cook perfectly in your pressure cooker.
- For an even better cooking experience, I personally highly recommend you invest in a non-stick inner pot for your Instant Pot.
- While it’s always beneficial to know how to deglaze a pressure cooker after sautéing to prevent burning, using a non-stick liner significantly reduces the chances of food sticking and triggering the “burn” message, making your cooking process smoother and more enjoyable.
For context, the model I primarily use for all my recipe creations is a 6-quart Instant Pot, which is a versatile size perfect for a wide range of dishes.
Ninja Foodi Cocktail Wieners: More Than Just Pressure Cooking
If you’re someone who frequently uses your pressure cooker for everything from weeknight dinners to decadent desserts, you’ll be amazed at how effortlessly other basic recipes come together. For those who own a Ninja Foodi, with its incredible dual-pot functionality, you have even more possibilities! You can easily prepare these classic cocktail wieners using the pressure cook function, and then, if you desire a wonderfully crispy exterior, you can transfer them to the air fryer basket to make our irresistible air fryer bacon-wrapped smokies. This combination offers the best of both worlds: tender, saucy goodness with a delightful crunch.
For this recipe, you’ll typically use either lil’ smokies or cocktail sausages. These bite-sized delights, served with a bowl of toothpicks, are the quintessential snack for game days like the Super Bowl, or any festive party gathering. Their diminutive size and savory flavor make them universally appealing and easy for guests to enjoy.
If you’re looking to scale up or prefer a different type of sausage, you can easily adapt this recipe by slicing a larger kielbasa sausage into bite-sized pieces. This offers a similar, equally delicious result. For a thoughtful presentation at parties, consider having tiny forks or long toothpicks alongside small cups for guests to conveniently serve themselves. This not-so-secret serving tip ensures a favorite treat that’s both elegant and practical. They’re fantastic for birthday parties, large family get-togethers, and best of all, they’re incredibly budget-friendly!
Classic & Creative Sauce Combinations for Little Smokies
The sauce is truly what makes these cocktail wieners shine. While traditional barbecue sauce is a foolproof choice, don’t hesitate to experiment with other flavor profiles. Here are the main ingredient lists for two popular sauce options:
BBQ Sauce for Little Smokies
- Cocktail wieners or Little Smokies: The star of the show!
- BBQ sauce: Opt for a good quality sauce like Sweet Baby Ray’s. A general rule of thumb is to use an 18 to 20 oz bottle. It’s crucial to remember not to use super thick or honey-style barbecue sauces in your Instant Pot. The high sugar content in these thicker sauces has a tendency to trigger the “burn” message, interrupting your cooking process.
- Water: Essential for thinning the sauce and ensuring proper pressure build-up without scorching.
Little Smokies without BBQ Sauce (Grape Jelly & Chili Sauce)
For a deliciously sweet and savory alternative that has become a party staple, try this classic combination:
- 12 oz. jar chili sauce
- 18 oz. grape jelly
- 3/4 c water
Simply whisk these three ingredients together thoroughly, and then use this mixture in place of bottled barbecue sauce in your recipe. Follow the same cooking directions and times. If you enjoy a bit of heat and your chosen sauce doesn’t already provide it, feel free to add 1-3 tablespoons of Sriracha or your favorite hot sauce for an extra kick.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cocktail Wieners
While often used interchangeably and serving a similar purpose as small appetizers, little smokies and cocktail wieners are not exactly the same. Little smokies are, as their name suggests, smoked sausages, typically characterized by a thicker, more robust casing and a distinct smoky flavor. Cocktail wieners, on the other hand, more closely resemble miniature hot dogs with a lighter color and a smoother outer casing, offering a milder flavor profile. Both are fantastic for this recipe, but their subtle differences can impact the final taste and texture.
Absolutely, you can! Cooking various meats, including these cocktail wieners, chicken, or hot dogs, directly in barbecue sauce is a fantastic way to infuse them with a ton of flavor with very little effort. However, it’s often advisable to thin out the barbecue sauce a bit, especially if you’re using a very thick or high-sugar variety (like those with brown sugar or honey). This helps prevent the sauce from scorching or sticking to the bottom of the pot, particularly in a pressure cooker. Adding a bit of water or broth helps to create a perfect saucy consistency and ensures even cooking.
If you’re looking to expand your repertoire of pressure cooker appetizer recipes beyond these delightful cocktail wieners, here are a few more delicious ideas to try:
- Our Instant Pot teriyaki ribs recipe yields incredibly tender, fall-off-the-bone ribs that are bursting with Asian-inspired flavor – perfect for a more substantial appetizer or main course.
- For those craving something heartier, the best Instant Pot brats recipe is right here, offering juicy, flavorful sausages in record time.
- Our easy 5-ingredient Instant Pot chili is a versatile dish that can be served as a hearty appetizer or paired with rice or baked potatoes for a comforting dinner bar.
- Got a Ninja Foodi? You can also make these savory brown sugar smokies, combining sweet and savory notes for an irresistible bite!
How to Cook Cocktail Wieners and BBQ Sauce in Your Pressure Cooker
Making these saucy little wieners couldn’t be simpler. Follow these straightforward steps for a perfect batch every time:
- Begin by pouring your chosen barbecue sauce (remember to steer clear of very thick or honey-based versions to avoid the burn message due to high sugar content) directly into the bottom of your Instant Pot.
- To ensure you get every last drop of that delicious sauce, pour about 1/2 cup of water into the empty barbecue sauce bottle. Replace the lid securely and give it a good shake. Then, pour this water-thinned sauce mixture into your pressure cooker as well. This not only cleans the bottle but also adds necessary liquid for pressure cooking.
- Carefully empty 1 to 2 packages of little smokies or cocktail wieners into your pot. Stir everything gently to ensure all the sausages are thoroughly coated in the sauce.
- Securely close the lid of your Instant Pot and ensure the steam release valve is set to the sealing position. Set your Instant Pot to high pressure for 0 minutes, or if your model allows, low pressure for just 1 minute! The heat from coming to pressure is sufficient to warm and flavor the wieners.
- Once the cooking cycle is complete, perform a quick release of the pressure. Open the lid, stir the wieners, and serve them immediately in a bowl with a generous supply of toothpicks on the side. They make an ideal appetizer for game day or any festive occasion.
Pro Tip for Large Batches: If you’re preparing a very large quantity of these delicious cocktail wieners for an extended event, you can cook them in the Instant Pot as instructed, then transfer them to a slow cooker set to the “warm” setting. This keeps them perfectly heated and ready for guests to enjoy throughout the day.
Instant Pot Cocktail Wiener Recipe
Justine
5 minutes
1 minute
6 minutes
8
Print Recipe
Equipment
-
1 pressure cooker
Ingredients
- 1-2 pkg. cocktail wieners, we used 1 12 oz package, can use little smokies too
- 1 bottle barbecue sauce, 16 oz, do not use very thick or honey style
- 1/2 c water
- 1-3 tbsp Sriracha, or favorite hot sauce, if you want a kick to them (optional)
Instructions
-
Pour barbecue sauce (stay away from honey version as it may trigger the burn message because of the sugar) on the bottom of your Instant Pot.
-
Pour 1/2 cup water into your barbecue sauce bottle, put lid on and shake to get remaining sauce out. Pour this into your pressure cooker too.
-
Empty 1-2 packages of cocktail wieners or little smokies into your pot and stir so they are all coated.
-
Close lid and steam valve, then set to pressure, low for 1 minute! (Alternatively, use high pressure for 0 minutes.)
-
Quick release the pressure and serve with a bowl of toothpicks next to it as an appetizer.
Nutrition
Calories: 97 kcal,
Carbohydrates: 23g,
Sodium: 583mg,
Potassium: 131mg,
Sugar: 18g,
Vitamin A: 125IU,
Vitamin C: 0.3mg,
Calcium: 19mg,
Iron: 0.4mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Additional Info
Appetizer, Entree, Main Course, Side Dish
American
Tried this recipe?
Mention @thetypical_mom or tag #thetypicalmom!
Conclusion: Your New Favorite Easy Appetizer
There you have it – a truly effortless and incredibly delicious Instant Pot cocktail wieners recipe that’s guaranteed to be a hit at any occasion. Whether you’re hosting a game day party, a casual get-together, or simply need a fun and quick dinner idea, these little smokies deliver big on flavor with minimal fuss. With just two main ingredients and a lightning-fast cook time, you can spend less time in the kitchen and more time enjoying moments with family and friends. So fire up your Instant Pot, choose your favorite sauce, and get ready to enjoy this delightful, crowd-plepleasing appetizer!