BBQ Cocktail Sausage Soup (Printable)

Smoked cocktail sausages in tangy BBQ sauce with apricot jam, peppers, and spices—perfect for any gathering.

# What you'll need:

→ Meats

01 - 1 lb smoked cocktail sausages, sliced into bite-sized pieces

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
03 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced

→ Liquids and Bases

05 - 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
06 - 1 cup BBQ sauce, tangy style preferred
07 - 1/2 cup apricot jam or preserves
08 - 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, drained

→ Seasonings

09 - 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
10 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
11 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
12 - 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional for additional heat
13 - Salt to taste

# How to make it:

01 - Add sliced cocktail sausages, chopped onion, diced red bell pepper, and minced garlic to the slow cooker.
02 - Pour chicken broth, BBQ sauce, and apricot jam into the slow cooker. Stir until jam is fully dissolved and mixture is thoroughly combined.
03 - Add drained diced tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, black pepper, and cayenne pepper if using. Stir gently to combine all elements.
04 - Cover and cook on low setting for 4 hours, or until vegetables are tender and flavors have fully melded together.
05 - Taste soup and adjust salt as needed. Ladle into serving bowls and serve hot, optionally garnished with fresh chopped parsley.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It practically cooks itself while you go about your day, and the house smells incredible the entire time.
  • The apricot jam creates this unexpected sweetness that plays perfectly against the smoky sausages and tangy BBQ sauce.
  • It's impressive enough to serve at gatherings but easy enough that you won't stress about the cooking part.
02 -
  • Don't skip draining the canned tomatoes—I learned this the hard way when my first batch came out watery instead of rich and cohesive.
  • The apricot jam needs to actually dissolve into the broth during the initial stir; if you skip that step, you'll end up with sweet pockets rather than an even flavor.
03 -
  • Use quality smoked sausages because they carry the whole flavor profile—cheap ones with little smoke taste will leave the soup feeling flat no matter what else you do.
  • Don't be afraid to taste as you go near the end; the sweetness and saltiness can shift depending on your specific ingredients, and a final adjustment makes all the difference.
Return