Air Fryer Kielbasa (Polish Sausages)
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Every bite of air fryer kielbasa is juicy perfection! This recipe takes just 10 minutes, and the sausages are a great protein for breakfast, dinner, or a tasty snack.
Why This Recipe is a Favorite
This air fryer kielbasa recipe is absolutely incredible. It’s so fast and easy to make, and there is hardly any cleanup. Best of all, everybody (and I mean everybody) loves it!
You just need 2 ingredients, the polish sausages and a tiny bit of oil – nothing else! They are really versatile, too. You can serve them for a quick breakfast with scrambled or jammy eggs, or enjoy them for dinner with mashed potatoes and cabbage or roasted broccoli.
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
These were great. Made them during a football game as a snack.
–Joi
Happy Kitchen Secrets
Here are my mom-tested cooking tips for making this recipe! I’ve made it countless times to save you from a failed attempt.
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket. If you’re cooking more than one polish sausage, air fry in batches. You want to leave enough room in the basket for the air to be able to flow around each piece of sausage.
- Always preheat the air fryer! If you don’t preheat it, it will take longer for the kielbasas to get caramelized, which can dry out the pieces.
- Use the drippings to roast vegetables. Simply pour the drippings over sliced vegetables and roast them. Hello, flavor!! I do this with the rendered fat from when I make pork belly bites, and it is delicious!
- You can air fry the kielbasa whole (without slicing it first). Follow the same instructions to cook the kielbasa whole, but poke a few holes in the kielbasa with a fork before air frying. This will keep the skin from bursting open.
👉 If you’re new to air frying or just love your air fryer, get my free printable Air Fryer Cooking Chart!
Learn how to cook anything in your air fryer with our free cook time chart!
Ingredient Notes
For this recipe, you only need two ingredients: kielbasa and some kind of oil. Avocado oil is best for making kielbasa in the air fryer because it has a high smoke point, but other high heat oils like olive oil will work as well.
Best Kind of Kielbasa
Kielbasa (aka Polish Sausage) is typically made with pork and/or beef, but it’s sometimes made with turkey. They can all be used interchangeably in this recipe, so choose whichever variety you prefer.
In most US grocery stores, kielbasa is smoked and fully cooked, however, it does occasionally come raw. This recipe calls for fully cooked kielbasa sausage.
How to Cook Kielbasa in the Air Fryer
This is a summary of the steps involved. Scroll down to the recipe card for the full step by step instructions! ⬇️
Jump to RecipeBefore you start, preheat the air fryer to 400°F (204°C). If your air fryer doesn’t have a preheat setting, just turn it on to 400°F, then wait about 5 minutes.
- Slice the sausage into bite size pieces. Do your best to keep the slices equal in thickness, so they air fry evenly. I suggest 1/2-inch rounds.
- Toss the kielbasa with oil in a bowl. Be sure to stir it well, to coat every piece.
- Arrange the kielbasa in the air fryer basket. A little overlap is fine, but it’s best to keep them in a single layer if possible.
- Air fry the sausage for about 10 minutes. After 5 minutes, shake the basket or use a silicone spatula to flip the pieces over.
👉 Note: You can cook the slices until they’re as crispy as you like! Add 1-2 minutes for extra crispy pieces, or subtract 1-2 minutes for less crispier pieces.
Make it kid friendly: To prevent toddlers from choking on the skins, you can air fry the kielbasa skinless. Or, you can simply peel it off of the slices after air frying.
Serving Suggestion
Kielbasa tastes great with grainy mustard and sauerkraut, crusty rolls, potatoes, dipped in horseradish aioli, or with vegetables like spaghetti squash, baby potatoes, roasted broccoli, and roasted beets.
Air Fryer Kielbasa Recipe FAQs
Yes, as long as the meat is fully cooked, this recipe will work perfectly with any type of sausages or ring bologna.
Refrigerate any leftover sausage in a covered container. Be sure to serve it again within 7 days.
Per the USDA, for food safety reasons, it's best to reheat sausages to an internal temperature of 165°F.
I'd love to hear about your experience making this recipe! Please leave a comment and rating below!
Air Fryer Kielbasa (Polish Sausage)
Video
Ingredients
- 14 ounces kielbasa or other fully cooked sausage
- 1 ½ tablespoons avocado oil or olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (204°C). Meanwhile, slice the kielbasa into ½-inch thick rounds.
- In a mixing bowl, toss the kielbasa with the oil, turning to coat each piece fully.
- Arrange the slices in a single layer in the air fryer basket. It’s okay if the pieces overlap a little.
- Air fry for 9-10 minutes, stopping halfway to shake the basket, or use a silicone spatula to flip the pieces over.
- Near the end of cooking time, open the basket to check on the kielbasa slices. When they’re hot and caramelized as much as you like them, carefully transfer them to a plate and serve.
Notes
- Add 1-2 minutes for extra crispy pieces, or subtract 1-2 minutes for juicier pieces.
- Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket. Cook in batches if necessary.
- Always preheat the air fryer! If you don't, it will take longer for the kielbasas to caramelize, and the sausage can become dry.
- To air fry the kielbasa whole (without slicing it first): Follow the same instructions, but poke a few holes in the kielbasa skin with a fork before cooking to keep it from bursting.
- This recipe is for fully-cooked kielbasa. Check the label to make sure yours is ready-to-eat.
These were great. Made them during a football game as a snack. My air fryer doesn’t go up to 425 so cooked them at 400.