These sweet and smoky BBQ Kielbasa Bites are sure to please a crowd for game day or any gathering. A super easy appetizer recipe that’s baked in the oven with only 5-minutes of prep!
Easy BBQ Kielbasa Appetizer
If you love little smokies, you are going to love this BBQ kielbasa! Each bite of sausage has a caramelized coating on the outside but remains tender and juicy on the inside. The homemade glaze is made with easy ingredients including brown sugar and your favorite barbecue sauce. It’s so simple to make but not so easy to share.
We love hot dogs and sausages in our house, so this recipe was a hit — even with the kids! These kielbasa bites are packed with bold yet balanced flavors. I often like to prepare it ahead so I can pop it in the oven right before we’re ready to eat.
Why You’ll Love These BBQ Kielbasa Bites
- Great appetizer or main course. Serve these with your favorite side dish or as part of your appetizer spread.
- Budget-friendly. The ingredients in this recipe are very inexpensive making this an ideal BBQ food for any size budget.
- Bakes in 30 minutes. Prep takes about 5 minutes, and then it comes out of the oven in 30 minutes. It’s a great meal idea for a busy weeknight.
What You’ll Need
Four ingredients plus seasonings are all you need to make this BBQ Kielbasa appetizer. It’s super simple. I like to keep my spice rack stocked with a good variety, so I’ll never buy something I’ll only use once!
- Kielbasa sausage: This recipe calls for 2 14-oz sausages. I slice them evenly into 1/2-inch pieces so they cook evenly.
- BBQ sauce: Feel free to use any variety and flavor of BBQ sauce that you like. Make it spicy, extra sweet, or smoky. It’s up to you!
- Brown sugar: I use light brown sugar because it is typically what I have on hand, but dark brown sugar is great, too. It has a deeper molasses flavor.
- Spices: I use minced dried onion (onion powder is just fine), red pepper flakes for a little kick, and garlic salt. Feel free to use garlic powder and salt if you prefer.
- Dijon mustard: I adore the tangy flavor of Dijon mustard. It ties all of the other flavors together and balances them perfectly.
- Parsley: Freshly chopped parsley is a great optional garnish to add a pop of color.
How to Make BBQ Kielbasa
The steps to making these kielbasa bites are very easy to follow and don’t take a lot of time. I like to make sure the oven is preheated and the pan is ready. For this recipe, you will need to set the oven to 400 degrees F and grab a 9×13 baking dish.
- Make your glaze. Combine BBQ sauce, brown sugar, seasonings, and mustard in a large bowl and whisk until smooth.
- Combine with sausage. Add the kielbasa slices and toss them all together until they are well coated in the sauce.
- Transfer to a baking dish. Pour the mixture into the baking dish and ensure the sausage is in an even layer.
- Bake. Place the pan in the oven and bake it for about 30 minutes. I like to stir it halfway through to ensure every piece gets caramelized.
- Garnish and Serve. Top the finished kielbasa with fresh parsley and enjoy with your favorite side or as a starter!
Serving Ideas
Serve the BBQ kielbasa as the main and serve with a side like lemon rice, creamy pasta salad, oven roasted potatoes or crock-pot mac and cheese.
Tips for Success
- Stir halfway through cooking time. Stir the sausage once or twice during cooking time to be sure all of the slices are browning.
- Try it with honey. Swap the brown sugar for honey to create a new flavor profile.
- Swap the sausage. I use pork kielbasa but andouille, turkey, or beef smoked sausage are fantastic substitutions.
- Make it in your slow cooker. Follow all of the directions, except transfer the coated sausage slices into the slow cooker. Cover and cook for 2-3 hours on high or 4-6 hours on low. Stir once or twice during cooking time.
Proper Storage for Leftovers
You can store Leftover BBQ kielbasa in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. It can be reheated in the microwave or the oven.
More Sausage Recipes to Try
- Sausage and Peppers
- Crock Pot Kielbasa Sausage and Beans
- BBQ Air Fryer Sausage and Potatoes
- Bacon and Kielbasa Appetizer Cups
- Jambalaya Recipe
BBQ Kielbasa Bites
Ingredients
- 2 14 ounce kielbasa sausage sliced
- 1 cup BBQ sauce
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon minced dried onion
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flake
- ½ teaspoon garlic salt
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- Parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
- To a large mixing bowl combine your bbq sauce, brown sugar, onion, garlic salt, red pepper flake and mustard.
- Add the sliced sausage and toss to combine.
- Add the sausage to a 9×13 baking dish.
- Bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes, stirring once or twice.
- You want to cook the sausage until it gets nice and glazy and caramelized.
- Garnish with parsley and serve!
Last Step:
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- Store leftovers in an airtight container in refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- This also makes a great dinner over a bed of rice.
- You can use your favorite sausage for this, andouille would be great or even turkey smoked sausage.
- You can use honey instead of brown sugar if you like.
Nutrition
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5 comments on “BBQ Kielbasa Bites”
Is it necessary to oil, spray oil or use parchment paper on the sheet pan to prevent sticking before baking or is there enough fat already in the kielbasa to prevent it from sticking? I plan on making them today.
Thank you! Happy 4th of July, 2024. ☮️
Hi Barbara. I hope they turned out great. Cooking spray would be my go to but I don’t think it would be necessary to use parchment paper.
Love the low cholesterol count, Definitely will try since I love all these ingredients.
Delicious! Had never thought of using barbecue sauce before! Thanks
Thanks Darlene!