How to Cook Kielbasa in the Air Fryer
on Feb 12, 2024, Updated Dec 11, 2024
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These tasty air fryer kielbasa bites take almost no time to make, are very budget-friendly, and require no cooking skill whatsoever.
I knew this would be delicious, but it was so much more delicious than I could have imagined. Slices of kielbasa get radically delicious when fried up in the air fryer, emphasizing the sausage’s juiciness with a firm, almost crisp exterior.
The air fryer really brings out the best in kielbasa, with the circulating hot air yielding an amazing texture and sealing in the juices. But air frying kielbasa is so much smarter and more reasonable feeling than frying the sausage in oil, which is messy, greasy, and a pain in the butt. There is no oil needed here, and all you need is the kielbasa — no extra seasonings needed! The smoked sausage is rich and flavorful enough on its own.
These are absolutely perfect for game day and cocktail parties, not to mention feeding a gang of hungry teenagers who might show up after a soccer game or play rehearsal. Drop a platter of these easy kielbasa snacks on the table with mustard and ketchup for dipping, and then stand back and watch your fingers! And if you celebrate Oktoberfest, these are a must-make (served with mustard and sauerkraut, please!).
If you wanted to serve these as an entree, they would be nice with a big scoop of Easy Cheesy Rice with Broccoli or Deviled Egg Potato Salad.
Sausage lovers will also want to know How to Cook Italian Sausage in the Air Fryer and How to Cook Italian Sausage in the Oven.
Table of Contents
These tasty air fryer kielbasa bites take almost no time to make, are very budget-friendly, and require no cooking skill whatsoever.
Buying Kielbasa
Kielbasa is almost always sold cooked, and that’s the kind you should use in this recipe. Don’t use raw kielbasa in this air fryer recipe. But do explore — there are over 100 types of Polish kielbasa!
Most kielbasa is made from a mixture of pork and beef, but there are also versions made with turkey, turkey and pork, and other meat combos. Pick the one you like the best; they work equally well here!
Recipe Variations
- If you want even more flavor, you can blend up 1 teaspoon each of garlic powder and paprika and sprinkle it evenly over the slices before frying.
- If you want, make a dipping sauce (instead of serving with mustard or ketchup) that will fancy these up a bit. Try horseradish sauce, remoulade sauce, or barbecue sauce.
- To cook whole kielbasa in the air fryer, make sure to prick the sausage several times with a fork before placing it in the air fryer. Air fry the whole kielbasa (or larger pieces of kielbasa) at 380 degrees for about 12 minutes, until hot throughout with a firm exterior.
How to Make Crispy Sliced Kielbasa in the Air Fryer
- Cut the sausage: Slice the kielbasa into 1/2-inch thick pieces.
- Air fry the kielbasa: Place the slices in a single layer in the air fryer. Cook at 380 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes, until hot throughout and firm and a bit crispy on the outside. If you think of it, toss them halfway through cooking to promote even browning.
- Serve hot with the dipping sauce of your choice.
FAQs
If you have a few extra minutes, go ahead and preheat the air fryer, but it really doesn’t matter. If you don’t preheat it, the sliced kielbasa will probably take an extra minute or so to cook to the ideal doneness.
Sliced Polish kielbasa will take about 8 to 10 minutes at 380 degrees. A whole kielbasa will take about 10 to 12 minutes.
Air Fryer Kielbasa Cooking Tips
- Make sure to spread out the kielbasa in as close to a single layer as possible. It’s ok if the slices overlap a bit in the air fryer, but try not to stack them or overcrowd the basket. If you think of it, toss the slices midway through the cooking process to promote even browning. If your slices are in a perfect single layer, you can skip shaking and tossing the slices.
- Cutting the slices into 1/2-inch pieces will give you a nice ration of snappy exterior to juicy interior, but you can make the slices thinner or thicker as you like. You’ll probably want to adjust the cooking time up or down, depending on the thickness of the slices.
- If you want crispier slices, add another minute or two to the cooking time. If you want softer slices, cut a couple of minutes off the cooking time. The sausage is already fully cooked, so you are really just reheating it to your desired texture and temperature. Remember that they will firm up a bit and get a bit chewier as they cool.
- You can use the cooked kielbasa slices in other dishes as well, like pastas, baked pastas, casseroles, and so on.
What to Serve With Air-Fried Kielbasa
More Air Fryer Recipes
- Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Wings
- Air Fryer Shrimp
- Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks
- Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts
- Air Fryer Green Beans
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How to Cook Kielbasa in the Air Fryer
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 kielbasa (about 14 ounces; your favorite variety)
- Mustard and/or ketchup (to serve; optional)
Instructions
- Slice the kielbasa into 1/2-inch thick pieces.
- Place them in a single layer in the air fryer. Cook the slices at 380 F for 8 to 10 minutes, until hot throughout and firm and a bit crispy on the outside. If you think of it, toss them halfway through cooking to promote even browning.
- Serve hot with the dipping sauce of your choice.
Notes
- Most kielbasa is made from a mixture of pork and beef, but there are also versions made with turkey, turkey and pork, and other meat combos. Pick the one you like the best; they work equally well here!
- Make sure to spread out the kielbasa in as close to a single layer as possible. It’s ok if the slices overlap a bit in the air fryer, but try not to stack them or overcrowd the basket. If you think of it, toss the slices midway through the cooking process to promote even browning. If your slices are in a perfect single layer, you can skip shaking and tossing the slices.
- Cutting the slices into 1/2-inch pieces will give you a nice ration of snappy exterior to juicy interior, but you can make the slices thinner or thicker as you like. You’ll probably want to adjust the cooking time up or down, depending on the thickness of the slices.
- If you want crispier slices, add another minute or two to the cooking time. If you want softer slices, cut a couple of minutes off the cooking time. The sausage is already fully cooked, so you are really just reheating it to your desired texture and temperature. Remember that they will firm up a bit and get a bit chewier as they cool.
- You can use the cooked kielbasa slices in other dishes as well, like pastas, baked pastas, casseroles, and so on.
