Kielbasa, also known as Polish sausage, is really easy to cook and perfect for fast weeknight dinners. If you're wondering how to cook kielbasa, below you'll find step-by-step instructions for the 5 best cooking methods: pan sear, grill, roast, boil or microwave.
Kielbasa, also known as Polish sausage or Kielbasa Polska, is smoked sausage that is almost always sold pre-cooked in the United States. This means that the sausage only needs to be heated before you eat it.
You can serve polish sausage in a bun or next to any type of starch or vegetable, like Instant Pot egg noodles or roasted potatoes. Sausage is fantastic over creamy baked polenta.
If you're looking for kielbasa recipes, try kielbasa and sauerkraut or sheet-pan kielbasa and cabbage & potatoes with dill vinaigrette.
Kielbasa is a convenient choice for easy weeknight dinners. There really isn't a best way to cook kielbasa, just choose the cooking method that is most convenient for you.
The five best methods for cooking kielbasa and polish sausage are:
- Pan-fry/pan seared
- Grill
- Roast
- Microwave
- Boil
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Expert Cooking Tip
Most kielbasa sold in U.S. grocery stores is smoked and pre-cooked. For food safety, and because kielbasa just tastes better warm, it’s recommended that kielbasa is always "cooked" before serving, which is really just re-heating the sausage. On some kielbasa packages you’ll see the simple instructions, “Heat and Eat.”
How to Pan-Sear or Saute Kielbasa
Pan-frying gives the sausage a seared, crispy exterior. It's quick, easy and the method that I use most.
Step 2: You can slice the kielbasa widthwise into bite-sized rounds or lengthwise into sections that are a few inches long. After cutting the sausage lengthwise, then cut each section in half to expose the inside of the sausage.
Step 2: Add a drizzle of oil to the skillet first. Over medium heat, pan-fry the sausage until it's heated and as browned as you like it, about 6 to 8 minutes total. Flip the pieces of sausage once or twice as they cook.
You can cook the slices alone in a skillet or add the kielbasa to a skillet with other ingredients, like vegetables.
For a delicious skillet recipe, try kielbasa and sauerkraut cooked with onions and a splash of hard cider.
Looking for another easy, affordable protein to pan-sear? Try pan-seared beef liver.
How to Grill Kielbasa
You can grill kielbasa as a whole u-shaped link, or cut the link into sections.
Step 1: Over medium heat, grill the sausage until it is warmed all the way through and slightly crispy on the outside, about 8 to 10 minutes total. Turn the sausage as needed so it doesn't burn. That's it!
How to Roast Kielbasa
Whole, unsliced kielbasa can be cooked in the oven. The trick is not to cook it too long, or it will dry out. It shouldn't take more than 15 to 20 minutes to heat it all the way through.
Step 1: First, heat your oven to 375F.
Step 2: Use a fork or the tip of a knife to poke holes in the sausage. Or, you can use a knife to cut a shallow slit down the length of the sausage.
Step 3: Place the kielbasa on a lightly greased sheet pan and roast for about 15 minutes, until heated.
Kielbasa can be roasted on a sheet-pan with vegetables (including potatoes), but the vegetables will take longer to cook. Give the vegetables a head start so they are a little more than half-way cooked before adding the sausage to the sheet pan.
For a tasty dinner, try sheet-pan kielbasa and cabbage & potatoes with dill vinaigrette.
How to Microwave Kielbasa
For a quick and easy way to cook the sausage, use your microwave. The only downside is that you won't get a crispy, browned finish on the sausage.
Step 1: Use a fork or knife tip to poke holes all over the sausage. To prevent the sausage from drying out, set a damp paper towel over the top of the link.
Step 2: Heat for 30 to 60 seconds, until the sausage is heated all the way through. Slice and serve.
Boiled Polish Sausage
This is a simple way to heat a whole link of sausage, while keeping it moist and flavorful.
Step 1: Keep the sausage whole and unsliced. Cover the sausage with a few inches of water in a pot.
Step 2: Bring the water to a simmer, then simmer the kielbasa for about 10 minutes until it is heated through. Slice and serve.
How to Serve Sausage
There are so many ways to serve sausage!
- In a bun with ketchup and/or mustard, with onions or relish or sauerkraut
- Sliced and served with any type of cooked potato or potato salad
- Mixed with rice
- Served with buttery pasta, like Instant pot orzo or Instant Pot egg noodles.
- With scrambled or fried eggs
- With cooked greens, like Instant Pot collard greens
- With cabbage, either cooked cabbage like Instant Pot cabbage with lemon and parsley or coleslaw
- Add sliced kielbasa to soup (slice it first). Try slow cooker 15 bean soup.
Recipe FAQs
Fresh kielbasa is raw, uncooked sausage. It is sometimes called white kielbasa because of the color. It is completely raw and needs to be cooked fully before eating it. Fresh kielbasa is usually boiled or grilled. You can also choose to boil the sausage until it's fully cooked, then grill or pan fry the sausage to crisp up the outside.
Most of the time, you will only find smoked kielbasa at the grocery store (especially in the United States.) Smoked kielbasa has a dark color and is pre-cooked. It only needs to be reheated before eating it.
In Polish, the word "kielbasa" simply means sausage. So there are actually many types of kielbasa, not just the smoked Polish sausage that is sold most often in American grocery stores. If you'd like to learn more, check out this article on TasteAtlas.com about the 8 most popular Polish sausages.
The sausage is usually made with pork but sometimes beef and veal are mixed in.
The sausage has a smoked flavor and is quite salty with a hint of sweetness. It has different types of spices and seasonings added, such as salt, sugar, garlic, ginger, marjoram, paprika, celery seed, nutmeg and black pepper.
Favorite Sausage Recipes
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Print📖 Recipe
How to Cook Kielbasa
Kielbasa, also known as Polish sausage, is perfect for fast weeknight dinners. Kielbasa is smoked and ready to eat, which means you only need to heat it up before eating.
This recipe includes the 5 best ways to cook kielbasa: pan sear, grill, roast, boil and microwave.
- Prep Time: 5
- Cook Time: 10
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 2 to 4 servings 1x
- Category: Beef and Pork
- Method: Pan Fry
- Cuisine: Polish
Ingredients
- 1 package (or more) of kielbasa
Instructions
How to Pan Fry Kielbasa
Pan-frying gives kielbasa a seared, crispy exterior. It's quick, easy and the method that I use most.
- You can choose to slice the kielbasa widthwise into bite-sized rounds or lengthwise into sections that are a few inches long. If you cut sections lengthwise, slice them in half to expose the inside of the sausage.
- Add a drizzle of oil to a wide skillet. You can use cast iron or non-stick.
- Over medium heat, add the slices of sausage and cook until it is heated and as browned as you like it, about 6 to 8 minutes total.
- Flip the pieces of sausage once or twice as they cook.
- You can cook the kielbasa slices alone in a skillet or add the kielbasa to a skillet with other ingredients, like vegetables.
Notes
More Cooking Methods
Grill: You can grill kielbasa as a whole u-shaped link, or cut the link into sections. Over medium heat, grill the sausage until it is warmed all the way through and slightly crispy on the outside, about 8 to 10 minutes total. Turn the sausage as needed so it doesn't burn.
Roast: Heat your oven to 375 degrees. If you're roasting the kielbasa without slicing it, then use a fork or the tip of a knife to poke holes in the sausage. Or, you can use a knife to cut a shallow slit down the length of the sausage. Place the kielbasa (whole or slices) on a lightly greased sheet pan and roast for about 15 minutes, until heated. Kielbasa can be roasted on a sheet-pan with vegetables (including potatoes), but the vegetables will take longer to cook. Give the vegetables a head start so they are a little more than half-way cooked before adding the sausage to the sheet pan.
Boil: Leave the sausage whole and unsliced. Cover the sausage with a few inches of water in a pot. Bring the water to a simmer, then simmer the kielbasa for about 10 minutes until it is heated through. Slice and serve.
Microwave: Use a fork or knife tip to poke holes all over the sausage. To prevent the sausage from drying out, set a damp paper towel over the top of the link. Heat for 30 to 60 seconds, until the sausage is heated all the way through. Slice and serve.
dana
Great tips for cooking kielbasa here! Thank you!
Holley
I really needed these tips on different ways to cook kielbasa! Thank you so much for sharing!
Sara Welch
These were some great tips; the sausage turned out perfectly juicy and delicious! A great way to heat up a quick meal, indeed!
Nathan
Kielbasa is a classic in my family, but I've never actually cooked it myself! This recipe is so easy to follow, I'm excited to try it out. Thanks for sharing!
Tayler
I made this kielbasa for dinner last night and it was incredible! Thanks for sharing the recipe!
Jenny
Helpful tips! Kielbasa is an easy protein to cook on really busy weeknights.