A quick and simple family meal, Kielbasa and Sauerkraut can be easily prepared in a skillet.
Delicious when lightly browned, kielbasa, a popular smoked sausage, pairs wonderfully with a warm bed of sauerkraut.
Kielbasa and Sauerkraut
Kielbasa and sauerkraut is one of those timeless, comforting dishes that always brings back fond memories for me. As a home cook and grandma, I love preparing these old classics, especially for festive dinners where everyone gathers around the table.
The rich, savory flavors of the kielbasa paired with the tangy sauerkraut make this dish a true crowd-pleaser. It’s simple, hearty, and always reminds me of home.
🛒Ingredients
- Sausage - select high-quality Polish Kielbasa for optimal flavor; visit a local German or Eastern European butcher or deli for premium options.
- Sauerkraut - either make a batch at home or opt for store-bought varieties.
- Butter - cooking the sausage and sauerkraut in butter enhances its flavors and adds creaminess.
👩🍳 You'll find the complete list of ingredients below the recipe card.
🥘 How To Make Kielbasa and Sauerkraut Dinner
- Prep: Slice the sausage into larger chunks for consistent cooking.
- For sauerkraut, drain thoroughly to avoid excess moisture, especially if packed in brines that may affect flavor.
- Brown kielbasa in a skillet with 1 tablespoon of butter until golden; set aside.
- In the same skillet, sauté onions in remaining butter for 5 minutes.
- Add sauerkraut and black pepper, heat through, return kielbasa, stir, and serve.
📋Tips
- Smoked kielbasa, a Polish sausage, varies in grind and garlic content; in the U.S., it typically shares a flavor profile with smoked sausage, often made from ground pork for richness—check package details for specific cooking instructions.
- Season the dish in the end - Kielbasa has a savory flavor; adjust salt at the end if necessary.
- For variation, mix in some boiled or roasted potatoes!
- Opt for butter for a creamy base, providing unmatched richness in this recipe.
- Try additional seasonings for incredible flavor: caraway seeds, beets, dill, sweet apples, bell peppers, Dijon mustard, cooked potatoes, bacon, and fennel.
Make in slow cooker: grease the slow cooker, layer sauerkraut, and place browned sausage on top, adding fresh herbs for extra flavor. Cook on high for 1–1½ hours or low for 2–3 hours.
Storage Instructions
- 🍱To Store. Place it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
- 🥶Freezing. To freeze, cool completely and portion into containers or bags for up to 1-2 months.
- 🔥To Reheat. Reheat in a buttered skillet over medium-high heat or microwave for a minute or two.
👪What To Serve With Kielbasa and Sauerkraut
- German style: Soft pretzels, German potato dumplings, or a classic apfelkuchen (apple cake) for dessert.
- Roasted carrots and turnips.
- Rye bread
- Country-style pork ribs
- Pierogies
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📖Recipe
Kielbasa and Sauerkraut Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound kielbasa , or similar sausage
- 1 pound sauerkraut
- 1 cup onion, chopped
- 2 tablespoon butter
- salt to taste
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper, or to taste
- parsley for serving
Instructions
- Prep: Slice the sausage into larger chunks for consistent cooking.
- For sauerkraut, drain thoroughly to avoid excess moisture, especially if packed in brines that may affect flavor.
- Brown kielbasa in a skillet with 1 tablespoon of butter until golden; set aside.
- In the same skillet, sauté onions in remaining butter for 5 minutes.
- Add sauerkraut and black pepper, heat through, return kielbasa, stir, and serve.
Notes
- Smoked kielbasa, a Polish sausage, varies in grind and garlic content; in the U.S., it typically shares a flavor profile with smoked sausage, often made from ground pork for richness—check package details for specific cooking instructions.
- Try additional seasonings for incredible flavor: caraway seeds, beets, dill, sweet apples, bell peppers, Dijon mustard, cooked potatoes, bacon, and fennel.
- To Store. Place it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
Nutrition
🤷Frequently Asked Questions
If you love the strong flavor of sauerkraut, you can skip rinsing to intensify the taste. Rinsing reduces both flavor and sodium content.
Things like Granny Smith apple cubes, sweet onions, caraway seeds, or ground coriander will taste delicious here.
Possible but unnecessary; this speedy skillet dinner is ready in 30 minutes, and using a crock pot or pressure cooker won't add any benefits, with the added risk of bursting sausages in a pressure cooker.
Rita
kielbasa and sauerkraut is truly an effortless dinner ready in less than 30 minutes.
Tracy H
I used spicy kielbasa and added sliced potatoes and bell peppers with a little drizzle of Dijon mustard...delicious!