Slow Cooker Kielbasa Sausage in Beer and Mustard Sauce Recipe

By
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
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Updated on 01/4/22
Slow Cooker Kielbasa Sausage in Beer and Mustard Sauce

The Spruce Eats / Kristina Vanni
Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 6 hrs
Total: 6 hrs 10 mins
Servings: 6 servings
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
408 Calories
29g Fat
20g Carbs
16g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6
Amount per serving
Calories 408
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 29g 37%
Saturated Fat 10g 49%
Cholesterol 76mg 25%
Sodium 1019mg 44%
Total Carbohydrate 20g 7%
Dietary Fiber 1g 3%
Protein 16g
Calcium 34mg 3%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

This easy slow cooker kielbasa makes a tasty appetizer or main dish. Polish sausage and an onion are sliced and placed into the crock pot, and then a mixture of beer, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, and mustard is poured in for a sweet and tangy taste. Cornstarch and water are added at the end of cooking to thicken and make a delicious sauce. The beer and mustard sauce seems a natural way to flavor the smoked sausage pieces. You will need a 6-quart slow cooker for this recipe.

This crock pot smoked sausage recipe makes a hearty meal with potatoes or cooked long-grain white rice and a vegetable of your choice, or serve the sausage as an appetizer for a party or game day gathering. It's great as a sandwich filling, too. The recipe can easily be scaled down to make less if needed. 

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds Polish sausage or smoked sausage
  • 1 large onion
  • For the Sauce:
  • 2/3 cup beer
  • 1/3 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1/4 cup prepared mustard
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 2 teaspoons water

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Slow Cooker Kielbasa Sausage in Beer and Mustard Sauce ingredients

    The Spruce Eats / Kristina Vanni

  2. Slice sausage into 1-inch rounds; place in a 6-quart, or larger, slow cooker along with a sliced onion.

    place sausage in slow cooker along with a sliced onion

    The Spruce Eats / Kristina Vanni

  3. Combine the following sauce ingredients—beer, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, and prepared mustard, and pour over sausage and onions.

    Combine remaining ingredients and pour over sausage and onions

    The Spruce Eats / Kristina Vanni

  4. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours.

    cook sausage and onions in the slow cooker

    The Spruce Eats / Kristina Vanni

  5.  Mix cornstarch with water to make a paste, and stir in before serving to thicken the sauce.

    Slow Cooker Kielbasa Sausage in Beer and Mustard Sauce

    The Spruce Eats / Kristina Vanni

Tips

  • Coat the inside of the slow cooker with a non-stick cooking spray to make for an easier cleanup.
  • If you want to cook this on high remember that one hour on the high setting is about the same as cooking on the low setting for two hours.
  • Grab a beer of your choice, and measure out the amount needed for the recipe. The remaining beer left in the can or bottle can be enjoyed (by an adult) while waiting for the smoked sausage to cook.

Recipe Variation

  • Instead of beef or pork smoked sausage or polish sausage, use turkey smoked sausage.
  • Use chicken or vegetable stock in place of the beer for a non-alcoholic version.
  • Slice up a red or green bell pepper to add to the dish.

How to Store

Leftover kielbasa sausage in beer and mustard sauce can be stored in an airtight container and kept in the refrigerator for up to four days. Simply reheat in a saucepan on the stove on medium heat until warm. It can also be reheated in the microwave using a microwave-safe dish.

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