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These crock pot apple kielbasa chunks mix sweet, zesty and rich flavors in an incredibly tasty way. The combo of applesauce with brown sugar makes this sticky, wonderful coating while the garlic and chili flakes give it just enough kick. It's surprising how just a handful of basic ingredients can create something so darn good.
The Magic Behind This Dish
Your crock pot handles everything - just dump it all in and forget about it. These chunks work great for snacking at gatherings or pair them with rice for a full meal. Most stuff you'll need is probably sitting in your pantry right now, and you can freeze the leftovers without any trouble.
Ingredients You'll Want
Grab some quality polska kielbasa or whatever smoked sausage you like best. The brown sugar helps make that wonderful sticky coating while plain applesauce adds natural sweetness and fruit taste. Freshly chopped garlic builds flavor depth and a sprinkle of red pepper flakes puts in that perfect touch of spice.
Let's Cook It Up
Just throw your cut kielbasa into the crock pot and mix in the applesauce, brown sugar, garlic and red pepper flakes. Stir everything together, then let it cook on low for 6 hours or high for 3 hours. The sausage gets nice and soft while soaking up all those yummy flavors. Dish it out straight from your crock pot with toothpicks or alongside your favorite sides.
Storing Your Leftovers
Any extras will stay good in your fridge for about 3 days - just heat them up on the stove or pop them back in the crock pot. They freeze really nicely too - just thaw them overnight when you're ready to eat again. Want to plan ahead? Get everything ready in your crock pot before bed, then start it cooking in the morning.
Serving Suggestions
These kielbasa chunks make fantastic party food - just put out some toothpicks and let folks grab what they want. For a full dinner, put them on top of buttery mashed potatoes or fluffy rice with some roasted veggies on the side. They're super handy for sports gatherings since they'll stay warm right in the crock pot.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- → Can I swap the sausage type?
- Absolutely! Although it suggests polska kielbasa, feel free to use any smoked sausage you prefer.
- → What’s the heat level like?
- It’s mildly spicy with just a pinch of pepper flakes. You can change the heat by adding more or less.
- → Is it okay to make it in advance?
- Yep! You can prep everything early and warm it up later. It might even taste better after resting.
- → Do I need to sear the kielbasa first?
- Nope, no need to sear it. The fully-cooked sausage can go straight into your slow cooker.
- → What’s the best way to serve this?
- Stick toothpicks in for an easy app, or serve over mashed potatoes or rice for a filling meal.