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By: Becky Hardin
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Kick off football season with Crockpot Kielbasa Sausage Bites! This appetizer is a true set it and forget it Crockpot recipe that couldn’t be easier to make. It’s a little sweet, a little spicy, and completely addictive.
Table of Contents
What’s in this Crockpot Kielbasa Recipe
This sweet and spicy kielbasa appetizer is the perfect mix of flavors! It’s just the right balance between spicy, sweet, and tangy.
- Kielbasa: If you have any leftover kielbasa after making this recipe, use it to make my favorite kielbasa jalapeño popper bites!
- BBQ Sauce: Use your favorite store-bought brand or go the extra mile with the best homemade BBQ sauce.
- Red Pepper Jelly: This is also a staple ingredient in pepper jelly dip, another game day favorite!
- Honey: This adds just the right amount of sweetness to the mix. You can always add more if you want the bites to be on the sweeter side.
- Dark Brown Sugar: All out? No problem! Make your own by combining 1 cup of white granulated sugar with 1 TBSP of molasses.
- Red Pepper Flakes: Add more or less to control the spice level.
PRO TIP: To keep these kielbasa bites warm for the whole game, leave the slow cooker on the “warm” setting! That way they’ll be ready to eat but not too hot.
Are Crockpot kielbasa bites spicy?
The red pepper jelly and red pepper flakes both add a little kick to this appetizer recipe. However, both of those spicy ingredients are well balanced by the brown sugar, honey, and BBQ sauce. You can always add more or less red pepper flakes to best fit your needs.
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What is kielbasa?
Kielbasa is a Polish sausage that typically has a “U” shape and can be found in the sausage section of most grocery stores.
Is kielbasa already cooked?
Most kielbasa sausages that you can find at your local grocery stores are already cooked. This recipe heats them low and slow to really infuse them with the best flavor from the sauce ingredients. You do not need to cook the kielbasa before adding it to your slow cooker.
Do I need to stir the kielbasa bites?
Yes! Stir the sauce and kielbasa as it all cooks in the slow cooker every half hour or so to make sure nothing burns.
How to Store/Reheat
Once cooled to room temperature, you can store leftover kielbasa sausage bites in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. Reheat in the microwave for 30 seconds at a time until warmed through.
How to Freeze
You can freeze these kielbasa bites in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Let thaw in the fridge before reheating. Don’t forget to date and label!
Serving Suggestions
These sweet and spicy kielbasa sausage bites will be hot ready to serve with ease. Put in some toothpicks for easy eating, and set out some extra BBQ sauce (or another favorite sauce) for dipping!
5-Star Review
“I LOVE football food that’s as simple as throwing it into a slow cooker!” – Justine
More Game Day Recipes We Love
- Mozzarella Sticks
- Baked Chicken Wings
- Pizza Sliders
- Buffalo Chicken Dip
- Corn Ribs
- Sausage Balls
Recipe
Sweet and Spicy Crock Pot Kielbasa Sausage Bites
4.50 from 76 votes
Author: Becky Hardin | The Cookie Rookie
Prep: 10 minutes minutes
Cook: 6 hours hours
Total: 6 hours hours 10 minutes minutes
Serves8
Print Rate
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Cook up kielbasa sausage in a mix of BBQ sauce, brown sugar, hot pepper jelly, honey, and red pepper flakes, all in a Crockpot.
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Ingredients
- 3 packages kielbasa approx 40 ounces, cut into 1 inch cubes
- 2 cups BBQ sauce
- 1 10.5 ounce jar red pepper jelly
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon red pepper flakes or more if you want it extra spicy
Recommended Equipment
Instructions
Combine all ingredients in slow cooker. Stir to combine.
Cook on low 6 hours, increasing to high for the last 30 minutes of cooking (or on high 3.5 to 4 hours total)
Stir every 30 minutes to make sure the bottom kielbasa isn’t burning.
Enjoy!
Last step! Don’t forget to show me a pic of what you made! Upload an image or tag me @thecookierookie on Instagram!
Nutrition Information
Calories: 653kcal (33%) Carbohydrates: 49g (16%) Protein: 21g (42%) Fat: 41g (63%) Saturated Fat: 14g (88%) Cholesterol: 99mg (33%) Sodium: 2000mg (87%) Potassium: 658mg (19%) Fiber: 1g (4%) Sugar: 34g (38%) Vitamin A: 530IU (11%) Vitamin C: 7.8mg (9%) Calcium: 54mg (5%) Iron: 3mg (17%)
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Meet Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin is a wife and mother living in Saint Louis Missouri. She founded The Cookie Rookie in 2012 as a creative way to share recipes. Now, she is a trusted resource for easy cooking around the world, being featured in Taste of Home, The Kitchn, ABC’s Home and Family, and more. Here at The Cookie Rookie she is the editor in chief of all recipes and continues to enjoy sharing her passion for cooking for busy families. She has since founded two additional food blogs, Easy Chicken Recipes and Easy Dessert Recipes.
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25 Comments
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Vishnu Sahasranamam
Posted on 6/21/2016
Looks awesome !!!! I can’t wait to try this recipe !!!!
Reply
Krista @ Joyful Healthy Eats
Posted on 8/24/2015
I am sooo with you! In fact I actually play in an all women’s fantasy football league because we like football that much! :) hehe This are perfect and I LOVE kielbasa sausage, the best!
Reply
Becky Hardin
Posted on 8/24/2015
Reply to Krista @ Joyful Healthy Eats
That is awesome!!! I’m in a fantasy baseball league every year with my extended family. It gets pretty wild lol
Reply
Justine | Cooking and Beer
Posted on 8/23/2015
I LOVE football food that’s as simple as throwing it into a slow cooker! Heading over to get the recipe now! Yum!
Reply
Becky Hardin
Posted on 8/24/2015
Reply to Justine | Cooking and Beer
Thanks Justine!!
Reply
Malinda @ Countryside Cravings
Posted on 8/22/2015
Ooooh these are right up my alley!! I too like watching the games but I really LOVE the food!!
Reply
Becky Hardin
Posted on 8/24/2015
Reply to Malinda @ Countryside Cravings
Exactly Malinda!! Haha! Thanks for stopping by :)
Reply
Jaren (Diary of a Recipe Collector)
Posted on 8/22/2015
These are the perfect recipe for tailgating!
Becky Hardin
Posted on 8/24/2015
Reply to Jaren (Diary of a Recipe Collector)
Thanks so much Jaren!
Reply
Ashlyn @ Belle of the Kitchen
Posted on 8/22/2015
I am SO pumped about football season! I love tailgating food and these just look so delicious! Might have to make these for the first Dawgs game of the year. :)
Reply
Becky Hardin
Posted on 8/24/2015
Reply to Ashlyn @ Belle of the Kitchen
Yay!!! Hope you love them Ashlyn!!
Reply
Keri
Posted on 8/21/2015
This page this you sent does not work. Looking forward to the recipe. :)
http://realhousemoms.com/sweet-and-spicy-kielbasa-bites/
Reply
Becky Hardin
Posted on 8/21/2015
Reply to Keri
So sorry Keri. Here is the correct link!!!! Ugh…thank you so so much for letting me know http://realhousemoms.com/sweet-and-spicy-slow-cooker-kielbasa-bites/
Reply
Steph
Posted on 8/21/2015
I found the recipe on the other site. Here is the correct link to it… http://realhousemoms.com/sweet-and-spicy-slow-cooker-kielbasa-bites/
Reply
Becky Hardin
Posted on 8/21/2015
Reply to Steph
So sorry about this. I really really appreciate you letting me know!!
Reply
Lynn Clark
Posted on 8/21/2015
Unfortunately, the link to Real Housemoms is not working today. Please let us know when you can post the kielbasa recipe on your site. It looks grand in the pictures.
Reply
Becky Hardin
Posted on 8/21/2015
Reply to Lynn Clark
Here is the correct link Lynn…I’m SO sorry for this mistake!! Thanks SO SO much for letting me know!! http://realhousemoms.com/sweet-and-spicy-slow-cooker-kielbasa-bites/
Reply
Sara
Posted on 8/21/2015
This looks amazing, my whole family loves kielbasa and I can only imagine how awesome the sauce is!
Reply
Becky Hardin
Posted on 8/21/2015
Reply to Sara
Thanks so much Sara!
Reply
Maureen
Posted on 8/21/2015
The link on Real Housemoms says “Page not Found”. :(
Reply
Mary Beth
Posted on 8/21/2015
Reply to Maureen
After going through a bunch o pictures I finally found that the recipe isn’t evenon this website. AND it isn’t on the other one either. What gives?
Reply
Becky Hardin
Posted on 8/21/2015
Reply to Mary Beth
Hey Mary Beth, I just made an error in typing the link. I’m SO sorry. Here is the correct link. I sent you a couple emails as well. Thanks for visiting the site and I’m genuinely sorry for the trouble: http://realhousemoms.com/sweet-and-spicy-slow-cooker-kielbasa-bites/
Reply
Becky Hardin
Posted on 8/21/2015
Reply to Maureen
I’m SO sorry for the trouble. I typed a typo in the link!! Ugh, I’m kicking myself :) Here is the correct link. So sorry again, and thanks SO much for bringing it to my attention: http://realhousemoms.com/sweet-and-spicy-slow-cooker-kielbasa-bites/
Reply
Katerina @ Diethood
Posted on 8/21/2015
I know nothing about football and everything about football-food!! Excuse me while I stick my head inside the crockpot!! YUMMMMM!
Reply
Becky Hardin
Posted on 8/21/2015
Reply to Katerina @ Diethood
Ha thank you Kate!!!
Reply
