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    Home » What We're Eating » Easy Appetizers: Slow Cooker Bourbon Barbecue Bites

    Easy Appetizers: Slow Cooker Bourbon Barbecue Bites

    Published: Feb 2, 2017 by Blair Lonergan

    Jump to Recipe

    This post is sponsored by Tyson Foods, Inc and Southern Living®. All opinions are my own.

    With the Big Game just a few days away, it's time to start planning a festive get-together with friends or a cozy evening in front of the television with your family. No matter how you choose to celebrate, easy appetizers are the foundation of any great Tabletop Tailgate. These 10-minute Slow Cooker Bourbon Barbecue Bites are simmered in a zesty, sweet glaze for a crowd-pleasing dish with a bit of Southern charm!

    These 10-minute Slow Cooker Bourbon Barbecue Bites are crowd-pleasing easy appetizers with Southern charm! Perfect for game day or a Derby party!

    Any of my regular readers know that my great Aunt Bee is the ultimate Southern hostess. With over 90 years of experience (!!!), she has planned and executed a staggering number of parties for friends and family, and she is full of practical tips. Since she no longer spends a lot of time in the kitchen, I have been blessed to receive many of her most popular, cherished recipe cards. Simple, quick, and delicious dishes have always been her specialty, and these Bourbon Barbecue Bites are no exception.

    When Aunt Bee sent me this recipe late last year, I tucked it aside on my desk knowing that these easy appetizers would be the perfect choice for upcoming casual Game Day parties.

    In the true spirit of Southern hospitality, I took inspiration from the latest copy of Southern Living® magazine (one of my personal favorites!), which I picked up at Walmart while I was shopping for the rest of my ingredients (you can find the publication at the check out or in the magazine aisle). A little bit of Kentucky Bourbon gives the bites a rich, flavorful kick that automatically puts your guests in "party mode" and sets the stage for your new Game Day traditions.

    These 10-minute Slow Cooker Bourbon Barbecue Bites are crowd-pleasing easy appetizers with Southern charm! Perfect for game day or a Derby party!

    The only other ingredients needed to prepare these easy appetizers are chopped Ball Park® Beef Franks (find them in the refrigerated aisle), barbecue sauce, diced onion and brown sugar. They're the perfect crowd-pleasing "snack hack" for Game Day!

    These 10-minute Slow Cooker Bourbon Barbecue Bites are crowd-pleasing easy appetizers with Southern charm! Perfect for game day or a Derby party!

    With a 10-minute spin through Walmart, I pulled together a simple #TabletopTailgate (complete with fresh flowers), for a festive Southern fete that would make Aunt Bee proud.

    These 10-minute Slow Cooker Bourbon Barbecue Bites are crowd-pleasing easy appetizers with Southern charm! Perfect for game day or a Derby party!

    As I often do, I tweaked Aunt Bee's original recipe slightly so that I could prepare the bites in my slow cooker. After all, when it comes to hosting a party or enjoying the Big Game, I don't want to be slaving over a hot stove in my kitchen while my friends and family are partying in another room. Instead, I place the ingredients in the pot a couple of hours in advance and just let them simmer on the counter while my guests help themselves.

    These 10-minute Slow Cooker Bourbon Barbecue Bites are crowd-pleasing easy appetizers with Southern charm! Perfect for game day or a Derby party!

    The end result is a thick, sweet and flavorful glaze that coats each of the tender, juicy Ball Park franks. The salty-sweet combination is to-die-for!

    These 10-minute Slow Cooker Bourbon Barbecue Bites are crowd-pleasing easy appetizers with Southern charm! Perfect for game day or a Derby party!

    As you plan your upcoming festivities this season, I hope that you'll take some advice from Aunt Bee's recipe file and prepare easy appetizers that allow you to enjoy your party, spend time with your friends, and focus on the fun! Southern Living® and Ball Park both offer great Game Day inspiration, and will soon become a staple at your events as well!

    These 10-minute Slow Cooker Bourbon Barbecue Bites are crowd-pleasing easy appetizers with Southern charm! Perfect for game day or a Derby party!

    Print Pin
    5 from 1 vote

    Slow Cooker Appetizer: Bourbon Barbecue Bites

    Prep Time 10 minutes
    Cook Time 2 hours
    Total Time 2 hours 10 minutes
    Servings 8
    Author Blair

    Ingredients

    • 1 15 ounce package Ball Park Beef Franks
    • 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
    • 1 18 ounce bottle barbecue sauce
    • ¾ cup brown sugar
    • ¾ cup bourbon
    • ½ cup finely diced onion*
    • ½ cup water

    Instructions

    • Slice franks into bite-sized pieces (I cut each hotdog into 6 round pieces).
    • Heat oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Sautee sliced franks in the skillet just until brown (about 3 minutes).
    • Meanwhile, place barbecue sauce, brown sugar, bourbon, onion, and water in a small slow cooker (I used a 2-quart slow cooker).** Whisk until completely combined.
    • Transfer browned franks to the slow cooker, stir with the sauce, and cook on LOW for 2-3 hours.

    Notes

    *For a no-prep shortcut, I like to use frozen diced onion.**If you don’t want to use a slow cooker, you can simmer the sauce in a saucepan (covered) on low heat for about 25-30 minutes. Add the browned hot dog bites to the sauce, stir, and heat through. Serve immediately.

    Note: Nutrition information includes 6 "bites" per serving, as well as all of the sauce.

    These 10-minute Slow Cooker Bourbon Barbecue Bites are crowd-pleasing easy appetizers with Southern charm! Perfect for game day or a Derby party!

    You can also score big with rebates on Tyson Foods and Southern Living® magazine, as well as other great recipe-inspiring magazines, with the FREE iBotta® app.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice

      February 02, 2017 at 7:30 am

      I love slow cooker appetizers like this! It's the first thing that I reach for at parties. These bites look so good, Blair! I love the barbecue and bourbon mashup. My kind of dish and I have a feeling this would be gone in no time!

      Reply
      • Blair

        February 02, 2017 at 2:28 pm

        Thanks, Gayle! Yep -- they disappear FAST! 🙂

        Reply
    2. Jeannette

      February 02, 2017 at 3:45 pm

      This looks like a great idea for the big game! And I love anything I can fix in the slow cooker. I definitely be adding this to our celebration!

      Reply
      • Blair

        February 05, 2017 at 9:18 am

        Thanks, Jeanette! I agree -- it's perfect for the Big Game!

        Reply
    3. Alison LaFortune

      February 02, 2017 at 9:14 pm

      My husband would LOVE if I made this for Sunday. Adding it to my list right now!

      Reply
      • Blair

        February 05, 2017 at 9:19 am

        Thanks so much, Alison! It's definitely boy-friendly! 🙂

        Reply
    4. Lela Schwartz

      February 06, 2017 at 7:41 am

      5 stars
      You just can't go wrong with this recipe, it's delicious! I knew a similar one, but as always, there are a couple of differences. I'll try it your way!

      Reply
      • Blair

        February 06, 2017 at 4:56 pm

        Enjoy, Lela! It's a good one! 🙂

        Reply
    5. Debbie

      March 12, 2017 at 2:06 pm

      What can be substituted for the bourbon?

      Reply
      • Blair

        March 13, 2017 at 8:24 am

        Hi, Debbie! You can substitute with an additional 3/4 cup of barbecue sauce, or you can keep it sweet with 3/4 cup apple juice/cider, or make it more savory with 3/4 cup chicken broth. Hope that helps!

        Reply
    6. Kimberly smith

      June 12, 2017 at 7:46 pm

      This recipe is so good! Such a great rich flavor. First thing gone at party I took it too. It's now in my favorite recipe lineup. I love them with beer and brat mustard. 5 stars

      Reply
      • Blair

        June 12, 2017 at 8:28 pm

        That's great, Kimberly! I'm so glad that you enjoy them! 🙂 Thanks for stopping by and for letting me know!

        Reply
    7. Bridget

      November 17, 2017 at 12:13 pm

      For this recipe can I use other brand of hot dog like Hebrew National Beef digs?

      Reply
      • Blair

        November 17, 2017 at 1:06 pm

        Yes! And Lil' Smokies will work, too. 🙂

        Reply

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