How to Cook Kielbasa
Kielbasa is one of the sausages I love to cook with to really turn my dishes into a bold, flavorful, and filling meal. You can use it with so many different ingredients, and since it is already precooked, the meat cooks really quickly for simple and no fuss weeknight meals.
When the weather starts changing and the days start getting shorter, I find that my meals tend to change with the seasons as well.
In the fall and winter months I like to make a lot of soups, stews, and casseroles that are full of rich and hearty ingredients.
Depending on what meal I am making, kielbasa is also great because you can cook it using so many different methods.
I find that each method brings out a different flavor in the sausage, adding to this ingredient’s versatility.
For other easy dinner ideas, be sure to try my delicious French Dip Sandwiches, easy Lasagna, or Crock Pot Beef Stroganoff.
What is Kielbasa?
Kielbasa, or polish sausage, is a sausage originally made in Poland using pork; it is typically in a U-shaped casing.
This sausage is usually precooked but can be served in a variety of different meals and cooked using so many different methods.
Kielbasa has a salty, pork, and often smoky flavor depending on the method in which the kielbasa was made.
Kielbasa is a Polish word which means sausage, but what makes this variation different from other sausages is the strong garlic flavors.
Another name for Polish kielbasa is Polska kielbasa.
Almost every variation of kielbasa uses garlic and has a smoky flavor.
Kielbasa can be made using different types of meat, but is probably most commonly made from pork.
You can also purchase beef or turkey kielbasa, so buy whichever is your personal preference.
In the United States, polish sausage is a popular treat served at baseball games.
What to Serve with Kielbasa
Since Kielbasa has such a bold smoky flavor, this dish can be served alone on a bed of sauerkraut, or with ketchup and mustard.
I like to cut the fresh kielbasa in 1 inch slices on a diagonal and cook it on the skillet with some bell peppers, onion and mushrooms.
This sausage would also taste amazing in a gumbo or on top of a bed of fried rice.
You could also use kielbasa in a soup with potatoes, kale and lentils, or in a casserole with lots of broccoli and macaroni and cheese.
Since the flavor of kielbasa is pretty mild, you can really use this sausage in so many different easy recipes.
Kielbasa can be pretty rich and hearty so it lends itself well to a variety of different vegetables like peppers, onions, carrots, mushrooms, broccoli, and Kale.
Kielbasa would also taste amazing on top of some buttery noodles, or skewered with some potatoes and vegetables and cooked on the grill.
Tips for Cooking Kielbasa
- Kielbasa is a very versatile sausage that can be prepared in so many different ways in a variety of dishes. It is a type of smoked sausage. You can use a frying pan or cast iron skillet and sear it on the stove top, boil it in a large pot, bake it in the oven, slow cook it in a slow cooker, or even cook the kielbasa in an instant pot. The preparation of the sausage depends on the kielbasa recipe you are making.
- Traditional kielbasa sausage is made of pork, otherwise known as pork kielbasa, so you will want to cook it until a meat thermometer reads 165 degrees. Eating undercooked meats can lead to food-borne illness, so whatever method you are using, you will want to check the internal temperature before serving.
- The most popular way to cook kielbasa is by boiling it on the stovetop in water for about 10 minutes until cooked and warm on the inside. These can be served on their own with ketchup, bbq sauce, or mustard. One of the popular ways to serve it is on a bun, like an American style hotdog. This method is probably the quickest way to cook kielbasa.
- Cooking kielbasa on the stove top or on the grill is the best way to get a nice crispy crust on the outside and a soft texture on the inside. You can cut it in large pieces and add onions and mushrooms to give it some additional flavor. Then serve it alongside some crusty bread, green beans, and a nice green salad.
- Using a baking sheet is another way to cook kielbasa, which is an easy sheet pan dinner to serve to your family. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and cook the kielbasa alongside some onions and peppers for about 30-45 minutes.
How to Cook Kielbasa in 3 Easy Steps
- Boil Water– Bring a pan of water to a boil on medium-high heat on the stovetop.
- Cook Kielbasa– Place kielbasa in the boiling water and cook for 10 minutes.
- Enjoy– Remove the cooked kielbasa from the boiling water and enjoy!
How Do You Store Leftover Kielbasa?
You can store any leftover kielbasa in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Freezing kielbasa is best when the sausage has not already been cooked.
Just wrap it up in saran wrap and store it in a zip lock bag or airtight container in the freezer for several months.
When you are ready to use the leftover kielbasa you can reheat it in the microwave by covering the sausage with a wet paper towel for 20-30 seconds.
You can also warm up the kielbasa in the oven at 250 degrees with a cooking time of about 30 minutes until it is warmed through.
If you are using kielbasa from the freezer, make sure you allow the meat to thaw completely before cooking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. The majority of kielbasa sold in grocery stores is already cooked, similarly to hot dogs, and can even be eaten cold.
Cooking the kielbasa adds a rich, warm, spicy flavor to the kielbasa that really brings out all of the flavors.
However, there are certain kielbasa variations that may be raw sausage and not precooked, so for best results, make sure that you read the packaging carefully before eating.
The most common way to cook kielbasa is by placing a pot of cold water on the stovetop and boiling it.
This method is an easy way to cook it and perfect when you are eating the kielbasa on its own or in a bun.
Since there are so many different meals you can make using kielbasa, there isn’t just one way to cook the sausage.
You can even cook it by air frying it in a single layer in the air fryer basket for about 10 minutes.
How to Cook Kielbasa Recipe
How to Cook Kielbasa Recipe
Equipment
- 1 cooking pot
Ingredients
- 1 kielbasa sausage
- 1 sharp knife
Instructions
- Bring a pan of water to a boil on medium-high heat on the stovetop.
- Place kielbasa in the boiling water and cook for 10 minutes.
- Remove the cooked kielbasa from the boiling water and enjoy!
Notes
- Kielbasa is a very versatile sausage that can be prepared in so many different ways in a variety of dishes. It is a type of smoked sausage. You can use a frying pan or cast iron skillet and sear it on the stove top, boil it in a large pot, bake it in the oven, slow cook it in a slow cooker, or even cook the kielbasa in an instant pot. The preparation of the sausage depends on the kielbasa recipe you are making.
- Traditional kielbasa sausage is made of pork, otherwise known as pork kielbasa, so you will want to cook it until a meat thermometer reads 165 degrees. Eating undercooked meats can lead to food-borne illness, so whatever method you are using, you will want to check the internal temperature before serving.
- The most popular way to cook kielbasa is by boiling it on the stovetop in water for about 10 minutes until cooked and warm on the inside. These can be served on their own with ketchup, bbq sauce, or mustard. One of the popular ways to serve it is on a bun, like an American style hotdog. This method is probably the quickest way to cook kielbasa.
- Cooking kielbasa on the stove top or on the grill is the best way to get a nice crispy crust on the outside and a soft texture on the inside. You can cut it in large pieces and add onions and mushrooms to give it some additional flavor. Then serve it alongside some crusty bread, green beans, and a nice green salad.
- Using a baking sheet is another way to cook kielbasa, which is an easy sheet pan dinner to serve to your family. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and cook the kielbasa alongside some onions and peppers for about 30-45 minutes.
