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Mississippi Smokies

A delicious twist on classic little smokies, these Mississippi-style cocktail sausages are slow-cooked to perfection with tangy ranch seasoning, savory au jus mix, rich butter, and zesty pepperoncini peppers. The result is an irresistibly tender appetizer with the perfect balance of savory, tangy, and slightly spicy flavors that will disappear fast at any gathering. This easy-to-prepare dish transforms simple ingredients into an addictive party favorite with minimal effort. Perfect for game days, potlucks, holiday gatherings, or anytime you need a crowd-pleasing appetizer that practically makes itself while you focus on other tasks.

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Mississippi Smokies - main view
Chef profile

JUE

Enjoy home-cooked meals made with love and shared from a family kitchen.

Chef's Essential Tips

Essential Ingredients Selection

Creating Your Masterpiece

Flavor Layering:
Building complex flavor through strategic combination of dry seasonings with pepperoncini brine.
Slow Heat Application:
Using low, consistent heat to allow sausages to absorb flavors without becoming tough.
Sauce Development:
Creating the perfect balance of savory, tangy sauce that coats each smokie.
Serving Technique:
Maintaining ideal temperature and presentation for maximum appeal at gatherings.
Mississippi Smokies - secondary view

How to Create the Perfect Mississippi Smokies

Flavor Layering
Building complex flavor through strategic combination of dry seasonings with pepperoncini brine.
Slow Heat Application
Using low, consistent heat to allow sausages to absorb flavors without becoming tough.
Sauce Development
Creating the perfect balance of savory, tangy sauce that coats each smokie.
Serving Technique
Maintaining ideal temperature and presentation for maximum appeal at gatherings.
Baking Tips
For extra flavor, brown the smokies in a skillet before adding to the slow cooker.
The pepperoncini brine adds tanginess - adjust the amount to your preference.
These can be made ahead and reheated, though they're best served fresh from the slow cooker.
For a spicier version, add red pepper flakes or use spicy sausages.
Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated in the microwave.
Try serving with small slider buns to make mini sandwiches.
You can substitute turkey or chicken sausages for a lighter option.
The sauce created during cooking makes an excellent dipping sauce for crusty bread.
Mississippi Smokies - tertiary view

Mississippi Smokies

A delicious twist on classic little smokies, these Mississippi-style cocktail sausages are slow-cooked to perfection with tangy ranch seasoning, savory au jus mix, rich butter, and zesty pepperoncini peppers. The result is an irresistibly tender appetizer with the perfect balance of savory, tangy, and slightly spicy flavors that will disappear fast at any gathering. This easy-to-prepare dish transforms simple ingredients into an addictive party favorite with minimal effort. Perfect for game days, potlucks, holiday gatherings, or anytime you need a crowd-pleasing appetizer that practically makes itself while you focus on other tasks.

Italian Cream Stuffed Cannoncini
Prep Time
10 Minutes
Cook Time
4H
Total Time
4H10 Minutes
Chef
JUE
Category
Appetizer, Slow Cooker
Difficulty
Easy
Cuisine
American, Southern
Yield
8 servings
Dietary
Contains meat, dairy
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
0% Complete

Ingredients

Custard Cream
01
2 packages (14 oz each) cocktail smokies or little smokie sausages
02
1 packet (1 oz) dry ranch seasoning mix
03
1 packet (1 oz) au jus gravy mix
04
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
05
8-10 pepperoncini peppers, plus 1/4 cup of the brine from the jar
06
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
07
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder (optional, for extra flavor)
08
2 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley for garnish (optional)
09
Toothpicks for serving
10
Optional: 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes for added heat

Instructions

01
Place the cocktail smokies or little smokie sausages in a slow cooker after draining any packaging liquid.
02
Sprinkle the dry ranch seasoning mix and au jus gravy mix evenly over the sausages.
03
Slice the butter into tablespoon-sized pieces and distribute evenly over the top of the seasoned sausages.
04
Roughly chop 6-8 pepperoncini peppers and add to the slow cooker, along with 2 whole peppers.
05
Pour the 1/4 cup of pepperoncini brine over everything.
06
Add black pepper and garlic powder (if using) over the mixture.
07
Cover the slow cooker and cook on LOW for 3-4 hours or on HIGH for 2 hours, until the sausages are hot and have absorbed the flavors.
08
Stir gently halfway through cooking time to ensure even flavor distribution.
09
Once done, switch the slow cooker to the WARM setting for serving at parties.
10
Garnish with fresh chopped parsley before serving, if desired.
11
Serve with toothpicks for easy eating, keeping the slow cooker on warm throughout your event.