Get excited for some tasty Keto Little Smokies! They're low-carb sausages that everyone loves at parties, dinners, and games. What's cool about them? We made our own BBQ sauce without any hidden sugars. Think of the yummy Kansas City BBQ taste; that's the flavor we're aiming for. Let's dive in and cook up these delicious keto appetizers!

Jump to:
- Preparation and cooking overview
- Chef's note
- π Ingredients for this keto little smokies recipe
- Ingredient substitutions
- Additional ingredients
- Cooking tools required
- Tools substitute options
- How to make Keto Little Smokies: step-by-step guide
- Cooking methods
- Preparation steps
- Cooking instructions
- What to serve with keto little smokies?
- How to make it healthier
- Time-saving tips
- What can I prepare ahead of time?
- Storage and reheating instructions
- Recipe wrap-up and conclusion
- Frequently asked questions
- π Recipe
Preparation and cooking overview
To create the keto BBQ sauce, mix unsweetened ketchup, apple cider vinegar, brown Swerve, and some spices. Next, brown the cocktail smokies in avocado oil. Add the sauce and let it simmer for about 10-15 minutes. In no time, you'll have a delicious treat ready!
Chef's note
Tailor the BBQ sauce to your liking. For a smoky touch, sprinkle in some smoked paprika. Want some heat? Add a bit of cayenne pepper. Have fun experimenting and make those keto lil smokies truly stand out!
π Ingredients for this keto little smokies recipe
BBQ sauce
Ingredient substitutions
Do you see something on the ingredients list that you'd rather skip? No worries! Here are a few keto-friendly substitutions:
Additional ingredients
Feel free to jazz up the low carb little smokies with a few additions. The ingredients are entirely optional:

Cooking tools required
To make this keto lil smokies recipe, you'll need the following tools:
Tools substitute options
How to make Keto Little Smokies: step-by-step guide
Cooking methods
Preparation steps
- Collect and measure out all the ingredients.
- Arrange your kitchen space, making sure you have all the tools you'll need close by.
Cooking instructions
- Combine all sauce ingredients in a bowl or jar, then set it aside.
- In a pan over medium-high heat, warm the oil. Add the cocktail smokies, searing them for 2-3 minutes or until they start to brown.
- Add the prepared sauce to the pan. Lower the heat to keep a gentle simmer and let it cook for 10-15 minutes or until the sauce has thickened.
Chef's pro tip
To make your keto snacks taste even better, let the BBQ sauce cook a little longer. This helps all the flavors mix together well. If you want to keep your snacks warm for your friends and family, you can use an Instant Pot or Slow Cooker. This way, they're always ready to eat!
What to serve with keto little smokies?
These keto cocktail weenies pair well with a number of dishes:

How to make it healthier
Time-saving tips
What can I prepare ahead of time?
Storage and reheating instructions
Storage tips
Note: To thaw frozen smokies, place them in the refrigerator overnight.
Reheating best practices
Recipe wrap-up and conclusion
Concluding our Keto Little Smokies guide, these low-carb treats are perfect for your next gathering or a keto-friendly snack. With their homemade, sugar-free BBQ sauce, they're both tasty and health-conscious.
Ready to get started? Gather your ingredients and tools, and enjoy the simple pleasure of making a delicious, nutritious dish. Dive into the flavors and the satisfaction of a wholesome choice.
Looking for more keto appetizers? Check out our round-up for Keto Game Day Recipes and Keto Appetizers!
Frequently asked questions
π Recipe

Keto Little Smokies
Ingredients
- 24 oz cocktail smokies
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil
BBQ Sauce:
- 1 cup unsweetened ketchup
- Β½ cup water
- 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- ΒΌ cup brown Swerve
- 2 teaspoons natural maple flavoring
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- Β½ teaspoon salt
- Β½ teaspoon onion powder
- Β½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ΒΌ teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Combine all sauce ingredients in a bowl or jar, then set it aside.
- In a pan over medium-high heat, warm the oil. Add the cocktail smokies, searing them for 2-3 minutes or until they start to brown.
- Add the prepared sauce to the pan. Lower the heat to keep a gentle simmer and let it cook for 10-15 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened.
Notes
Serving size is about 6 smokies but will depend on the brand that you use
Nan says
Hi Alex this looks delish excited to try it no matter what you make it is always excellent . Look forward to more thank you [email protected]
Cathy says
What is natural maple flavoring and where can I buy it
Alex Lester says
You'll find it in the spice isle with the other flavorings such as vanilla, orange, or mint.
Sarah says
What brand of unsweetened ketchup imdo you use?
Alex Lester says
Primal Kitchen!
Mari F Wolf says
I added a little extra spice and bacon. I made a huge batch for a memorial gathering. Added a little extra swerve too, to fool the people I was serving and it was a hit.
Judy A Fitzsimonds says
We had this for dinner tonight. LOVE your BBQ sauce recipe. I live in Missouri and yes, it does taste like KC barbeque! Thank you so much. Making it again tomorrow to have over chicken.
Jessica McDonald says
Can I put this in the crockpot?
Cast Iron Keto says
You can!
Daniel W Niemeyer says
Can you use brown coconut sugar instead of the brown Swerve?
Kathlyn says
I'm thinking of using the golden (brown) monk fruit instead of Swerve... I bet that would be good and less sugar.
Cast Iron Keto says
Swerve doesn't contain sugar so monk fruit would be the same.
Carri says
It has really good flavor but itβs very watery. I would prolly just omit the water next time.