📋 Easy Crockpot Kielbasa Appetizer recipe

slow cooker kielbasa appetizer on a green plastic skewer being picked up

5 from 1 vote

📋 Easy Crockpot Kielbasa Appetizer recipe

This Easy Crockpot Kielbasa Appetizer is delicious, sweet and savory party bit! Just dump everything in the slow cooker and walk away! They make a great New Year's Eve snack and are the perfect appetizer on a game day, for your next party, or for bringing along to a potluck any time of year

Course Appetizer, Main Course, Snack, starter

Cuisine Polish, Ukrainian

Keyword garlic sausage, kielbasa, kovbasa, kubassa

Prep Time 10

Total Time 2 10

Servings pieces

Calories 88kcal

Author Terri Gilson

Equipment

slow cooker

Ingredients

750 gram -ring of kielbasa (about 1.5 lbs) - garlic sausage is fine to use too
1 large onion, finely chopped
2 stalks celery, finely hopped
1 tbsp butter
½ cup ketchup
¼ cup white vinegar
¼ cup brown sugar
1½ tablespoon yellow mustard
1 tbsp paprika

Get Recipe Ingredients

Instructions

Cut kielbasa in half.
Remove casing from kielbasa by pulling it back and off.
Slice kielbasa into ½ in rounds
Place kielbasa in the bottom of slow coker
Mix remaining ingredients together in a medium bowl
Pour ingredients evenly over kielbasa
Cook on high for 2 hours or low for 4 hours, until the onions and celery are cooked through.

Notes

Storage

Store these brown sugar kielbasa bites in an airtight container for up to 3 days. These can also be made ahead.

You can also freeze them in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.

Expert Recipe Tips:

Easy cleanup. Use a crockpot liner for quick and easy cleanup!
Easy serving. If you want to make serving easier, just put the skewers into the pieces of kubassa, right in the crockpot! You can leave some extra skewers on the side too!
Brown for deeper flavor (optional). For an even richer, slightly caramelized flavor, quickly sear the sliced kielbasa in a skillet over medium-high heat for 2–3 minutes before adding it to the slow cooker. This adds depth without much extra effort.
Uniform slicing matters. Try to keep the kielbasa slices as evenly sized as possible so they cook and absorb the sauce at the same rate—this prevents some pieces from becoming overly soft while others stay firm.
Finely chop vegetables for best texture. The onion and celery should be chopped very small so they melt into the sauce rather than staying crunchy, creating a smoother, more cohesive glaze.
Stir once, halfway through. If possible, gently stir the kielbasa once during cooking to ensure the sauce coats every piece evenly and prevents sticking around the edges.
Adjust sweetness to taste. Kielbasa brands vary in saltiness and sweetness. If your sausage is already slightly sweet, reduce the brown sugar by 1–2 tablespoons and taste near the end of cooking.
Sauce too thin? Remove the lid for the last 20–30 minutes on HIGH to help the sauce thicken naturally, especially if your slow cooker runs hot or produces excess moisture.
Keep warm without overcooking. If serving at a party, switch the slow cooker to WARM once fully cooked and stir occasionally. Avoid keeping it on HIGH for extended periods, as the kielbasa can become overly soft.
Perfect for make-ahead entertaining. These kielbasa bites taste even better the next day. Reheat gently in the slow cooker on LOW or in a covered saucepan on the stove with a splash of water or ketchup to loosen the sauce.

Adapted from: Gooseberry Patch- 101 Easy Entertaining Recipes

Nutrition