Golden browned kielbasa slices bursting with lots of seasoning air fry into a perfect crispy finish. With basic ingredients and just a few minutes of prep time and cooking time, Air Fryer Kielbasa is ready to serve as a easy dinner tonight.
Air Fryer Kielbasa is the perfect solution for a quick and easy dinner on a busy weeknight!
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Air Fry Kielbasa
Tossed with olive oil and a savory blend of garlic, smoked paprika and onion powder, this is such an easy recipe that will quickly become a requested family favorite.
Kielbasa has a smoky, savory flavor and a firm texture that crisps up beautifully in the air fryer.
The additional seasonings add a burst of flavor that the whole family will enjoy.
If you love bold flavors then this is for you.
This is my favorite way to cook this smoked sausage. Just tossing with oil and seasonings and air frying is easy on the cook.
Kielbasa is fully cooked so you are just seasoning it and crisping it up in your air fryer. So flavorful and oh so easy!
You can serve the air fried kielbasa slices with roasted veggies, over rice or pasta, in a sandwich or as a game day appetizer.
Sauerkraut and mustard both go well with the smoky flavor of kielbasa. Serve with your favorite type of mustard, grainy mustard, spicy mustard, dijon or honey mustard.
This Polish sausage recipe is quick, easy, and versatile and guaranteed to become a regular on your dinner rotation list.
Ready in just minutes, Air Fryer Kielbasa is ideal as an easy dinner recipe for busy weeknights or as an appetizer with a dipping sauce for easy entertaining.
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How to air fry kielbasa
This is a quick overview of how to make this kielbasa in air fryer recipe. Scroll down for the full recipe instructions and ingredient amounts in the recipe card below.
- Step 1: Slice the kielbasa into 1/2-inch thick slices
- Step 2: Toss the kielbasa with olive oil and seasonings until evenly coated
- Step 3: Arrange the kielbasa in the air fryer basket and cook, tossing halfway through the cooking time.
- Step 4: Sprinkle with chopped parsley before serving.
Hint: Look for fully cooked kielbasa links in the refrigerated section of your grocery store.
Expert recipe tips
- Slice evenly - Slice the kielbasa into ½-inch thick rounds so they cook evenly. This will also guarantee that the slices can get crisp around the edges.
- Preheat your air fryer – Preheating your air fryer for a few minutes heats up your air fryer so that the kielbasa will start cooking right away.
- Don’t overcrowd your basket – Be sure to spread out the slices in a single layer in the air fryer basket to allow for even browning. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may have to cook the kielbasa in two batches.
- Shake halfway – Toss or turn the kielbasa slices halfway through the cooking time. This will help all the sides to get crispy.
Substitutions
- Kielbasa - Andouille sausage, smoked sausage, chicken sausage or turkey kielbasa can replace the kielbasa. Any fully cooked sausage is a good replacement for kielbasa.
- Olive Oil -Melted butter or canola oil can replace olive oil but will add a slightly different flavor profile to the recipe.
- Onion Powder – Chopped onion can replace onion powder but it may not crisp up in the air fryer but rather will be tender and translucent
- Chopped Parsley – Chopped chives, minced cilantro or sliced scallions will all give a fresh herbal flavor if you are looking to replace the parsley
Variations
- Spicy Kielbasa - Add a pinch of cayenne or red pepper flakes to the other spices for a hint of heat.
- BBQ Kielbasa - Toss the kielbasa with barbecue sauce during the last 2 minutes of the cooking time.
- Kielbasa with Vegetables - Add chopped bell peppers, diced onions, or chopped zucchini in the mixing bowl when tossing the kielbasa with the seasonings. You should also add an additional 1 Tablespoon of oil to help coat the vegetables.
- Sweet & Savory – Add a drizzle of 100% pure maple syrup, honey or hot honey before air frying for a sweet-savory flavor combination.
How to serve kielbasa
- As a main dish – Serve the kielbasa as a main dish with sauerkraut, air fryer potatoes and broccoli or green beans for a balanced meal.
- Over rice or noodles – You can top hot cooked rice or noodles with the air fried kielbasa. Drizzle with your favorite sauce and add fresh herbs.
- As a sandwich – You can make a sandwich with kielbasa, lettuce, tomato and mustard on a hearty roll. Toast the roll for added flavor! I recommend ciabatta rolls or hoagie rolls.
- As an appetizer – These kielbasa slices makes a great appetizer. Add toothpick skewers and serve with a dipping sauce such as honey mustard, spicy mustard or BBQ sauce. Kielbasa bites are a hearty snack that's ideal for game day.
Storage
- Store any leftover kielbasa in the refrigerator in an airtight container.
- Leftover Kielbasa will stay fresh for 1-2 days.
- To reheat, you can either re-crisp it in the air fryer or reheat it in the microwave or on the stovetop over medium heat.
See more guidelines at USDA.gov.
FAQ
Kielbasa is the Polish word for sausage and is typically a U-shaped smoked sausage that can be made of any kind of meat, such as pork, beef, turkey or chicken.
Ingredients
Air fried kielbasa ingredients
- Kielbasa – Kielbasa is a traditional Polish sausage made from pork, beef, or a mix of both. It can be in a U-shape or in links.
- Olive Oil - A coating of olive oil helps the kielbasa to brown evenly and also helps the seasoning to adhere to the sausage pieces
- Garlic Powder – Garlic powder adds a warm, aromatic flavor to the kielbasa, adding a depth of flavor without overpowering the kielbasa.
- Smoked Paprika – Smoked paprika adds a smoky flavor and can add color too
- Onion Powder – Onion powder brings savory notes to the recipe and complements the smoky sausage flavor.
- Black Pepper – Black pepper adds a mild heat and sharp savory flavor.
- Chopped Parsley – Fresh parsley brings herbal notes that brighten the recipe and adds a pop of color.
Easy Air Fryer Recipes
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What to serve with air-fried kielbasa
These side dishes will go well with your kielbasa dinner.
Air Fryer Kielbasa Recipe
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Ingredients
- 1 pound kielbasa
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 1 Tablespoon chopped parsley
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Instructions
- Slice the kielbasa into ½-inch thick pieces
- In a mixing bowl, combine the sliced kielbasa, olive oil, garlic powder, smoked paprika, onion powder and pepper, tossing until the kielbasa is evenly coated
- Arrange the kielbasa slices in a single layer in the air fryer basket and cook at 375F for 8 minutes or until the kielbasa is heated through and has crispy edges, shaking the basket halfway through for even cooking. Depending on the size of your air fryer basket, you may need to cook the kielbasa in two batches.
- Sprinkle with fresh parsley and serve as an appetizer or main dish.
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