3 Easy Sausage Appetizers Sure to Be a Hit at Any Party
When it comes to planning party food, there are a few things every host looks for: easy, crowd-pleasing, and delicious.
Let me tell you, a great sausage appetizer checks all of those boxes. Sausage is already packed with so much savory flavor, which means you don’t need a lot of complicated ingredients or steps to turn it into an incredible, satisfying bite.
Today, we’re covering three classic and completely delicious ways to serve sausage at your next gathering.
We’ll start with the ultimate “set-it-and-forget-it” dish: tangy Slow Cooker BBQ Smoked Sausages.
Then, we’ll make a warm and cheesy favorite, Sausage and Cream Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms.
And finally, we’ll create a fun and flaky finger food with some simple but irresistible Sausage and Cheese Pinwheels.
These recipes are your blueprint for a stress-free and delicious appetizer spread that will have your guests coming back for more. Let’s get cooking!
Essential Tools
- Slow Cooker / Crockpot
- Large Skillet
- Baking Sheets
- Parchment Paper
- Mixing Bowls
- Sharp Knife & Cutting Board
Recipe 1: Slow Cooker Tangy BBQ Smoked Sausages
This is the definition of an easy party appetizer. You simply toss three ingredients into a slow cooker and let it do all the work, resulting in a perfectly sweet, tangy, and savory treat.
Quick Recipe Snapshot
| Prep time | Cook time | Total time | Yield | Skill level | Spice level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 minutes | 2-3 hours | ~2.5 hours | 16-20 servings | Easy | Mild |
Ingredients
- Smoked Sausage: 2 (14 oz) packages, preferably all-beef, sliced into ½-inch thick coins.
- BBQ Sauce: 1 (18 oz) bottle of your favorite brand.
- Apricot Preserves or Grape Jelly: 1 cup.
- Apple Cider Vinegar: 1 tbsp (optional, for extra tang).
Cooking Instructions
Step 1: Combine Ingredients in the Slow Cooker
This recipe is about as simple as it gets.
In the basin of a 4-quart or larger slow cooker, whisk together the barbecue sauce, the apricot preserves or grape jelly, and the optional apple cider vinegar until they are well combined.
Add the sliced smoked sausage to the slow cooker.
Step 2: Cook and Serve
Stir everything together until the sausage coins are evenly coated in the sauce.
Secure the lid on the slow cooker and cook on the LOW setting for 2-3 hours, or on the HIGH setting for 1-1.5 hours, until the sauce is bubbly and the sausage is heated through.
Once cooked, you can turn the slow cooker to the “Keep Warm” setting for easy serving throughout your party. Serve with toothpicks for easy grabbing.
Recipe 2: Cheesy Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms
These are a classic for a reason. Each bite is a perfect combination of earthy mushroom, savory sausage, and a rich, cheesy filling.
Quick Recipe Snapshot
| Prep time | Cook time | Total time | Yield | Skill level | Spice level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 minutes | 20-25 minutes | 45 minutes | ~24 mushrooms | Easy | Mild |
Ingredients
- Cremini Mushrooms: 24, medium-sized.
- Ground Italian Sausage: 1 lb, mild or hot (casings removed if necessary). Choose a beef- or chicken-based sausage.
- Cream Cheese: 4 oz, softened.
- Grated Parmesan Cheese: ½ cup.
- Garlic: 2 cloves, minced.
- Onion Powder: 1 tsp.
- Panko Breadcrumbs: ¼ cup (optional, for topping).
Cooking Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the Mushrooms and Filling
First, preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Gently clean the mushrooms and carefully snap the stems out of the caps; finely chop the stems.
In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground sausage, breaking it up with a spoon, until it is browned and cooked through.
Drain off all the excess grease. In a mixing bowl, combine the cooked sausage, the softened cream cheese, grated Parmesan, minced garlic, onion powder, and the finely chopped mushroom stems.
Step 2: Stuff and Bake
Arrange the mushroom caps hollow-side-up on a baking sheet. Using a small spoon, mound a generous amount of the sausage and cream cheese filling into each mushroom cap.
If you like, you can sprinkle a few panko breadcrumbs on top of each one for a bit of extra crunch.
Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the mushrooms are tender and the filling is hot, bubbly, and golden-brown on top. Serve them warm.
Recipe 3: Easy Sausage and Cheese Pinwheels
These flaky, cheesy, and savory pinwheels look impressive but are made with just a few simple ingredients, including store-bought puff pastry.
Quick Recipe Snapshot
| Prep time | Cook time | Total time | Yield | Skill level | Spice level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 minutes | 15-20 minutes | 35 minutes | ~24-30 pinwheels | Easy | Mild |
Ingredients
- Ground Italian Sausage: 1 lb (casings removed). Choose a beef- or chicken-based sausage.
- Sheet of Puff Pastry: 1 (from a 17.3 oz package), thawed.
- Shredded Cheese: 1.5 cups (a blend of mozzarella and cheddar is great).
- Egg: 1, beaten (for egg wash).
Cooking Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the Sausage and Pastry
First, preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground sausage, breaking it up, until it is browned and cooked through. Drain off all the excess grease and let it cool slightly.
While the sausage cools, carefully unfold your sheet of puff pastry on a lightly floured surface.
Step 2: Assemble, Roll, and Bake
Sprinkle about 1 cup of the shredded cheese evenly over the surface of the puff pastry, leaving a small border.
Top the cheese with an even layer of the cooked sausage crumbles. Tightly roll the puff pastry up into a log. Use a sharp, serrated knife to slice the log into ½-inch thick rounds. Arrange the pinwheels on the prepared baking sheet.
Brush the tops with the beaten egg wash and sprinkle with the remaining ½ cup of cheese. Bake for 15-20 minutes, until the pastry is puffed and deep golden-brown. Serve warm.
The Flavor Architects A Look at the Ingredients
- Smoked Sausage: The pre-cooked and smoked nature of this sausage provides a deep, savory, and slightly smoky flavor that is the perfect base for a sweet and tangy BBQ sauce.
- Ground Italian Sausage: This sausage is pre-seasoned with classic Italian flavors like fennel and garlic, which adds an instant, complex savory and aromatic note to the stuffed mushrooms and pinwheels.
- Cream Cheese: In the stuffed mushrooms, this provides a tangy, rich creaminess that binds the savory sausage filling together and keeps it moist.
- Puff Pastry: This is a fantastic shortcut for the pinwheels. Its laminated layers of butter and dough puff up in the oven to create an incredibly light, flaky, and buttery crust.
Storage & Reheating Tips
- Storage: Let any leftovers cool completely. Store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Reheating: The slow cooker sausages can be reheated gently on the stove or in the microwave. For the stuffed mushrooms and pinwheels, the best way to reheat them and revive their texture is in an oven or air fryer at 350°F (175°C) for 5-10 minutes.
Common Mistakes & Fixes
| Mistake | Fix |
|---|---|
| My BBQ sauce is too thick or too thin. | If it’s too thick, you can add a splash of water or apple juice to loosen it up. If it’s too thin, you can leave the lid of the slow cooker slightly ajar for the last 30 minutes of cooking to let it reduce. |
| My stuffed mushrooms are watery. | It is very important to drain the cooked sausage thoroughly to remove all the grease and water. Also, cooking the chopped mushroom stems before adding them to the filling helps to cook out their excess moisture. |
| My pinwheels are soggy on the bottom. | Again, draining the sausage is the most important step. Any excess grease will melt out and make the bottom of the puff pastry soggy instead of flaky. Letting the sausage cool slightly before assembling also helps. |
| My puff pastry didn’t puff up. | Make sure your puff pastry is properly thawed but still cold when you work with it. If it gets too warm, the butter layers can melt, which will prevent it from puffing up into distinct, flaky layers. |
FAQs
Can I make any of these appetizers ahead of time?
Yes, all of them are great for prepping ahead. You can fully assemble the uncooked stuffed mushrooms and keep them in the fridge for up to a day.
You can also assemble and slice the pinwheels and keep them in the fridge before baking. The slow cooker meatballs can be fully cooked and just kept on the “warm” setting.
How can I make a spicy version of these appetizers?
For the BBQ sausages, add a good squirt of sriracha or your favorite hot sauce to the slow cooker.
For the stuffed mushrooms, use a hot Italian sausage and add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the filling. For the pinwheels, use a hot sausage and add a layer of pepper jack cheese.
What’s the best way to serve these for a party?
The slow cooker sausages are perfect served directly from the crockpot set on “warm,” with a container of toothpicks nearby.
The stuffed mushrooms and pinwheels are best served warm from the oven, arranged on a large platter for easy grabbing.
Enjoy Your Party!
You now have three incredibly easy and delicious sausage appetizers for party success.
These recipes are designed to be low-stress and high-reward, ensuring you can enjoy the party along with your guests.
I hope everyone loves these classic and flavorful bites!
