These four-ingredient cocktail franks are always a crowd-pleaser, no matter how you serve them. They are perfect as an appetizer with these goat cheese and fig jam bites or as a main dish served with make-ahead mashed potatoes with cream cheese.
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This post was originally posted in October 2018 and has been updated.
Sausages are a favorite snack in our house. We love bacon-wrapped smoked sausage, brats in a blanket and these grilled bratwurst bites.
I especially love these cocktail wieners for entertaining. They are sweet, savory, and scrumptious—and appetizers simply don't get any easier than this!
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Why This Recipe Works
- Just four ingredients - couldn't be simpler!
- Minimal prep - just slice, combine, and bake!
- Wonderful blend of sweet and smoky flavors.
- Cooking method - both the oven and slow cooker work well.
- Cocktail sausages are sold fully cooked, adding ease to this recipe.
Ingredient Notes
- Cocktail franks are mini sausages found in the meat aisle of the supermarket, usually near the hot dogs and other sausages. They are most commonly made with beef or pork and may be smoked. Any variety is fine for this recipe.
- Apples—Choose an apple that will hold its shape during baking, such as Fuji, Honeycrisp, or Pink Lady.
- Onions—I prefer sweet onions, like Vidalia, but any yellow onion can be used.
- Both light and dark brown sugar can be used.
See the recipe card for complete instructions and ingredient amounts.
How to Make Cocktail Franks
This recipe is as easy as slicing, tossing, and baking. The oven does all the work.
Step 1: Layer the sausages, apples, and onions in a baking dish.
Step 2: Top with the brown sugar. Cover and bake at 350℉ for one hour. Serve with toothpicks.
Expert Tips
- Slice the onions and apples on the thicker side. We don't want them to completely break down during the cooking process.
- (Optional) Save half of the apple slices to add halfway through the cooking time. This adds a variety of textures.
- For large batches, a slow cooker works great for this recipe. Cook on low for 2-3 hours.
- For party spreads or buffets, serve the sausages in a chafing dish to keep them warm.
Serving Options
- This recipe calls for two 14-ounce packages of cocktail sausages. Each package contains approximately 40 sausages (8 servings of 5 sausages per serving).
- If serving as an appetizer along with other dishes, 5 sausages per person is a reasonable amount. But, if serving alone or as a main dish, allow for 10 sausages per person.
- This recipe fits well in a 3.5-quart baking dish and can easily be scaled up or down. For larger batches, a 6-quart slow cooker works well.
Cocktail Frank FAQs
Also called cocktail sausages, cocktail weenies, or little smokies, these small bites are a miniature version of sausage. They are fully cooked and are often served as appetizers.
These bite-sized sausages are typically made from beef, pork, or turkey (or a combination of these) and seasonings.
They are typically baked or slow-cooked in a flavorful sauce or wrapped in pastry as pigs-in-a-blanket. They can be mixed with baked beans or added to mac and cheese.
Other Sausage Recipes You Will Enjoy
Have you tried this recipe? I'd love to hear it! Please leave a comment and rating below. You can also follow along on Facebook and Pinterest or sign up for my Newsletter for more recipe inspiration.
📖 Recipe Card
Cocktail Wieners with Apples and Onions
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Ingredients
- 2 14-ounce packages little smokies or cocktail franks
- 2 medium apples (sliced)
- 1 large onion (sliced )
- ¾ cup light or dark brown sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350℉. In a 3.5 qt. casserole dish, layer the sausages, apples, and onions. Top with the brown sugar.2 14-ounce packages little smokies or cocktail franks, 1 large onion, 2 medium apples, ¾ cup light or dark brown sugar
- Cover and bake for1 hour. Serve with toothpicks.
Notes
- Slice the onions and apples on the thicker side. We don't want them to completely breakdown during the cooking process.
- (Optional) Save half of the apple slices to add halfway through the cooking time. This adds a variety of texture.
- For large batches, a slow-cooker works great for this recipe. Cook on low for 2-3 hours.
- For party spreads or buffets, serve the sausages in a chafing dish to keep them warm.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate and will vary depending on the exact amounts and specific ingredients used.
Sandi says
I was looking for a way to use up smokies we had leftover from the holidays. This recipe worked very well for that. It was a big hit and I'll definitely make it again. I followed the ingredients and instructions as listed. After I had it in the oven I noticed the note about slicing the apples and onions on the thick side--whoops too late for that! But it still turned out delicious. I'm not a big fan of thick onion anyway, so I sliced them thin and put on the bottom of the pan, then layered the sausages and apples. The end result was perfectly caramelized onions. I removed the cover for the last 5 minutes or so, and the sausage browned up a bit on top. Thanks for this easy, crowd-pleasing recipe!
Abbey McDermott says
You're welcome Sandi! I'm so happy you enjoyed this recipe!