These Slow Cooker Kielbasa bites are the easiest appetizer you’ll ever make with just 4 ingredients and less than 15 minutes of prep time. These are also known as candied kielbasa bites since the slow cooker turns out such a mouthwatering sauce that coats the slices of smoked sausage.
They remind me a lot of my crockpot lil’ smokies appetizer or my slow cooker Hawaiian meatballs.
Candied Kielbasa:
If you’re looking for “easy,” this is it. The slow cooker does all the work for you in a 4 to 6 hour cook time, so it’s kind of a fail-proof, no fuss recipe! You don’t even have to be any kind of experience cook to make crock-pot kielbasa. It’s that simple.
If you’re a fan if kielbasa or any kind of smoked sausage, you might also enjoy trying these kielbasa recipes: my egg-mushroom kielbasa bake, bean and sausage soup and my shrimp jambalaya!
Ingredients Needed:
- Kielbasa: Use any kind of smoked sausage.
- Ketchup: Regular ketchup is fine. You could also substitute your favorite barbecue sauce!
- Brown Sugar: This is going to add a lot of sweetness to the recipe, which will help with the “candied” part.
- Horseradish: Adding a little spice to balance out the sweet is always a good idea. It does not make this recipe spicy. Be sure to buy the prepared horseradish in a jar, and not a creamy horseradish sauce.
How to make Slow Cooker Kielbasa:
Add the kielbasa slices and the other 3 ingredients to your slow cooker insert. Stir! Heat on low for 4 to 6 hours. Serve! That’s all you have to do for this crockpot kielbasa!!
Recipe Tips
- Keep the ingredients on hand in your kitchen for the occasion that you need a last minute appetizer. Kielbasa stores in the freezer well.
- Try different varieties of kielbasa or smoked sausage. Look for smoked kielbasa, smoked sausage, smoked Polish sausage or polska kielbasa. Just make sure you use a pre-cooked variety (not raw meat).
- Add a little cayenne pepper or tabasco sauce if you want them to be spicy, spicy!
- Serve this appetizer right out of the slow cooker with a container of toothpicks nearby, or transfer the kielbasa bites to a platter.
- This is my all-time favorite slow cooker (and I’ve owned many!): Hamilton Beach Portable 6 Quart Set & Forget Digital Programmable Slow Cooker with Lid Lock. It’s the best- I have TWO of them!
When to serve Slow Cooker Kielbasa:
These candied kielbasa bites are a favorite appetizer for a party since they take less than 15 minutes to prep. Picture them bubbling away on the countertop while you are preparing other things. Set it and forget it, slow cooker kielbasa is an appetizer for easy entertaining! It’s great comfort food for a gathering with friends, happy hour, Game Day, Super Bowl or a potluck. They are a crowd favorite, and kids love them too!
Since the flavor combination for this kielbasa is so addicting, you might also enjoy eating the leftovers as a main dish that they whole family would enjoy over mashed potatoes or rice.
Make Ahead and Storage Tips:
You can make slow cooker kielbasa bites up to two days in advance. Just re-heat them in the crockpot on low.
Store leftover kielbasa in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days. Freeze for up to 3 months.
What You’ll Love About This Recipe:
- It’s an incredibly easy recipe.
- The flavor of these candied kielbasa bites is so mouthwateringly delicious!
- It’s a pretty inexpensive recipe to make.
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To a slow cooker insert, add the kielbasa slices, brown sugar, ketchup and horseradish. Stir to combine.
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Add the lid and cook on low for 4 to 6 hours.
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Serve with toothpicks.
Serving: 1serving, Calories: 363kcal, Carbohydrates: 28g, Protein: 11g, Fat: 23g, Saturated Fat: 8g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 11g, Cholesterol: 56mg, Sodium: 890mg, Potassium: 283mg, Fiber: 0.3g, Sugar: 26g, Vitamin A: 92IU, Vitamin C: 3mg, Calcium: 34mg, Iron: 1mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.