This kielbasa and sauerkraut recipe is your new fav one-pan meal. A Polish classic that will warm your soul & surely become a part of your meal rotation!
While kielbasa and sauerkraut is a traditional Polish dish, we ate a ton of it growing up on the Western border of Ukraine. You’ll love the balance of subtle sweetness from the onions and the savoriness of the sausage. The minimal clean-up isn’t bad either…
Love Polish kielbasa? Try your hand at making it yourself with our homemade kielbasa recipe.
Preparing One-Pan Kielbasa and Sauerkraut
The key to nailing kielbasa and sauerkraut is to cook the ingredients in heats versus all at the same time. This ensures in no one ingredient overcooks or undercooks before they are all tossed together!
- Brown the Sausage: In a deep skillet over medium heat, sauté the kielbasa in the butter until golden brown. Set it aside.
- Sauté the Onions: Next, add the diced onion and sauté it until translucent.
- Drain the Sauerkraut: Drain the sauerkraut from the brine and add to the pan. Stir to combine.
- Add the Kielbasa Back In: Toss the kielbasa back into the skillet and cook it for 5 more minutes.
- Season the Kielbasa: Remove the pan from the heat and season the dish to taste with salt and pepper. Dig in and enjoy!
Did you know? Kielbasa and sauerkraut is a naturally low-carb and keto dish (make sure the sausage you pick up is sugar-free) and packed with filling protein.
5 Tips for Making Classic Kielbasa and Sauerkraut
To make polish the classic way, follow these foolproof pointers to help you along the way.
- Opt for high-quality kielbasa and sauerkraut. Remember that all the flavor comes from the kielbasa and sauerkraut you use, so opt for the good stuff at the grocery store. Better yet, head to a local German or Eastern European butcher or deli!
- Slice the sausage into similar-sized medallions. To ensure that the kielbasa cooks evenly, slice it into similar-sized pieces. You want each piece to be nice and golden brown and juicy in the center.
- Drain the sauerkraut completely. To avoid adding too much moisture to the pan, make sure to drain the sauerkraut of as much liquid as possible. Some are packed in brines that can alter the flavor of the dish too much.
- Use butter over oil. Butter is almost non-negotiable in this recipe. It adds such a nice base of creaminess to the dish that oil simply can’t match. If you can opt for Kerrygold or Plugra – two amazing European-style kinds of butter.
- Adjust the salt and pepper to taste. When you’re putting the final touches on your kielbasa and sauerkraut, make sure to add salt and pepper to taste. Depending on the ingredients you use, you might need more or less. This is why we always do salt and pepper at the end!
What Goes Well with Kielbasa and Sauerkraut
While kielbasa and sauerkraut are delicious eaten as-is, there are several different sides you can serve alongside the dish for a complete meal. Scalloped potatoes, creamy mashed potatoes, or a Russian beet salad with garlic.
Storing & Reheating Best Practices
To keep leftover kielbasa and sauerkraut on hand for up to 5 days, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. As it sits, the flavors will continue to deepen and develop, making for delicious leftovers.
Reheating Tip: To reheat the dish, pop it back into a buttered large skillet over medium-high heat just until warmed through. You can also zap it in the microwave for a minute or two.
FAQ
Can you freeze kielbasa and sauerkraut?
While kielbasa and sauerkraut is best eaten fresh, you can freeze it for later. To do so, portion it into individual plastic storage bags after it’s fully cooled down. Pop it in the freezer for up to 1 month.
How to make kielbasa and sauerkraut in a Crock Pot?
Yes, you can make kielbasa and sauerkraut in a Crock Pot. To do so, first, brown the sauerkraut in butter in a skillet over medium heat and saute the onions until translucent. Next, toss all the ingredients in the slow cooker for 2-3 hours on high heat.
What other ingredients can you add to kielbasa and sauerkraut?
There are a couple of other ingredients you can add to kielbasa and sauerkraut to spruce it up. Common additions include caraway seeds, beets, dill, granny smith apples, bell peppers, bacon, and fennel.
How can you bake kielbasa and sauerkraut in the oven?
Yes, you can bake kielbasa and sauerkraut in the oven. To do so, spread sauerkraut and sautéed onions on the bottom of a baking dish. Next, lay the kielbasa on top and cover the dish with foil. Bake the dish in an oven at 350°F for about 30 minutes, turning the sausage every 10 or so minutes.
More Sausage Recipes to Try
- Italian Sausage Kale Soup Recipe – Bean, kale, and sausage soup
- One Pan Sausage & Vegetable Bake – Potato, pepper, sausage, and shrimp bake
- Johnsonville Beer Bratwurst – Brats that are grilled and then baked atop caramelized onions and topped with chili
- Homemade Kielbasa Sausage Recipe – Easy hand-cased pork sausage
- Creamy One-Pot Pasta – Creamy red sauce and sausage pasta
Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb kielbasa sliced into medallions
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 large onion diced
- 2 lbs sauerkraut
- 1 tsp salt adjust to taste
- 1 tsp ground black pepper adjust to taste
Instructions
- In a deep skillet over medium, sauté the kielbasa in the butter until golden brown. Remove the sausage and set it aside.
- To the same skillet, add the diced onion and sauté it over medium until translucent.
- Drain the sauerkraut and add it into the pan with the onions. Stir to combine.
- Toss the kielbasa back into the skillet and cook it for 5 more minutes. Remove the pan from the heat.
- Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve and enjoy!
everything makes sense along the way, and if you're looking for what the Title of this recipe says, I can't imagine it tasting any better......
Hi there, I am glad you found what you were looking for! Thank you for your feedback. Enjoy!
Quick easy and delicious. Added a pinch of caraway seeds and it was just like busha use to make - ate way more than I should have - thank you for this time saving excellent dish!
Hello Denise, I'm so glad to hear you thoroughly enjoyed the dish. 🙂 I appreciate you taking the time to leave a review!
I made this last month and it was delicious. Tonight we are treating ourselves again. I get my kielbasa from aPolish deli on Amelia Island, Fl. Great European meats. Thank you for the recipe.
Hi Phyllis, I am thrilled to hear that you love this recipe! Thank you for taking the time to leave feedback. Enjoy!
Easy to follow the recipe. It was delicious!
Glad to hear this, Cheri. Thanks for sharing.
This was good but I did alter it a little. I browned the sausage in butter then the onions for a good while. Then I added paprika and some vegeta. I rinsed my sauerkraut and squeezed it well and added to pan. Then I added a good splash of chicken stock to just about cover it, and a spoon of tomato paste. Mixed very well and covered and simmered about 15-20min. Then added the sausages back in once liquid was most gone and the sauerkraut got very tender.
I do the same!
Hi Daniela, Sounds like you're a pro in the kitchen! The dish you made sounds absolutely mouthwatering! I appreciate you taking the time to share your experience.
Super quick and easy and at the same time very delicious !! Even picky eater kids loved it and went back for more. Thank you for sharing!
Oh I love hearing that! I'm so glad your kiddos enjoyed this meal, Lana!
LOVE the flavor in this meal! Came out so yummy!
Thank you, Jennifer!
Such an easy to make, delicious dish. Everyone loved it, thank you!
Thank you for the feedback, Diane!
This One-Pan Kielbasa with Sauerkraut is something I've never made before. It was exceptionally tasty. I'm going to dig more of your recipe. I'm grateful you shared this
I add roasted or sautéed potatoes at the end.
Thank you, Jade! I'm so glad you enjoyed it.