Kielbasa and Rice

The combination of smoked sausage, bacon and onions brings savory, spicy, smoky and sweet flavors together in every bite. Add a scoop of rice and douse it with the sauce, and you have a full dinner ready for serving. In this recipe for smoked kielbasa with rice, everything is cooked and ready in just 15 minutes.

This recipe uses precooked sausage, so you only need to heat it up in our savory, tangy sauce. And that sauce? It combines bottled barbecue sauce, seasonings and a kick of fresh horseradish—things you may already have in the pantry. Serve over fluffy rice for a quick weeknight dinner idea, or put a bowl of sliced sausages out with toothpicks and other tasty party appetizers.

Kielbasa and Rice Ingredients

• Smoked kielbasa or Polish sausage: Kielbasa is the Polish word for sausage. In most American grocery stores, the two names are used interchangeably, each referring to a smoked sausage. But not all Polish sausages are kielbasa. Fresh Polish sausage, for example, is raw and needs to be fully cooked before eating. In this recipe, you want to stick with precooked kielbasa.
• Onion: The sharpness of onion cuts into the rich, salty of kielbasa. It’s a classic pairing.
• Bacon: What’s better than smoked sausage? Smoked sausage with bacon, of course. Bacon lends a sweet smokiness to the sausage that deepens its natural flavors.
• Honey barbecue sauce: Use your favorite barbecue sauce brand for the pan sauce. It lends thickness and richness, plus honey flavors that brighten all the meaty, savory notes of the meat.
• Prepared horseradish: Ah, beloved horseradish, that gets-in-your-nose-and-clears-your-sinuses-right-out vegetable. The jarred horseradish you buy at the store is grated and seasoned—similar to a jar of grated ginger. Try homemade horseradish for huge flavor.
• Seasonings: Garlic and crushed red pepper flakes add more robust flavor and heat to this deeply flavored kielbasa and rice dish. Add more or less according to your taste.
• Rice: The final thing that ties all this together is a bed of warm rice, at the ready to soak up those delicious sausage juices and that sweet skillet sauce.

Directions

Step 1: Saute the kielbasa

In a Dutch oven, saute the kielbasa, onion and bacon until the onion is tender. Drain the excess drippings.

Editor’s Tip: While cooking in this step, you want the heat high enough to give your onions and sausage a slight caramelized edge but not so hot that they burn. Medium-high is a good starting point, then adjust the heat as needed while sauteeing.

Step 2: Add the remaining ingredients

Add the barbecue sauce, brown sugar, horseradish, water, garlic and red pepper flakes to the sausage mixture.

Step 3: Cook and thicken the sauce

Bring the sausage mixture to a boil. Cook, stirring often, for two to three minutes or until the sauce thickens. Serve with rice.

Editor’s Tip: Since you’re boiling the sauce over high heat here, it will sputter a bit and cook down quickly. Keep stirring the sauce so it doesn’t burn or stick to the bottom of your Dutch oven.

MARK DERSE FOR TASTE OF HOME

Kielbasa and Rice Variations

• Try other smoked sausages: Instead of kielbasa, try Conecuh sausage, a regional southern sausage from Alabama that boasts a strong hickory smoke flavor and aroma. You can also use andouille or precooked chorizo in this dish.
• Go meatless: To make this vegetarian, skip the bacon (or use tempeh bacon) and substitute a veggie sausage for the kielbasa.
• Serve with a different starch: Kielbasa pairs well with most potato recipes (think pierogi or potato pancakes) or homemade rolls.
• Try kielbasa in other dishes: Get creative and use kielbasa in other quick sausage dinners like pasta, gnocchi or pizza.

How to Store Kielbasa and Rice

If possible, store the rice and kielbasa separately, otherwise the rice will absorb all the sauce while in the refrigerator. That’s not inherently bad; it’s just not ideal if you want the recipe to be as saucy as it was when it was first made.

How long does kielbasa and rice last?

Your kielbasa should last in the fridge for three to four days. How long rice can last, on the other hand, is a different story. Rice can grow bacteria surprisingly quickly, and it’s recommended that you eat it within 24 hours—yet another good reason to store your rice and kielbasa separately, if you can.

Can you freeze kielbasa and rice?

Again, we recommend freezing your rice and kielbasa separately to avoid discrepancies in how long each lasts. Freezing leftover rice is a great way to preserve leftovers as long as the cooked rice is frozen within 24 hours of preparation. The rice will last up to one month in the freezer. The kielbasa and sauce should last for two to three months in the freezer. Thaw your frozen leftovers in the fridge before reheating them.

How do you reheat kielbasa and rice?

Reheat your kielbasa in a saucepan over a gentle heat, stirring gently, until it’s warmed through. You can add a little water or broth to the mixture to thin out the sauce (it will thicken a bit in the fridge).

Kielbasa and Rice Tips

MARK DERSE FOR TASTE OF HOME

Do you need to cook kielbasa?

Kielbasa is precooked and therefore no longer raw, so you can technically eat it right out of the package. However, since processed and packaged pork can grow bacteria while in the cooler, it’s recommended that you reheat your kielbasa to 165°F to kill any harmful bacteria.

What’s the best way to cook rice?

You can make perfect rice on the stove, in the microwave or in a rice cooker. The best way is your favorite way!

What can you serve with kielbasa and rice?

Sides with punchy, bright and sour flavors tend to be natural pairings for kielbasa, as they’ll cut through the richness and contrast with the salty and smoky flavors. Quick pickles and sauerkraut are always a great pairing with kielbasa. Tart jams, jellies and fruits also work well. A creamy buttermilk or sour cream and cucumber salad is also a classic side.