This recipe for easy roasted Kielbasa sausage and potatoes transforms the beloved Polish sausage into a delicious one-dish meat and potatoes dinner.
How do you cook kielbasa? First, slice the Polish smoked sausage into bite-sized pieces, season them with olive oil, salt, garlic, and parsley, and transfer them to a pan. Roast in a 400°F oven for 40 minutes, until browned, juicy and crisp. Serve and enjoy!
Roasted kielbasa and potatoes is a classic Polish dinner that’s both filling and flavorful. And when you know how to make it in your oven, it is very likely to become your new go-to one-pan weeknight dinner. We are covering exactly what you need to know to make delicious and satisfying roasted kielbasa and potatoes for dinner tonight.
What Is Kielbasa?
Kielbasa refers to all of the meat sausages that come from Poland. Kielbasa varieties include smoked sausage, large, thinly sliced sausage, or hot and spicy, dried sausage. However, when many people refer to kielbasa in the US, they’re talking about a tubular link sausage that’s often infused with Eastern European flavors like garlic, cloves, and marjoram.
Usually, kielbasa is either made with all ground pork or a combination of pork and beef. It is often smoked and can add a wonderful smoky flavor to dishes made indoors.
Kielbasa Vs Bratwursts
Kielbasa shouldn’t be confused with German bratwurst sausages. While the European-style sausages are similar, kielbasa is technically from Poland, while bratwursts are from Germany. Both are often sold in a similar, long tubular shape, maybe sold either smoked or dried, and can include similar seasoning options.
If you enjoy this recipe for kielbasa and potatoes, next time give it a try with bratwurst!
Side Dishes for Kielbasa
Kielbasa smoked sausages pair well with any dish you’d normally enjoy with smoked sausages. One of the most classic meals featuring kielbasa is simply a roasted or smoked sausage topped with plenty of tangy sauerkraut.
Or, for a Polish twist on your breakfast, you can serve kielbasa alongside scrambled eggs and buttered toast.
Kielbasa is also an easy and flavorful way to add protein and smokiness to brothy soups. It pairs well with cabbage, beans, leafy greens, and root vegetables for a hearty and warming stew.
On its own, kielbasa is excellent simply sandwiched into a toasted bun with your favorite toppings, including pickles, mustard, and hot sauce.
But for today’s recipe, you won’t need any side dishes at all. These roasted potatoes with kielbasa come together in just one pan, and the dish includes everything you need for a filling and comforting meal: protein, sides, and all.
How to Make Roasted Kielbasa Smoked Sausages and Potatoes
Ready to get cooking? Let’s dive into the recipe for this hearty Polish dinner you’ll be craving all week long.
Ingredients
First, assemble your ingredients. You’ll need the following items for this one-pan dinner:
- 1 pound of kielbasa polish smoked sausage
- 3 pounds of small red potatoes
- 2 minced garlic cloves
- 2 tablespoons of minced fresh parsley
- Olive oil
- Salt
You can use other seasonings and herbs, and add other veggies if you like. For example, garlic powder, garlic salt, or minced garlic will work instead of fresh garlic.
Minced chives, basil, cilantro, tarragon, and other fresh or dried herbs are all good substitutes for parsley, and smoked paprika, black pepper, and onion powder make dazzling additions.
Other vegetables you might add can include sautéd or fresh green beans, green pepper, red pepper, yellow onion, and an assortment of potatoes (Yukon gold, russet potatoes). Add any twist to this original kielbasa potatoes recipe to make this a comfort food that your whole family will enjoy, the best of any sheet pan meals you’ve ever tried, or even the next potluck winner.
Prep the Ingredients
Step 1: Wash the Potatoes
First, prepare your potatoes for roasting. Since these guys grow underground, you can expect some dirt to cling to their skin. Run the spuds under cold water and gently scrub any dirt off the surface of the potatoes. Place the clean potatoes on a cutting board for the next step.
Step 2: Slice the Kielbasa and Potatoes
Next, working on a cutting board, slice both the potatoes and the kielbasa into roughly 1-inch rounds. There’s no need to measure. Opt for similar-sized pieces so the meat cooks evenly.
Cut the potatoes into halves or quarters if they’re very large. Combine the meat and potatoes in a mixing bowl.
Step 3: Season the Kielbasa
Now let’s season everything. First, drizzle the olive oil into the bowl, using just enough to lightly coat the sausage and potatoes pieces. Next, add a few pinches of salt. And finally, add the finishing touches of garlic and the parsley.
Remember that the sausage itself is already highly seasoned and flavored with herbs and spices, so you don’t need to go overboard with salt and other seasonings in this dish.
Not too sure about how much seasoning you need? A good rule of thumb is for every pound of kielbasa, use 2 tablespoons of olive oil, 1 teaspoon of salt, 2 pressed garlic cloves, and 2 tablespoons of minced parsley. If you don’t have fresh, you can use 1/2 tablespoon of dried parsley.
Step 4: Stir Thoroughly
Make sure you stir the contents of the bowl once or twice to coat everything nicely and evenly.
Cook the Kielbasa
Kielbasa can be cooked in a skillet on the stove for well-rendered, browned sausages, seared on a grill for a smokier flavor and char marks, or cooked in the oven for less mess and a full flavor. This recipe uses the oven method to allow the flavors of this recipe’s ingredients to mingle best.
If you’re starting with frozen kielbasa, thaw the sausages on the counter before beginning this recipe, or follow our guide for oven-cooking frozen sausages ahead, but cut the sausage cook-time in half and jump back to this recipe to add the potatoes.
Step 1: Preheat the Oven
Preheat the oven to 400°F (205°C). While you wait for the oven to come up to temperature, find a large baking sheet or oven-safe pan, like a sheet pan. For easier clean-up, you can line the sheet pan or any baking with parchment paper.
Step 2: Put Everything on a Pan
Spread the kielbasa and potatoes into a single layer on the pan. Make sure every piece has space around it to brown. If you’re doubling the recipe, you may need to use two pans, or work in batches.
Step 3: Roast the Kielbasa and Potatoes
Place the pan in the oven and cook the kielbasa for 40 to 50 minutes. Stir the sausage and potatoes after 20 minutes, or when the potatoes are brown and crispy.
Check that the potatoes are fully cooked by inserting a fork or a skewer into a potato. If you don’t feel resistance, then you’re ready to serve and enjoy!
Is Kielbasa Sold Pre-Cooked?
Kielbasa is almost always sold pre-cooked in America. Part of the sausage-making process for kielbasa is to cook and smoke the meat before it’s packaged and sold to consumers.
However, cooking the kielbasa at home will help the meat get nice and crispy on the edges and allows some of the fat inside to render out and season your potatoes or other side dishes.
How do You Know When Kielbasa Is Done?
When roasting kielbasa, you don’t have to worry about undercooking it. In most cases, you’re using fully-cooked sausage. Of course, always double-check the package to ensure this is the case. So your sausage is cooked when it has the golden brown edges you’re looking for.
However, if you happen to have a kielbasa that is not completely cooked, the best way to know that your meat is ready to eat is by testing it with an internal meat thermometer.
According to FoodSaftey.gov, ground meats and sausages are considered safe to eat when they reach an internal temperature of 160°F.
What to Serve with Roasted Kielbasa and Potatoes
Kielbasa sausage’s smokey, salty flavors pair well with acids and bitters, cruciferous vegetables, roots, and creamy grains. If you’re looking for a nice side dish to round out this meal, try something green and fresh like roasted broccoli, sautéd kale tossed in a light vinaigrette, mushroom soup, or onion soup.
Try other kielbasa recipes, like combining kielbasa with beans topped with sour cream, like in feijoada, Brazil’s national dish, making soup with turkey smoked sausage (kielbasa variety), white beans, and tomato, or sear sliced kielbasa on the stove like you would chorizo or Italian sausage, and slide it into a grilled cheese sandwich.
Storage Suggestions
You can store leftover roasted kielbasa and potatoes in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days.
Reheating Kielbasa
To reheat a kielbasa meal, spread the food in one layer on an oven-safe dish, and heat in the oven at 325°F, or in a microwaveable dish in the microwave. Reheat until the sausage’s inner temperature reads 160°F (test with a meat thermometer) — about 20 minutes in the oven, or 1-2 minutes in the microwave.
Undercooked sausages (when their internal temperature measures less than 160°F) are dangerous to eat, even when you’re just reheating them.
Roasted Kielbasa and Potatoes
Equipment
- Baking dish
- Cutting board
- Chef's knife
Ingredients
- 1 pound kielbasa
- 3 pounds small red potatoes
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 tbsp minced fresh parsley
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- Slice the sausage into 1-inch pieces. Slice the potatoes in half or quarters so they're a similar size to the sausage pieces.
- In a bowl, toss the sausage and potatoes with the oil, garlic, salt, and parsley.
- Arrange on a baking dish and roast for 40 to 50 minutes, until crispy on the outside and the potatoes are fork-tender.
