Enjoy a hearty and flavorful meal with my easy Kielbasa and Sauerkraut recipe - effortlessly bringing dinner to the table. Dinner ready in less than 30-minutes!
This sweet and savory Polish sausage delight, featuring old-world European flavors, with tart sauerkraut is a frequent family favorite on our menu.
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Ingredients
- Polish Kielbasa sausage - choose premium-quality kielbasa, as the flavor hinges on its quality. Visit a local German or Eastern European butcher or deli!
- Sauerkraut - make a batch of homemade kraut or go for store-bought.
The full recipe and ingredients can be found in the recipe card below this post.
The sausage is usually not spicy, but I do recommend reading the ingredients so that the whole family can enjoy this meal.
How To Make Kielabasa and Sauerkraut
Prep. Slice the sausage into even medallions for consistent cooking.
For sauerkraut. Thoroughly drain sauerkraut to avoid excess moisture in the pan.
Remove as much liquid as possible, especially if it's packed in brines that could impact the dish's flavor.
Brown the kielbasa. In a skillet, melt 1 tablespoon of butter and cook the kielbasa over medium heat until golden brown.
Remove from the skillet and set aside.
Saute sauerkraut. In the same skillet, sauté sliced onions in the remaining butter for about 5 minutes.
Add sauerkraut and black pepper, cooking until heated through.
Next, return the kielbasa, stir to blend everything together, and serve.
You can also serve it with a dollop of sour cream (so good!).
TIP: Kielbasa has a pretty savory flavor, taste the mixture in the end and add more salt if needed.
This one-pan dinner similar to smothered cabbage & sausage, or this beef and cabbage skillet, is always a quick and easy dinner idea.
How To Make It In A Crock Pot
- Line or grease the slow cooker, layer sauerkraut with juice at the bottom, and place the browned sausage on top.
- Add fresh herbs for extra flavor. Cook on high for 1–1 ½ hours or on low for 2–3 hours.
Tips
- Choose butter over oil as it provides a creamy base unmatched by oil in this recipe.
- More seasonings that taste incredible: caraway seeds, beets, dill, sweet apples, bell peppers, dijon mustard, cooked potatoes, bacon, and fennel.
- Smoked kielbasa - Kielbasa, is a type of Polish sausage, that can be fresh or smoked, with variations in the grind and garlic content. Smoked sausage and Kielbasa in the U.S. generally share a flavor profile, often crafted from ground pork for its rich taste, though I recommend checking the package details for cooking instructions.
What To Serve With It
- Potatoes: scalloped potatoes (or au gratin potatoes), creamy mashed potatoes, green beans, roasted fingerling potatoes, or a fresh salad (try simple cucumber salad) for a well-rounded dining experience.
- Serve it in hot dog buns, adding some mustard on top.
- Mix in some egg noodles into fully-cooked Kielbasa and Sauerkraut.
Freezing And Storing Instructions
- To Store. Keep it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
- To Reheat. Warm the dish in a buttered large skillet over medium-high heat until heated through. Alternatively, you can microwave it for a minute or two.
- To Freeze. Once fully cooled, portion it into food containers or bags and freeze for up to 1-2 months.
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Recipe
Easy One Pot Kielbasa and Sauerkraut Dinner
INGREDIENTS
- 1 pound kielbasa or similar sausage
- 1 pound sauerkraut recipe
- 1 cup onion, diced
- 2 tablespoon butter
- salt to taste, see notes
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper or to taste
- parsley for serving
INSTRUCTIONS
- Prep. Slice the sausage into even medallions for consistent cooking.
- For sauerkraut. Thoroughly drain sauerkraut to avoid excess moisture in the pan. Remove as much liquid as possible, especially if it's packed in brines that could impact the dish's flavor.
- Brown the kielbasa. In a skillet, melt 1 tablespoon of butter and cook the kielbasa over medium heat until golden brown. Remove from the skillet and set aside.
- Saute sauerkraut. In the same skillet, sauté sliced onions in the remaining butter for about 5 minutes. Add sauerkraut and black pepper, cooking until heated through.
- Next, return the kielbasa, stir to blend everything together, and serve. You can also serve it with a dollop of sour cream (so good!).
NOTES
- Salt: I don’t add salt here as the kielbasa is quite savory. Taste the sauerkraut mixture in the end, and if needed add seasonings to taste.
- To Store. Keep any leftover kielbasa and sauerkraut in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
- To Reheat. For reheating, warm the dish in a buttered large skillet over medium-high heat until heated through. Alternatively, you can microwave it for a minute or two. This dish tastes even better the next day!
- CROCK POT INSTRUCTIONS.
- Slice the sausage and brown it in a skillet with a touch of butter. You can also brown sauerkraut in the skillet for added flavor, but it is not necessary.
- Line or lightly grease your slow cooker and evenly layer sauerkraut with a bit of its juice at the bottom. Place the browned sausage on top. For added flavor, you can include fresh rosemary, thyme or dill in the crock pot. Cook on high for 1–1 ½ hours or on low for 2–3 hours.
ADD YOUR OWN PRIVATE NOTES
NUTRITION
Note: Nutrition information is estimated and varies based on products used.
Full Nutrition Disclaimer can be found here.
Easy One-Pot Meals
For more similar recipes, hop on to our One-Pot recipe collection.
Julia | The Yummy Bowl
dinner in 30 minutes! With a batch of homemade sauerkraut and some kielbasa, you can whip up this easy dinner in seconds!
Nikki
Quick, easy and fabulous this kielbasa and kraut is a meal my family will enjoy any day of the week.
Julia | The Yummy Bowl
our family favorite for sure! thank you Nikki!
TAYLER ROSS
One pan meals are my jam, so I made this for dinner last night. My whole family loved this kielbasa and sauerkraut!
Julia | The Yummy Bowl
glad to hear you liked it, thank you Tayler!
Tara
Such a wonderful and comforting one pot meal! I love how easily it all comes together and the flavors sound amazing.
Julia | The Yummy Bowl
it is delicious, thank you Tara!
Beth
This tastes is just like the dish my dad made when I was a kid. I love all that smoky flavor and that big dose of nostalgia.
Julia | The Yummy Bowl
thank you!
Shadi Hasanzade
Super tasty! We love Sauerkraut and this is such a delicious way to add it to our meals!
Julia | The Yummy Bowl
thank you, so good!