Sweet and Sour Kielbasa
If you’re looking for a recipe that’s simple but packs a ton of flavor, you’ve just found your new favorite. Sweet and Sour Kielbasa takes tender, smoky sausage and marries it with a thick, caramelized glaze that’s bursting with the perfect balance of sweet and tangy.
The best part? You can whip this dish together with just a handful of pantry staples. Whether you’re serving it as an appetizer at gatherings, a game-day snack, or a cozy weeknight dinner, one thing’s for sure—everyone will be coming back for seconds.
Do you love the sweet and sour? Check out this Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Pork or this Crockpot Kielbasa with Homemade Sweet and Sour Sauce
Table of contents
❤️ Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Quick and easy to make: Minimal prep, a short cooking time, and common ingredients make this perfect for busy weeknights or last-minute party prep.
- Crowd-pleaser: Smoky sausage with hints of sweetness and tanginess appeals to almost every palate.
- Flexible serving options: Serve as an entrée, an appetizer with toothpicks, or a side dish alongside other party favorites.
- One-pan cleanup: Easy prep equals easy cleanup, leaving you more time to enjoy the food and less time scrubbing pans.
🛒Ingredients
We’ve made this list to help you save time on your next trip to the grocery store. You can find the full amounts needed in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.
- Smoked sausage/ kielbasa
- Pineapple chunks
- Red pepper
- Green pepper
- Red onion
- Ketchup
- Light brown sugar
- Worcestershire sauce.
- Onion powder
- Garlic powder
- Black pepper
🔪 How to Make Sweet and Sour Kielbasa
This is a quick overview of the steps needed to make this recipe. You can find the full instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Mix the ketchup, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce and spices and cook until it boils.
- Cut kielbasa and place in a 9×13 glass baking dish.
- Add sliced peppers, pineapple and onions.
- Pour sauce on top and stir so everything is mixed well.
🥄 Equipment
- Saucepan
- 9×13 baking dish
🥫 Storage
Refrigerate – Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2–3 days. Be sure to keep the sauce and the sausage together—they absorb even more flavor over time!
Freezing – This recipe doesn’t freeze well due to the sauce’s texture after thawing. Save this dish for fridge storage only.
Reheating – Warm up in a skillet over low heat, stirring occasionally to ensure even heating. You can also microwave it in a microwave-safe dish, covering to avoid sauce splatters.
Serve With
- Rice (white or fried): The sauce soaks into every bite of rice, creating a satisfying combination.
- Mashed Potatoes: Creamy Amish Mashed Potatoes complement the tangy-sweet sauce.
- Vegetables: Try Maple Glazed Roasted Carrots, Lemon Butter Green Beans with Parmesan and Garlic, or a simple side salad to balance the richness.
- Bread or Rolls: Use crusty bread or Hawaiian rolls to mop up that tasty sauce!
💭 Tips
- Don’t skip browning the sausage! Browning adds layers of flavor to the sausage and helps it hold its texture when coated in the sauce.
- Slow Cooker Option: For parties, throw all ingredients into a slow cooker on low for 3–4 hours. Stir occasionally and serve directly from the pot for easy hosting.
- Avoid over-reducing the sauce. Keep an eye on the sauce while simmering—it thickens quickly! Over-reducing can make it too sticky or burn.
⁉️ FAQ
Do you have questions about this recipe? Here are the answers to the most commonly asked questions.
Absolutely! Andouille smoked sausage, or even turkey sausage work well. Choose one with a smoky flavor for the best results.
Of course! Decrease the amount of brown sugar to ½ cup and add extra soy sauce or vinegar to balance the flavors.
Stick toothpicks in each slice of kielbasa for an easy grab-and-go appetizer. Keep everything warm in a slow cooker or chafing dish throughout the event.
🍽 More Recipes
Do you enjoy Kielbasa Recipes? Try these delicious recipes:
- Slow Cooker BBQ Baked Beans and Kielbasa
- Cheesy Kielbasa Hashbrown Casserole
- Slow Cooker Kielbasa Potato Soup
🧾Recipe Card
Want to make this recipe? Print the recipe card below, or pin this recipe, so you can find it later.
Sweet and Sour Kielbasa
Equipment
- sauce pan
- 9×13 baking dish
Ingredients
- 16 ounces smoked sausage/ kielbasa
- 1 cup pineapple chunks
- 1 cup red pepper chopped
- 1 cup green pepper chopped
- 1 cup red onion chopped
- ¾ cup ketchup
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- ¼ cup Worcestershire sauce.
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350
- Mix the ketchup, brown sugar,Worcestershire sauce and spices.
- Cook on stovetop until sauce comes to a boil.
- Cut kielbasa and place in a 9×13 glass baking dish. Add sliced peppers, pineapple and onions.
- Pour sauce on top and stir so everything is mixed well
- Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes uncovered. Stir once in between. Or until it is caramelized
Disclaimer
Any nutritional data I provide is an approximation and actual dietary information can vary based on ingredients and proportion sizes.
