If you grew up eating kielbasa and aren’t sure how to cook it with your air fryer, you have to try this air fryer kielbasa recipe! It makes the best kielbasa with juicy pieces the whole family will love.
Looking for more quick dinner ideas? You’ll love my quick butter bean chili and lemon pepper drumsticks!
Why you’ll love air fryer kielbasa
My family is half German, and I grew up eating lots of smoked sausage. It’s an easy meal for busy weeknights because it’s preseasoned and cooks quickly!
I love to air fry kielbasa because the sausage pieces caramelize beautifully. Plus, it’s mostly hands-off, so I can focus on preparing the rest of the meal.
Kielbasa is also naturally low carb, yet is delicious enough to please the whole family. We love using this air fryer sausage every couple of weeks for a quick, hearty meal on those busy nights.
What is kielbasa?
Also known as Polska kielbasa, kielbasa is a traditional Polish sausage. Kielbasa is the Polish word for sausage, so this term covers literally any Polish sausage.
In the United States, kielbasa is typically sold in the grocery store as a precooked u-shaped sausage seasoned with salt, black pepper, garlic, and marjoram. Because the sausages are already full of flavor and precooked, they only need a few minutes of cooking to reheat them before serving.
This is probably why I grew up eating them!
Although most kielbasa comes pre-cooked, some raw Polish sausages are out there. I’ll add tips for both situations in this kielbasa air fryer recipe.
Equipment for Air Fryer Smoked Sausage
- Air fryer
- Cutting board
- Knife
- Meat thermometer
Ingredients for Air Fryer Kielbasa Recipe
Kielbasa – Although you can use any kielbasa for this air fryer kielbasa recipe, I recommend looking for an uncured sausage. Processed meats are not as healthy as regular cuts, so I try to purchase uncured kielbasa.
Dipping sauce – This tangy mayonnaise-based sauce cuts through the fattiness and salt of the kielbasa. It tastes even better when the flavors sit overnight!
How to Cook Smoked Sausage in Air Fryer
- On a cutting board, slice your kielbasa into thick coins.
- Preheat the air fryer to 375 degrees.
- Place kielbasa coins to your air fryer basket in a single layer and put it in your air fryer.
- Set the timer for 10-15 minutes. Flip or shake the kielbasa halfway through for even caramelization on both sides.
- While the sausage is cooking, assemble the dipping sauce by stirring everything together in a small bowl.
- When the sausage is fully cooked (internal temperature of 165-175 degrees F), remove it from the air fryer and serve with the dipping sauce.
How to Store Air Fryer Kielbasa
This is a great meal prep recipe! Store your leftover kielbasa in an airtight container and plan to use it within 2-3 days.
Tips & Variations
If using raw smoked sausage – Follow all the same directions, but plan on cooking the sausage for approximately 20-25 minutes or until fully cooked.
Use frozen kielbasa – Follow this recipe with frozen kielbasa to save even more time. It might be hard to cut the frozen sausage, so add the whole pork kielbasa to the air fryer tray for 20-25 minutes. Turn halfway through and check the temperature before serving.
Cook the whole kielbasa – For even less prep, place the whole kielbasa in your air fryer basket and fry! This won’t get the caramelization on each piece, but it’s a great way to get dinner on the table fast.
To oil or not to oil – Sausages are naturally fatty, so I don’t add oil when I prepare them. They will release their natural oils while they are cooking. You can add a touch of olive oil to prevent the sausage from sticking to your air fryer.
Try this technique with other sausages – Try air frying your favorite links, including breakfast sausages and precooked chicken sausage.
What to Eat with Air Fryer Smoked Sausage
Go traditional, or enjoy your air-fried kielbasa with your favorite side dishes!
- Enjoy this air fryer kielbasa sausage with roasted potatoes and hot sauerkraut
- Serve with pierogies and pickled red cabbage
- Make a pot of mashed potatoes and a side of green beans
- Serve with barbecue sauce, steamed broccoli and roasted sweet potatoes
- Keep it simple with mac & cheese and baked beans (a family favorite)
FAQs
The answer depends on how you cut the smoked sausage. If you cook the entire precooked kielbasa at once, you’ll need about 15-20 minutes to reheat the sausage thoroughly.
If you cut your sausage in half-inch coins, you’ll need 10-15 minutes.
Always preheat your air fryer for the best results!
Most kielbasa is made from pork, and pork sausages should always be cooked to 165 degrees F. Use an instant-read thermometer to check the internal temperature of your smoked sausage.
Cut your precooked smoked sausage into half-inch coins. Place them in a single layer in your air fryer basket and add them to an air fryer preheated to 375 degrees F.
Cook them for 10-15 minutes, flipping halfway through. Serve as desired.
Absolutely! You can air fry any sausage. I prefer to cut the sausage into half inch pieces to get a nice juicy bite, although you can add the whole sausage to your air fryer basket.
Air fryer kielbasa makes a delicious meal with almost no time or prep! If you can cut a sausage, you can make this recipe. It can be used in so many different ways, so save this air fryer smoked sausage recipe for later!
Air Fryer Kielbasa
Equipment
- 1 Cutting board
- 1 Chef's knife
Ingredients
Smoked Sausage
- 12 oz precooked kielbasa
Dipping Sauce
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup dijon mustard
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 tbsp honey
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
Instructions
- On a cutting board, slice your kielbasa into thick coins.12 oz precooked kielbasa
- Preheat the air fryer to 375 degrees.
- Place kielbasa coins to your air fryer basket in a single layer and put it in your air fryer.
- Set the timer for 10-15 minutes. Flip or shake the kielbasa halfway through for even coloring on both sides.
- While the sausage is cooking, assemble the dipping sauce by stirring everything together in a small bowl.1/2 cup mayonnaise, 1/4 cup dijon mustard, 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar, 1/2 tbsp honey, 1 tsp smoked paprika
- When the sausage is fully cooked (internal temperature of 165-175 degrees F), remove it from the air fryer and serve with the dipping sauce.
Notes
