Sweet and Spicy Kielbasa Sausage Appetizer bites combine BBQ sauce and apricot jelly with a bit of chili seasoning for a perfect mix of sweet and spicy.

An easy sweet and spicy kielbasa appetizer with a spoon in it.

Smoked Kielbasa Appetizer Recipe

This sweet and spicy kielbasa with sauce recipe is a crowd-pleaser and perfect for any football party or general party appetizer.

I always keep some kielbasa in my freezer for making this fast and easy appetizer.

You can also make this recipe with turkey kielbasa.

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Kielbasa appetizer in bbq sauce and fruit jelly ready to serve for a party.

Ingredients for this kielbasa appetizer

Kielbasa sausage (or any smoked sausage that is fully cooked)
Barbecue sauce
Apricot jelly
Worcestershire sauce
Chili seasoning
Chipotle sauce, completely optional

All the ingredients needed to make Sweet and Spicy Kielbasa Bites.

How to make sweet and spicy barbecue sausage bites

Place the kielbasa sausage onto a cutting board, slicing it into 1 or 1 1/2-inch chunks.

Meanwhile, preheat a large skillet over medium-high heat. When the skillet is hot, add a small drizzle of oil when the pan is hot.

Kielbasa sausage cut up into 1-1 1/2 inch chunks.

When the oil is sizzling in the skillet, add a few chunks of kielbasa to the pan, working in batches so the sausages aren’t crowded.

Ensuring ample room allows the heat to circulate better so the sausage chunks brown much more quickly.

After you brown the sausages on both sides, push them to the side of the pan and continue with the remaining sausages.

Place the browned sausages into a casserole dish and reserve.

Make the sauce by combining the BBQ sauce, apricot jelly, Worscheshire sauce, chili seasoning, and chipotle sauce.

Whisking to combine.

BBQ sauce, apricot jelly, worscheshire sauce, chili seasoning and chipotle sauce in a bowl.

A sweet and spicy appetizer barbecue sauce.

Pour the sauce over the sausages in the casserole dish.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Bake the sausages, uncovered, for 18-22 minutes until hot throughout and the sauce is bubbly and caramelized.

A delicious kielbasa appetizer with bbq sauce in a white bowl with a spoon.

Serve these delicious, sweet, and spicy kielbasa bites at once!

What is Kielbasa sausage?

Kielbasa is a smoked, fully cooked sausage made from pork and seasonings. You can also find kielbasa made with turkey.

You will typically find Kielbasa sausage in the hotdog, bacon, and deli meat section at your grocer.

Some kielbasa and other types of smoked sausage are packaged in a horseshoe shape so it’s easy to identify.

Kielbasa is the Polish word for sausage. This meat is super versatile and can be used in various kielbasa recipe.

You will often see recipes for red beans and rice, dirty rice, sauerkraut, jambalaya, and gumbo, including sliced kielbasa.

Are brats and kielbasa sausage the same thing?

Not quite. They are both made from sausage; brats are often sold as fresh (uncooked) sausage, whereas kielbasa sausage is nearly always sold as a pre-cooked sausage, but this can vary.

To ensure whether the sausage you are purchasing is cooked or uncooked, always check the packaging to see how it is labeled.

If the sausage label says “smoked” sausage, does that mean it’s fully cooked?

Yes, almost always, but for peace of mind and safety, check the package labeling to ensure that the sausage is fully cooked.

If the sausage is already cooked, why does the recipe say to brown the sausages on both sides?

Browning the sausages on both sides in the hot oil adds an entirely new layer of flavor to the sausages.

Because you are using the same skillet for browning the sausages, you are using the pan drippings.

This is all the good stuff stuck to the skillet from cooking the sausages, and adding tons more flavor to the sauce.

Why is it a good idea to keep kielbasa sausage on hand?

Kielbasa sausage is super versatile and fully cooked already. It’s easy to add to various side dishes, turning them into a quick and easy MAIN dish.

If your family members are carnivores like mine and always want meat in everything or they think it’s not a complete meal, I find keeping kielbasa sausage on hand to be very handy.

Kielbasa thaws quickly, and since it is fully cooked at the time of purchase, I can slice it, brown it and then add it to many dishes.

For instance, kielbasa is delicious when added to macaroni and cheese, sautéed vegetables, rice dishes, creamy pasta, noodle dishes (like with an Alfredo sauce), soups, cabbage skillet meals, and sauerkraut dishes.

Can smoked sausages be frozen?

Absolutely! Because pork and/or beef sausages are fairly high-fat, they freeze well and thaw very quickly.

Be sure to thaw sausages of all kinds in refrigeration, never on the counter.

Which tools help make sweet and spicy kielbasa sausage bites?

Heavy-duty skillet – great for browning any and all ingredients….especially meat, poultry, and game. I love my Lodge 12-inch cast iron skillet – it’s inexpensive and cooks so evenly.
Flat whisk – just what we need for making smooth (lump-free) sauces and gravies

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