These mouthwatering Sweet and Spicy Kielbasa Sausage Bites are perfectly balanced spicy Polish sausage with a sweetness and a kick of spice.
Smoked Kielbasa Recipe
With its juicy and flavorful sausage infused with a hint of sweetness and a fiery kick, this sweet and spicy kielbasa with sauce recipe is a crowd-pleaser.
I always keep some kielbasa in my freezer for making this fast and easy appetizer.
Whether served as a sausage appetizer, added to a hearty stew, or paired with your favorite sides, this recipe is always a favorite in our house.
You can also make this recipe with turkey kielbasa.
Since the kielbasa sausage is fully cooked at the time of purchase, it can be added to many different dishes, such as pasta, sauerkraut, rice, and noodle recipes.
What to love about this easy kielbasa recipe
- It’s so fast!
- This makes a perfect and hearty appetizer for any group.
- You can prepare this recipe and bake it when you’re ready.
What you’ll learn from this recipe
- What kielbasa sausage is….exactly.
- Why kielbasa sausage is always great to keep on hand in your freezer.
- Why browning meat (like kielbasa sausage) is so important.
- You can add kielbasa to many side dishes to turn them into a main meal.
Here are the 5 ingredients you need to make smoky sweet kielbasa sausage bites –
- Kielbasa sausage (or any smoked sausage that is fully cooked)
- Barbecue sauce
- Apricot jelly
- Worcestershire sauce
- Chipotle sauce, completely optional
- Chili seasoning
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.
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 placing the remaining ingredients into the same skillet. This will allow you to use all the browned bits stuck to the pan’s bottom. Whisking to combine.
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.
Serve these delicious sweet and spicy kielbasa bites at once!
Questions about this Kielbasa Recipe
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.
Are other smoked sausage types besides kielbasa available at the grocery store?
Yes, polish sausage, andouille sausage, chorizo sausage, and salami sausage are common.
You can also purchase turkey kielbasa for this recipe. This makes them lower in fat.
If kielbasa sausage is already cooked, why does the recipe instruct 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 all types of smoked sausages be frozen? Do they thaw quickly?
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.
If I assemble this recipe to bake later, will I have to add more cooking time?
Yes, I’d add 5-10 minutes to the cooking time….bake until the sausages are hot and the sauce is bubbly throughout.
Would Sweet and Spicy Kielbasa Sausage Bites work if I used turkey kielbasa to make these sausage bites?
Yes!! Using turkey kielbasa will reduce fat and calories, and it’s very tasty.
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
More favorite recipes to enjoy –
- Instant Pot Kielbasa with Potatoes and Green Beans
- Instant Pot Kielbasa Mac and Cheese
- 5-MINUTE INSTANT POT LITTLE SMOKIE MAC AND CHEESE
- FIESTA GROUND BEEF AND NOODLE SKILLET
- BONELESS COUNTRY STYLE PORK RIBS {SWEET AND SOUR}
- ITALIAN HOAGIE DIP
- TACO MEAT PARTY PINWHEELS
Sweet and Spicy Kielbasa Sausage Bites
Ingredients
- 2 14 oz. packages kielbasa sausage, fully cooked (or any smoked sausage that is fully cooked)
- 1 cup barbecue sauce
- 1/2 – 1 tsp. chipotle sauce, optional
- 1 cup apricot preserves
- 2 Tbs. Worcestershire sauce
- 1.25 oz. pkg. of your favorite chili seasoning
Instructions
- Slice kielbasa sausages into 1 or 1 1/2-inch slices. Preheat a large skillet over medium high heat; when the pan is nicely hot, add a small drizzle of oil to the pan.
- When the oil is sizzling, add the slices of kielbasa to the pan, working in batches, as needed, so that the sausages aren't crowded in the pan; brown on each side, then push them to one side of the skillet while you brown the remaining sausages.
- Place the browned sausages into a casserole dish and reserve. Meanwhile, prepare the sauce by placing the remaining ingredients into the same skillet used for browning the sausages, whisking until the sauce is combined and smooth; pour the sauce over the reserved 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. Serve at once.
Nutrition
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