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.

sweet and spicy kielbasa held up with a toothpick

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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.

Slow Cooker Sweet and Spicy Kielbasa is our FAVORITE easy party appetizer! Made with pepper jelly and bbq sauce, SO GOOD!
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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.

Crock Pot Sweet Chili BBQ Kielbasa | Iowa Girl Eats

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!

Slow Cooker Sweet and Spicy Kielbasa is our FAVORITE easy party appetizer! Made with pepper jelly and bbq sauce, SO GOOD!

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

Recipe Card

Sweet and Spicy Crock Pot Kielbasa Sausage Bites

4.50 from 76 votes
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 6 hours
Total: 6 hours 10 minutes
Servings: 8
Author: Becky Hardin
sweet and spicy kielbasa held up with a toothpick
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

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!
Calories: 653kcalCarbohydrates: 49gProtein: 21gFat: 41gSaturated Fat: 14gCholesterol: 99mgSodium: 2000mgPotassium: 658mgFiber: 1gSugar: 34gVitamin A: 530IUVitamin C: 7.8mgCalcium: 54mgIron: 3mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you make this? Leave a comment!

 

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.

4.50 from 76 votes (76 ratings without comment)
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25 Comments
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Vishnu Sahasranamam
Vishnu Sahasranamam
June 21, 2016 10:50 pm

Looks awesome !!!! I can’t wait to try this recipe !!!!

Krista @ Joyful Healthy Eats
Krista @ Joyful Healthy Eats
August 24, 2015 2:57 pm

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!

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
August 24, 2015 3:35 pm

That is awesome!!! I’m in a fantasy baseball league every year with my extended family. It gets pretty wild lol

Justine | Cooking and Beer
Justine | Cooking and Beer
August 23, 2015 9:29 am

I LOVE football food that’s as simple as throwing it into a slow cooker! Heading over to get the recipe now! Yum!

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
August 24, 2015 10:19 am

Thanks Justine!!

Malinda @ Countryside Cravings
Malinda @ Countryside Cravings
August 22, 2015 10:50 pm

Ooooh these are right up my alley!! I too like watching the games but I really LOVE the food!!

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
August 24, 2015 10:19 am

Exactly Malinda!! Haha! Thanks for stopping by :)

Jaren (Diary of a Recipe Collector)
Jaren (Diary of a Recipe Collector)
August 22, 2015 8:47 am

These are the perfect recipe for tailgating!

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
August 24, 2015 10:19 am

Thanks so much Jaren!

Ashlyn @ Belle of the Kitchen
Ashlyn @ Belle of the Kitchen
August 22, 2015 3:01 am

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. :)

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
August 24, 2015 10:20 am

Yay!!! Hope you love them Ashlyn!!

Keri
Keri
August 21, 2015 5:40 pm

This page this you sent does not work. Looking forward to the recipe. :)
http://realhousemoms.com/sweet-and-spicy-kielbasa-bites/

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
August 21, 2015 10:00 pm
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/

Steph
Steph
August 21, 2015 5:34 pm

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/

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
August 21, 2015 10:01 pm
Reply to  Steph

So sorry about this. I really really appreciate you letting me know!!

Lynn Clark
Lynn Clark
August 21, 2015 5:00 pm

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.

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
August 21, 2015 10:01 pm
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/

Sara
Sara
August 21, 2015 3:58 pm

This looks amazing, my whole family loves kielbasa and I can only imagine how awesome the sauce is!

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
August 21, 2015 10:02 pm
Reply to  Sara

Thanks so much Sara!