Making kielbasa in the air fryer is quick and easy! Kielbasa, the Polish word for sausage, (aka Kovbasa for us Ukrainians, or Kubassa for those of us that are Ukrainian Canadians from the prairies) is a traditional type of sausage often eaten with perogies and cabbage rolls. Growing up, this was something we ate on a regular basis (and still do)!
Air Fryer Kielbasa sausage is a quick, easy, and delicious way to prepare this Ukrainian sausage, instead of boiling, baking grilling, or frying it. You don't have to heat up your house with the oven or stovetop and the air fryer saves electricity. This recipe is ideal for everything from busy weeknights to special occasion dinners and it's popular any time of the year.
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🥘Ingredients
All you need is non-propellant oil spray and a ring of sausage for air frying kielbasa:
- ring of kielbasa (Kovbasa/Kubasa)
- oil (spray)
*See recipe card for details
📖Variations & Substitutions
- Kielbasa - you can use turkey kielbasa instead of pork and you can use homemade sausage or buy it from the grocery store or deli
- Oil - The best oil to use in an air fryer is avocado or canola, as they have a high smoking point. However, you can also use olive oil. Also, it's important to use a non-propellant spray (see Top Tip). *You can learn more about the best types of oil to use in your air fryer HERE!
- Serving - you can serve kielbasa with mustard or bbq sauce (barbecue sauce). If you want to serve it as an appetizer instead, you can cut it into 1 inch circles and place them in a single layer in the air fryer (they will need less cooking time)
🔪Instructions
Spray the bottom of the air fryer basket or drawer with a few pumps/seconds spray of oil
Cut whole kielbasa ring into 4 pieces
Place kielbasa pieces in the bottom of the air fryer basket or drawer and poke each piece with a fork a few times *This will allow some of the fat to drain to the bottom of the drawer or basket
* You can remove the sausage casing now or leave it on until cooked, as it's easier to remove once it's cooked.
Spray with a few pumps of oil/5 second spray if using an aerosol spray
Cooking time: Cook on 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 7 minutes on one side
Then turn over and cook for another 6 minutes on the other side
*NOTE: If your ring of kielbasa meat is thinner, it will take less time - I would recommend you try 3-4 minutes on each side
The kielbasa will be done when the internal thermometer reads 160 degrees F (71 degrees C)
Cut the casing off the kielbasa, if you didn't do this at the beginning
Serve with yellow mustard.
🥗 Side Dishes
For a hearty meal, serve kielbasa with the following dishes:
- Ukrainian Borscht Soup (with beef)
- Potato and Cottage Cheese Perogies
- Green beans and Mushrooms
- Lazy Slow Cooker Cabbage Rolls (shown)
- white rice
- beets
🍽Equipment
For this Ukrainian sausage recipe, you will need an air fryer and if you don't have one (and are thinking of getting one) I recommend you read my article on What to Look for in an Air Fryer. I would also suggest you get silicone tongs (affiliate links) so you don't damage the finish inside your air fryer.
For best results, you'll want to use a meat thermometer - that way you will know for sure that the kubassa is done! I recommend an instant-read thermometer (affiliate link) because it's more than just a meat thermometer!
- I use my Thermapen for everything from a variety of meats to baking pie and bread to eggs, casseroles, candy making, and more!
- This amazing little tool instantly and accurately measures temperature with a quick poke. And it's not just for the grill, it's the go-to kitchen instrument trusted by the world's most acclaimed chefs and BBQ champions (it's one of Alton Brown's 'favorite things')!
- And it comes with a handy little chart that gives you chef recommended temperatures, as well as the minimum done temps for food safety.
The thermometer should read 160 degrees F (71 degrees C) for safe consumption of air-fried kielbasa.
🌡️Storage
Store air fried kielbasa in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days in the fridge. You can freeze it for up to 3 months in an airtight container.
👪 Serving Size
This air fryer kielbasa recipe makes 8 servings. However, it depends on how you want to serve kubassa. If you are serving it as a meal, cut it into pieces, as shown. But if you are making it as an appetizer, you may want to slice it into rounds.
💭Top Tip
Spray your air fryer sausage (and anything you put in the air fryer) with a light spray cooking oil, but do NOT use an aerosol cooking spray with propellants (like Pam). This can cause damage to the surface of your air fryer and cause the coating to flake off and potentially onto your food. *The label will tell you whether it has propellants or not (*see substitutions and variations for the best oils to use for in the air fryer)
🔢WW Points
Typical Kielbasa is usually pork and not the most WW friendly meat, so you'll use a lot of points - 11 ww points for 3 oz, to be exact. But if you use turkey kielbasa you can cut the points to 3 ww points for 3 oz. It's also low carb!
Chosen Foods Avocado oil spray (avocado) is the one I generally use and according to the ww app, it has 0 points for a 5-second spray.
🦺Food safety
- Cook kielbasa to an internal minimum temperature of 160 °F (74 °C)
- Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
- Wash hands after touching raw meat
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
- Never leave cooking food unattended
So if you are looking for a great way to cook kielbasa, the air fryer is ideal. Not only is this kielbasa air fryer recipe an easy meal, it's a delicious meal the whole family will enjoy!
📋 Air Fryer Kielbasa (Kovbasa) Recipe
Ingredients
- spray oil
- 750 g ring of kielbasa (garlic sausage)
Instructions
NOTE: The instruction images will NOT print by default. If you want them to print, you'll need to check the box beside "images" on the print page
- Spray bottom of air fryer with a couple pumps of oil
- Cut sausage ring into 4 pieces.Place kielbasa in the bottom of the air fryer basket or drawer and poke each piece with a fork a few times *This will allow some of the fat from the sausage pieces to drain to the bottom of the drawer or basket* You can remove the sausage casing now or leave it on until cooked, as it's easier to remove once it's cooked.
- Spray with a few pumps of oil/5 second spray if using an aerosol spray
- Cook time: Cook on 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 7 minutes on one sideThen turn over and cook for another 6 minutes on the other side*NOTE: If your ring of kielbasa is thinner, it will take less time - I would try 3-4 minutes on each side
- The kielbasa will be done when the internal thermometer reads 160 degrees F (71 degrees C) *Using an instant-read thermometer is the best way to ensure doneness!
- Cut the casing off the kielbasa, if you didn't do this at the beginning
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