19 Best Kielbasa and Smoked Sausage Recipes

Add Big Flavor to Everything

By
Lizz Schumer
Lizz Schumer
Lizz Schumer
A journalist, writer, and author, Lizz Schumer has 10+ years of experience covering food and drink for a wide variety of well-known print and online publications.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 09/24/20
Sausage and cabbage stew

The Spruce

Kielbasa—also known as Polish sausage—has a slightly sweet, slightly spicy, all-umami flavor that works great in any recipe that calls for sausage. Use kielbasa as an entree itself or in casseroles, soups, stews, sandwiches, and appetizers.

Thinly sliced and fried, the smoked sausage also makes a delicious breakfast meat to serve with eggs, French toast or pancakes. You can also add it to your favorite breakfast casserole instead of sausage links or patties. Swap it in for recipes that call for Andouille, chorizo, or any other smoked or fully-cooked sausage.

  • 01 of 19

    Cauliflower and Sausage Roast

    cauliflower and sausage roast

    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

    With cheddar cheese, Cajun seasoning, and onion, this cauliflower and sausage roast would taste great with either kielbasa or andouille sausage. It makes a great one-dish meal for a hearty supper.

  • 02 of 19

    Slow Cooker Polish Sausage and Cabbage Soup

    Polish Sausage Soup With Cabbage

    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

    This Polish sausage soup uses browned kielbasa, onion, and cabbage, along with cubed potatoes and broth for a stick-to-your-ribs soup. Add some caraway seeds if you like the flavor, as well as optional tomatoes.

  • 03 of 19

    Kale and White Bean Soup With Sausage

    sausage, bean, and kale soup

    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

    Use ​spicy sausage or kielbasa in this tasty soup that combines creamy white beans and plenty of nutritious veggies. Serve the soup with freshly baked cornbread or biscuits to make it a whole meal that works great for a weekend lunch or dinner anytime.

  • 04 of 19

    Easy Sausage Bake With Sauerkraut and Apples

    Sauerkraut and Smoked Sausage

    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

    This traditional meal brings out the spices in kielbasa with some simple accoutrements. Sauerkraut and apples complement the meat nicely, giving it a sweet and sour tang. Best of all, it takes so little time to put together, it makes a great weeknight supper.

    Continue to 5 of 19 below.
  • 05 of 19

    Crock Pot Sausage Stew

    Creamy Sausage Stew

    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

    This creamy, slow cooker sausage stew is as versatile as your imagination. It tastes great with kielbasa or other smoked sausage, but you can also use hot Italian sausage or Andouille if you like a little more kick. Try it for a set-it-and-forget-it supper.

  • 06 of 19

    Slow Cooker Lentil Soup with Smoked Sausage and Tomatoes

    Lentil soup with sausage

    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

    Adding sliced sausage to classic lentil soup makes this a hearty, stick-to-your-ribs main dish soup. Mix up the vegetables to suit what you have in the fridge. Good options include carrots, onions, celery, tomatoes, and spinach, kale, or Swiss chard.

  • 07 of 19

    Sweet and Sour Kielbasa

    Sweet and Sour Kielbasa

    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

    This budget-friendly ​kielbasa recipe includes pineapple, onions, and bell pepper chunks cooked in a tangy vinegar, soy sauce, and brown sugar sauce that has Asian inflections. Serve it over rice as a main meal or with toothpicks as a snack or appetizer.

  • 08 of 19

    Slow Cooker Kielbasa Sausage in Beer and Mustard Sauce

    Kielbasa with Beef Mustard Sauce

    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

    Crack open a cold one for this easy smoked sausage dish that uses beer and mustard for a finger-lickin' sauce. It's a tasty busy-day dish to serve with potatoes to round things out. It also works as an appetizer, as long as you slice the kielbasa small enough to make it a suitable finger food.

    Continue to 9 of 19 below.
  • 09 of 19

    Chicken Bog

    Chicken bog ready to serve from the kettle.
    Diana Rattray

    Smoked sausage adds tons of flavor to this hearty Southern stew that hails from South Carolina. Tender chicken, rice, and sausage come together in a flavorful herb-scented broth for a classic dish. Toss a few veggies in the chicken bog for a complete meal or serve with salad or coleslaw.

  • 10 of 19

    Roasted Potato and Sausage Dinner

    Roasted Potato and Sausage Dinner
    The Spruce

    Use small potatoes like red-skinned or new potatoes to get the right texture in this roasted potato and sausage meal. Add cubed sweet potatoes, butternut squash, or other root vegetables for autumnal flare, or sub in cauliflower for some of the potatoes for a lower-carb dish.

  • 11 of 19

    Sausage and Cabbage Stew with Beans and Tomatoes

    Sausage and cabbage stew

    The Spruce

    Cabbage, beans, apple juice, and tomatoes give this sweet-tart sausage stew lots of flavor, and the recipe leave plenty of room for interpretation. Add diced carrots, celery, potatoes, or other root vegetables to bulk it up further, or mix up the spice profile for a different taste.

  • 12 of 19

    Polish American Breakfast Skillet

    Breakfast Skillet
    Breakfast Skillet. © Brian Leatart / Getty Images

    Polish sausage, eggs, bell pepper, and potatoes come together for a slightly spicy, super filling breakfast that would also make a great breakfast-for-dinner dish.

    Continue to 13 of 19 below.
  • 13 of 19

    Purple Hull Peas and Sausage

    purple hull peas and sausage

    For a Southern-accented dish, use purple hull peas and a smoked sausage like kielbasa. You can eat both the peas and the pod, but we shell the peas for this recipe. If you can't find purple hull peas, use black-eyed peas instead for a similar flavor and texture.

  • 14 of 19

    Kale and White Bean Soup with Sausage

    sausage, bean, and kale soup

    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

    Kale gives this simple sausage and white bean soup lovely textural contrast, plus an extra hit of nutrition. If you don't care for kale, you can also use swiss chard, spinach, or other sturdy leafy greens. Serve with crusty bread or cornbread.

  • 15 of 19

    Slow Cooker Sausage Beef Chili

    Slow cooker chili with ground beef and sausage

    The Spruce

     

    Make this meat-lovers chili with any smoked sausage you have, including smoked Polish sausage, kielbasa, or andouille. Adjust the chili spices to adapt to the spiciness of your sausage, and the preferences of your dinner guests. Top it with guacamole, sour cream, diced green onion, and shredded cheddar cheese.

  • 16 of 19

    Polish Kielbasa Sausage

    Sausage
    Nadine Greeff/Stocksy United

    For a fun weekend project, try making your own traditional Polish Biala Kielbasa. Adjust the levels of salt, garlic, and pepper to suit your tastes but make sure you fry up and taste a test patty before stuffing so you know what you're getting into.

    Continue to 17 of 19 below.
  • 17 of 19

    Sweet and Spicy Kielbasa

    Bites of Sausage
    Jan Tyler / Getty Images

    If you like sweet and sour cocktail meatballs, you'll love this smoked sausage slow cooker recipe. It uses only four ingredients that you may already have in stock, so you can also pull it together quickly and easily.

  • 18 of 19

    Savory Chicken and Sausage Stew

    Chicken Sausage Stew
    Chicken Sausage Stew. Diana Rattray

    Use a cut-up stew chicken or chicken parts and kielbasa or other smoked sausage for this versatile and delicious stew. It freezes well, so don't worry about the large batch. Add other vegetables if you have some going over in the crisper, too.

  • 19 of 19

    Sausage and Potato Soup

    Potato Sausage Soup
    Diana Rattray

    The heat of the smoked sausage will give this creamy potato soup its spiciness, so choose your adventure accordingly. If you use andouille sausage, it will have more kick, but if you go for kielbasa or another smoked sausage, it will come out a bit milder. Don't forget the crusty bread to soak up the broth.