3 Ingredient Candied Kielbasa Bites

Just three ingredients are needed to make one of the best appetizer bites! From tailgating to game night, these bites of sweet candy-coated kielbasa slices are a crowd favorite!

Retro Candied Kielbasa Appetizer

This recipe has been around for as long as I can remember.  Everyone’s mother made this at least once, or you were at a party and the hostess made these, or you had a potluck at work, and someone brought these in via a crock pot. Yep, I’m talkin’ about grape jelly, chili sauce, and kielbasa.  That’s it, plain and simple. 

Regardless of your cooking skillset, this is one recipe that anyone can make as it’s easy, approachable, and absolutely delicious!

Now, I have mixed it up a bit over the years by using cooked meatballs, Little Smokies, hot dogs, or even cooked sausages.  Plus, I’ll even use strawberry jelly in place of the grape.  It’s pretty versatile and equally as delicious!

Stovetop Candied Kielbasa Ingredients

I’m not kidding when I say it’s only three ingredients:

• Kielbasa
• Chili Sauce
• Grape Jelly

How to Make Party Kielbasa

1. In a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, add the jelly and chili sauce.
2. Whisk together until combined and simmer, stirring occasionally.

Grape Jelly & Chili Sauce Kielbasa

This recipe brings back a favorite childhood memory. It was the dead of winter, and our neighbors came to our house as their furnace had let go. We had finished eating, and my Dad turned to our neighbor and said, “It’s a shame we didn’t plan this, Bob; we could have played poker.”

Well, Bob stood, put on his shoes, and ran out the door to his car. Do you know that man brought their jars of change just in case?! LOL. That’s how often my parents and they played.

3. While the sauce is simmering, heat a large non-stick pan over medium heat.
4. Place each round of kielbasa cut side down in the pan. Do not crowd the pan—you want to sear the cut sides, not steam them.
5. Cook for 5 minutes or until the bottom is golden brown and seared. Flip over and continue cooking for another 5 minutes or until seared on the bottom.
6. Once all the kielbasa bites are seared, place them into the sauce and gently stir to coat all pieces.

Wow, it’s funny how foods can trigger a memory like that.  I honestly had forgotten about that night until just now, as I was typing this.

7. Reduce the heat to low and cook for 25-30 minutes or until the sauce has thickened.
8. To plate, allow the dish to cool in the pan for about 5-10 minutes. Insert a party fork or toothpick into each bite, allow the extra sauce to drip off, and then plate.
9. Garnish with chives. Serve the extra sauce on the side.

After that night, this dish became a regular in our house, and everyone wanted the recipe from my Mom.  I think she got this from some lady she went to bingo with who got it from a lady who got it from a lady – you know how that goes.

If you’re interested, the plastic silver appetizer forks I used in the shots are on Amazon.

3 Ingredient Candied Kielbasa Bites Recipe

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Just three ingredients are needed to make one of the best appetizer bites! From tailgating to game night, these bites of sweet candy-coated kielbasa slices are always a crowd favorite!

• Author: The Kitchen Whisperer
• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Total Time: 45 minutes
• Yield: serves 6-8
• Category: appetizers, candied meat, easy snacks, homegating, tailgating
• Method: Stovetop
• Cuisine: appetizers, candied meat, easy snacks, homegating, tailgating

Ingredients

• 2 lbs kielbasa, sliced into 1/2” rounds
• 1 cup grape jelly, not jam (can also use strawberry jelly too!)
• 1/2 cup bottled chili sauce

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Instructions

1. In a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, add the jelly and chili sauce.
2. Whisk together until combined and simmer, stirring occasionally.
3. While the sauce is simmering, heat a large non-stick pan over medium heat.
4. Place each round of kielbasa cut-side down in the pan. Do not crowd the pan—you want to sear the cut sides, not steam them.
5. Cook for 5 minutes or until the bottom is golden brown and seared. Flip over and continue cooking for another 5 minutes or until seared on the bottom.
6. Once all the kielbasa bites are seared, place them into the sauce and gently stir to coat all pieces.
7. Reduce the heat to low and cook for 25-30 minutes or until the sauce has thickened.
8. To plate, allow to cool for about 5-10 minutes in the pan. Insert a party fork or toothpick into each bite, allow the extra sauce to drip off, and then plate.
9. Garnish with chives. Serve the extra sauce on the side.

Notes

You can also use little smokies, cooked meatballs and even cut up hotdogs. Omit the searing part for the smokies and meatballs.

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