BBQ Kielbasa

A sweet sauce with 7-Up, BBQ sauce and onions make the perfect topping for BBQ Kielbasa sandwiches. Our BBQ Kielbasa recipe is one of our favorite super easy ways to dress up smoked sausage.

BBQ Kielbasa Sandwich Recipe

BBQ sauce is an added layer of flavor that makes Kielbasa even more irresistible! Enjoy the extra flavor in smoked sausage in a sandwich or as bite size pieces in an appetizer.

So easy to make in a skillet or toss in the crock pot in just 5 to 10 minutes an easy meal the whole family will enjoy is ready with very little effort.

Take the Kielbasa sausage and nestle in a bun, top with the softened onions and scoop a little of the sweet BBQ sauce over the top to level up your meal. My husband loves all of our Kielbasa recipes and said this reminds him of a sandwich he would get at the ball park.

Kielbasa sausage made from pork with spices added, then smoked is such an amazing meat. The meat is versatile and pairs well with Sauerkraut in Soup, Pierogies, Noodles, and Sausage, Peppers & Onions so we couldn’t wait to try it with barbecue sauce.

Another fun option for this recipe is cutting the Kielbasa into thick coins or chunks and browning in a skillet with the onions and sauce. Use toothpicks to serve up a delicious appetizer that is similar to Smokies in Sauce.

Why This Recipe Works:

• Can be made in a crock pot for sandwiches or the center piece of a meal OR it can be made in a skillet for smaller appetizer sized pieces
• Smoky, salty and sweet make an irresistible combination of flavors the whole family can enjoy
• This meal only takes 5 minutes of hands on time to toss in the crock pot
• The ingredients store well for a couple weeks, so this recipe can be added to the menu to stretch the time between grocery store visits

Ingredients Needed to Make Barbecue Kielbasa

• Kielbasa or smoked sausage that is pre-cooked – I prefer to purchase them in longer, straight sticks than in the U-shaped package if making a sandwich as the straight pieces of meat fit better on a bun.
• Onions – I typically use sweet onions because the slices are a little bigger, but white or yellow onions work well too.
• BBQ Sauce – Your favorite sauce will work fine, Montgomery Inn is our preferred sauce for this recipe.
• 7-Up – a lemon lime soda helps create a sweet glaze that makes this recipe even more special, Sprite works great too.

How To Cut the Kielbasa

I prefer to purchase the Kielbasa sausage that come in two longer, more straight sticks as opposed to the U-shaped pieces.

The bend in the U-shaped pieces makes it more difficult to make uniform sandwiches or bites.

I like to cut the pieces as pictured below, but it is also common to cut the quarter up even more. If bigger chunks are used then a few pieces can fit fine in a sandwich bun.

Sometimes I will cut the meat into smaller chunks after cooking and coat in the bbq glaze before serving. There are lots of easy options with this recipe!

BBQ Smoked Sausage in the Crock Pot

Use a liner or generous coating of non-stick cooking spray.

Cut the Kielbasa into pieces that will fit well on a hotdog or slightly larger brat bun.

Lay the meat in a single layer in the crock.

Add wedges or thick slices of onion.

Pour the 7-Up over top. You want some liquid to sweeten the glaze, but too much will prevent the sauce from sticking very well.

Finish up by drizzling bbq sauce in a nice layer on top.

Set to high for 2 hours or cook on low for 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 hours.

Serve warm and enjoy!

How To Make A Bigger Batch

Additional layers of meat, onions and sauce can be added to make a bigger batch, but cooking time will increase based on the size of the crock pot and amount added.

Five to six pound of smoked sausage cook on high for 1 hour and then on low for an additional 3 – 4 hours.

Add large pieces to a hot dog sized sandwich bun or cut into chunks.

Take a spoon and drizzle a little more of the delicious bbq sauce over the top.

BBQ Kielbasa in a Skillet

Pre-heat skillet to medium high heat. Add a couple tablespoons of vegetable oil.

Brown pieces of Kielbasa, turning often to brown all sides evenly.

Using a quality skillet like my Swiss Diamond set makes this recipe cook much faster and the meat will brown more evenly.

Add soda pop to the skillet along onions and barbecue sauce. Turn down to medium heat and cook for 3 to 6 minutes until onions are tender.

Use toothpicks to make stacks of meat and onions coated in this beautiful BBQ sauce or just scoop onto a plate or into a bun to enjoy.

Another great skillet recipe is our Kielbasa & Cabbage. We love having this quick and easy options to make quickly for a week night meal.

Recipe Tips & Tricks:

• BBQ Kielbasa is popular to add to sandwiches with onions
• Thin slices of bell peppers make a nice addition to this recipe too
• I slightly prefer the flavor of browning chunks in a skillet, but find the recipe easier to make in a slow cooker
• Cook on high in the crock pot if making a much bigger batch and stir occasionally to better coat the meat with BBQ sauce

More Easy Family Meals

• Chicken Pockets are better than the frozen food version and so easy to make at home.
• Crock Pot Ham is great for parties and also makes delicious sandwiches.
• Turkey Sausage Breakfast Casserole is a hearty spin on a classic recipe with pork sausage that we enjoy for any meal of the day.
• Homemade Hamburger Helper Skillet Meal – is a delicious option from my friend Amy at House of Nash Eats.