Only 5 ingredients and 10 minutes of prep needed for these absolutely delicious Apple Kielbasa Bites made in the slow cooker. Perfect as an appetizer, or serve over mashed potatoes for a complete meal!
We spent the day in San Francisco yesterday; took the kids to the aquarium, Pier 39, and Fisherman’s Wharf. Ate. And ate some more. And watched all the odd people.
The city was all a buzz, and at one point there was a humongous uproar nearby. I turned to Paul and said, “that must be some street performer”…not realizing they were all watching TV monitors. Also not realizing that the NFC Championship game was happening. Also not realizing that our very own 49ers were fighting for a place to go to the Super Bowl.
I couldn’t care less about football. I don’t hate it, I’m just indifferent. But knowing that the 49ers are in it…well, somehow that makes me excited. A little.
These apple kielbasa bites were waiting for us when we got home. House smelled great. They were so juicy and sort of melted in our mouths from cooking all day.
This is game day grub at its best. I suggest doubling the recipe because they’ll go fast if you have any sort of a crowd.
Want more of a meal instead? Serve them over mashed potatoes with some of the rendered sauce. So good!
Other kielbasa recipes you might like!
Kielbasa and Cabbage Skillet – Belly Full
Skillet Beans and Rice with Kielbasa – Belly Full
Kielbasa and Shrimp Fried Rice – Barefeet in the Kitchen
Crock Pot Apple Kielbasa Bites
Ingredients
- 2 pounds fully cooked polska kielbasa sausage , cut into 1 inch pieces
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup chunky unsweetened applesauce
- 3 cloves garlic , minced
- red pepper flakes or cayenne , to taste
Instructions
- Coat a 6 quart slow cooker with nonstick spray.
- Add in all of the ingredients and stir to coat.
- Cover and cook on low for 5-6 hours until thoroughly heated through and pieces are tender.
Notes
Nutrition
Other Notes
This was so easy and delicious! I served it over mashed sweet potatoes for a meal.
It was easy to make and everyone loved it
What type of wine would go with this?
Hi there! Do you cook the meat first, and then add it to the slow cooker?
Nope!
Great, thank you! I’m making these for Thanksgiving. What size crock pot would you recommend?
I use a 6 quart
Sounds yummy. Thank you Camille and Happy New Year to you and your family.
just put this in the crockpot. thank you for the recipe. I used regular apple sauce, not unsweetened and will add a little brown sugar later if needed. I also added some Dijon mustard. Hope this works!
Hi I plan to make these for my party this weekend but I also wanted to add veal franks that I already have at home and mix them with a one pound cooked kielbasa!!!! What do you think? yes or no I should not?
Thank you for your suggestion.
Hi Cassandra! Hm. That’s sort of am impossible question for me to answer. I can’t vouch for the end results, since I don’t know how kielbasa and veal will taste after cooking all day together. But if that sounds good to you, than go for it!
Hi! This Looks delicious! I was wondering if you could use regular applesauce instead of chunky? Thanks!
Hi Tiana! Yes, that would be perfectly fine. Enjoy!
This sounds amazing my problem is I don’t have a printer could youplease email it to me at email I provided please and thank you
Sounds like the perfect appetizer–time saver too.
This couldn’t be easier, and turned out amazing. Thank you so much for posting! I was in a hurry so I cooked for 2 hours on high in my crockpot. I did stir now and then, to keep the sides from burning. I will make this again, for sure!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it so much, Alissa! We love them, too!
Thank you for the recipe. Did you mean to say “could” or couldn’t?
Hi Jill – I don’t know what you’re referring to. ??
Sounds delish! Will be making this soon!
I have always fixed wat I called cannied Kielbaba…It’s Grape Jelly wth Cranberry Sauce…YUM YUMMMMM!!!
Great for a football party !!!
Yum.great recipe. Was wondering if you could cook on high for a faster cook time ?
Hi Wendy – I can’t see why not, considering the kielbasa is already cooked. If possible, though, I would give them a stir after 2 hours to make sure they’re not burning.
If I only have a 1 quart crock pot, what reduction do I need to do to fit this in my crockpot? I feel like I could fit all this in there but I don’t know.
Hi Liana – 1 quart, huh? Hm. That’s really tiny. I have a 6 quart. 2 pounds of kielbasa won’t fit in yours. You could maybe halve the recipe, but even then I think they’ll be crowded…I’m concerned that there won’t be enough heat circulation in between the bites to cook them down properly. You could try it. The kielbasa I buy is pre-cooked, so even if they don’t cook down all the way, they’re not unsafe to eat. It just won’t be the same :(
Does it make a difference whether coarse or fine kielbasa is used?
Hi Betty – not sure I understand the question. You want to use the Kielbasa that comes in a thick link/log; it’s not ground up. I usually buy Hillshire Farms brand.
i have an allergy to apples. Could i use pear sauce in place of applesauce?
I’ve never tried it with pears, but I can’t see why not! They are very similar fruits…
Could this be done whole as a meal?
Sure! Serves 12 as a app, so probably 4-6 as a dinner if you serve it alongside some rice, pasta, potatoes, or green vegetable.
Will try your version over New Years. Noticed your friend asked if it could be served with a meal. Thought I’d mention my husband’s family’s version of Kiebasa for an additional option. His mom slow cooks the kielbasa in a crock pot cut into 2-3″ chunks with a couple of cans of saurkraut and simmers for a couple of hours on low, then it can be added to a meal of mashed potatoes and veggies, or made up in hard roll sandwiches with the addition of spicy mustard and served with the football games. Since his family has both Polish and German antecedants, the beer can be any American or a good dark beer or birch beer on tap. The kielbasa and saurkraut is even better after being refrigerated overnight as the flavors concentrate.
That all sounds delicious, too. Pasta, rice, mashed potatoes, or rolls will always make a good addition to slow cooked pork sausage. I love the idea of placing them on tiny buns and making sliders out of them :)
WHERE can I buy “polska kielbasa” sausage? I’ve never heard of it.
Costco?
Hi Karen – it’s a really common item at most grocery stores. It’s usually located near the bacon and/or hot dogs or sausages. You’ve probably seen it a dozen times and don’t even realize it!
Hi, if I’m going to make this for only 4-6 people, can I halve the recipe and put it into a 4-qt slow cooker? I’m not too familiar with slow cookers at all….sorry! Oh, and would the times be the same for a 4-qt? (low for 6-8 hrs?) Thank you in advance for your help!
Yes, that should be fine, but I would probably only halve the amount of kielbasa, keeping the other ingredient amounts the same. You want there to be enough liquid so they don’t get charred. The time won’t change – still cook on low for 6-8 hours. Enjoy!
Hi these were deliciousness. Would you be able to tell me what the nutritional facts on these are and serving calories? Thank You
Hi Desiree – I’m sorry, I can’t. I don’t keep track of calories or nutritional information for my recipes. But I’m sure you could Google for a calorie counter online and punch in the ingredients to get an estimate. Glad you liked them!
Oh. My. Goodness. I can’t believe I’m reading this AFTER Super Bowl. I need these in my life. Right. Now. Must find a reason to make them.
Perfect game day food!
These sound yummy but I don’t eat pork or beef, have you ever tried it with chicken or turkey sausage? Do you think I would still get the same result? Thanks!
Hi Lindsey – I just made this for the 1st time yesterday, so no, I haven’t experimented with other varieties. Only one way to find out…try it! Let me know how it goes.
Whole Foods carries a fully coked turkey kielbasa, which is really good. That’s what I’ll be making this with. :-)
I’m majorly not watching the superbowl this year (actually going to hang out with another blogger instead!) but the.boy. is. And I’m sure he would love it if I made him a batch of these to send off with him. Along with my sweet potato sliders of course. :P
Oh goodness, I’m not actually going to watch the game. Pfft. HA. I just use the day as an excuse to have all my favorite people over. And use tooth picks.
Me again!!! Your favorite friend that doesn’t cook. Luckily since I have known you since the 7th grade you have to just deal with my funny questions. These look so good and I think I can handle this!! My question is do you just make these as an appetizer or could I make it for dinner and server them over rice or something? You know how I love crock pot recipes with no other work other than throwing everything in to it! Keep them those recipes coming!
HEE! I knew you’d love this! I made them as an app…testing out stuff for Super Bowl, but you could totally make them and serve over rice or potatoes for a complete meal. I actually think I might do that next time.
I just made these yesterday for the game! I sweartagod! How funny. We always think a like!
Really, Lisa? HA. That’s so funny! We share the same taste buds. I saw these on Pinterest and knew immediately I had to make them. Are you posting them? I did add extra garlic (naturally) and also some cayenne for a slight kick. We loved them.
I can’t post them cause my football crowd ate them all!!
Lol. Right? So hard to get pictures sometimes, when you have an army of starving people. Make them again! Easy enough, that’s for sure.