Crockpot Sweet and Spicy Kielbasa Bites

These Crockpot Sweet and Spicy Kielbasa Bites are perfect party food and couldn’t be easier to make. To make them, arrange sliced kielbasa in a crockpot and pour the kicked-up sauce on top. The rest is up to the slow cooker. Serve these kielbasa bites straight from the slow cooker with toothpicks for casual eating on game day or, any day, that bite size morsels are on the menu.

Ingredients to Make Crockpot Sweet and Spicy Kielbasa Bites Recipe

There are certain types of food that have earned the name “party food” at our house. Things like wings, subs, queso and tortilla chips, crudité, dips and chips and the list goes on and on. These kielbasa bites are perfect party food and are ever-so-simple to put together. I tend to serve these as an alternative to meatballs, which are on the top of the list of hot favorites for snacking. In fact, this same sauce would work well with meatballs, too. Ingredients to make simple Crockpot Kielbasa Bites: (Scroll down for the full printable recipe card.)

• Sausage – Kielbasa or any smoked sausage will work.
• Chili Sauce – Use Heinz chili sauce or similar for a tomato flavor.
• Barbecue Sauce – Use a thick barbecue sauce made by your favorite brand at the grocery store. I used Sweet Baby Ray’s.
• Preserves – Pineapple preserves (apricot or orange marmalade will work, too!) adds fruit flavor and sweetness.
• Seasonings – Onion powder, granulated garlic or garlic powder, cumin and crushed red pepper flakes for a hint of spice.
• Serving – Wooden skewers or picks for serving.

How to Make the BEST Crockpot Sweet and Spicy Kielbasa Bites Recipe

Kielbasa bites are the epitome of easy stress free entertaining. The sweet and spicy sauce is the perfect crowning touch and can be easily adapted if you need to make a larger or a smaller batch. If you consider yourself saucy, feel free to double the ingredients. Regardless, you can’t go wrong.

• Prep the Crockpot: Spray the inside of the crockpot with nonstick cooking spray.
• Kielbasa: Slice the sausage and arrange in the slow cooker.
• Make the Sauce: Whisk together the chili sauce, pineapple preserves, barbecue sauce, pepper flakes, vinegar, garlic salt, onion powder and cumin. Pour over the kielbasa.
• Cover: Cook per the cook time in the recipe until bubbly and caramelized then serve.

Tips for Making Sweet and Spicy Kielbasa Bites

• Kitchen Tools You’ll Need: A 6-quart or similar size slow cooker, sharp knife and cutting board, medium bowl, whisk measuring cups and spoons. You’ll also need wooden toothpicks or bamboo picks for serving.
• Use the Right Chili Sauce: The chili sauce used in this recipe is like Heinz brand or a similar store brand of plain ole chili sauce. It’s not an Asian chili sauce which usually already has red pepper flakes in the mix.
• Thick Barbecue Sauce Works Best: You can use your favorite brand of barbecue sauce. A thicker bbq sauce works best and doesn’t become super runny after mixing with the remaining ingredients. It’s also better for coating the kielbasa.
• Make-Ahead Tip: You can fully assemble and combine the kielbasa and sauce and store overnight in a mixing bowl covered with plastic wrap chilled in the refrigerator. Pour the entire mixture into the crockpot and cook per the recipe.
• Use the Removable Insert: If the insert of your slow cooker is removable you can assemble it in the insert cover and chill, too. Follow your appliances manufacturers recommendation regarding chilling the crock and reheating, it may need some time on the counter to warm to room temperature before heating.
• How to Serve: Serve these kielbasa bites as an appetizer with toothpicks or over cooked rice or with a side of creamy mashed potatoes for a main dish meal.

Recipe Variations

• Sausage: You can use turkey sausage, smoked beef sausage, polish sausage, pork sausage or chicken sausage in this crock pot recipe.
• Preserves: If you’re unable to find pineapple preserves you could use apricot preserves, grape jelly or orange marmalade, instead.
• Add Crushed Pineapple: When using a different flavor of preserves, if you’d still like to include pineapple, you could add one 8 ounce can of drained crushed pineapple to the sauce mixture.
• Pineapple Chunks: You can add one 20 ounce can of drained pineapple chunks to the sauce.

Storage and Leftovers

• Leftovers: Store Crockpot Sweet and Spicy Kielbasa Bites in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
• Reheating: Reheat in a saucepan over medium heat on the stovetop or gently in the microwave in single servings.
• Freezer: You can freeze leftovers for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge and reheat just before serving.

More Recipes for Kielbasa to Make

• Sheet Pan Kielbasa and Yukon Gold Potato Hash makes for an easy and filling family meal.
• Elegant and hearty Chicken and Smoked Sausage Cassoulet.
• Braised Cabbage and Potatoes with Smoked Sausages proves that food doesn’t have to be fancy to be delicious.
• Sheet Pan Shrimp Boil is beefed up with kielbasa.
• Chicken and Smoked Sausage Cassoulet is sheer perfection!
• If you’re looking for another fun way to enjoy kielbasa in the summer months, try turning it into kabobs like these Hawaiian Kielbasa Kabobs from The Seasoned Mom.

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Helpful Kitchen Items:

• Oval Crockpot
• Cheese Grater
• Spatula
• Chopping Board and Knives