Get ready to discover your new favorite slow cooker meal! Today, we’re thrilled to share an incredibly delicious and remarkably simple recipe that combines savory kielbasa with the sweet-tart goodness of red cabbage and apples. This Crock Pot Kielbasa with Red Cabbage and Apples is not just a dish; it’s a culinary experience designed for busy weeknights and cozy family dinners.
Kielbasa recipes consistently rank among our most popular content, and for good reason! The smoky, rich flavor of kielbasa pairs perfectly with a variety of ingredients, making it a versatile and beloved staple in kitchens worldwide. We’ve even had our kielbasa creations featured on major platforms like the Today Show website, which just goes to show how much people adore this humble yet delicious sausage!
Discover the Magic of Crock Pot Kielbasa with Red Cabbage and Apples
Imagine a meal that requires minimal prep, fills your home with an inviting aroma, and delivers maximum flavor. That’s exactly what you get with this Crock Pot Kielbasa with Red Cabbage and Apples. This recipe transforms simple, wholesome ingredients into a hearty, comforting dish with very little effort. It’s the kind of meal that makes you look forward to dinner, especially after a long day.
The slow cooker is truly a match made in heaven for kielbasa. It allows the flavors to meld beautifully, tenderizing the cabbage and apples while infusing the sausage with sweet and tangy notes. Our readers can’t get enough of our slow cooker kielbasa variations, including fan favorites like Crock Pot Spicy Barbecue Kielbasa, Crock Pot Bourbon Glazed Kielbasa, Crock Pot Beer Braised Kielbasa, and Crock Pot Kielbasa and Sauerkraut. This new recipe joins that illustrious lineup, offering a delightful twist with its unique sweet and savory profile.
The Perfect Blend of Flavors
What makes this dish so special? It’s the harmonious combination of distinct ingredients:
- Smoky Kielbasa: The star of the show, offering a robust, savory base. Its pre-cooked nature makes it ideal for slow cooking, as it only needs to heat through and absorb the surrounding flavors.
- Vibrant Red Cabbage: Not just for color, red cabbage provides a satisfying texture and a slightly peppery note that mellows beautifully during cooking, becoming tender and sweet.
- Sweet-Tart Apples: Apples introduce a bright, fruity counterpoint to the savory sausage and earthy cabbage. As they cook down, they release their natural sugars, creating a wonderful glaze. Varieties like Honeycrisp, Gala, or even Granny Smith (for extra tartness) work wonderfully.
- A Tangy-Sweet Sauce: A simple yet effective blend of butter, apple cider vinegar, ketchup, light brown sugar, and garlic powder creates a flavorful sauce that coats every ingredient, infusing the dish with an irresistible balance of sweet, savory, and tangy notes. Salt and pepper tie it all together.
Why Choose the Slow Cooker for This Recipe?
The slow cooker, or Crock Pot, is an invaluable tool for preparing this dish. Its gentle, consistent heat allows the flavors to deepen and meld over several hours, resulting in a complex and satisfying meal. Here’s why it’s the ideal method:
- Hands-Off Cooking: After a quick initial sauté of the onions, simply toss all ingredients into the slow cooker and let it do the work. This frees up your time for other activities.
- Flavor Infusion: The low and slow cooking process allows the kielbasa, cabbage, and apples to simmer in the tangy-sweet sauce, fully absorbing all the delicious flavors.
- Tender Perfection: Cabbage becomes incredibly tender without turning mushy, and apples soften to a perfect consistency, releasing their natural sweetness.
- Consistent Results: The even heat of a slow cooker ensures your meal is cooked through perfectly every time, reducing the risk of over or undercooking.
For best results, we highly recommend using a slow cooker equipped with a digital timer that automatically switches to a “warm” setting once the cooking cycle is complete. This feature is a game-changer, ensuring your dinner is perfectly cooked and ready when you are, without the stress of constant monitoring.
Ingredients for Crock Pot Kielbasa with Red Cabbage and Apples
- 1 large yellow onion, thinly sliced
- 1 pound kielbasa, cut into 1-inch segments
- 1 small red cabbage, shredded
- 2 apples, cored and cut into wedges
- 3 Tablespoons butter
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- ½ cup ketchup
- 1 Tablespoon light brown sugar
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt and pepper to taste
Simple Instructions for a Delicious Meal
Preparing this Crock Pot Kielbasa with Red Cabbage and Apples is incredibly straightforward. Follow these easy steps to create a memorable meal:
- Caramelize Onions: Begin by sautéing the thinly sliced yellow onion in a skillet with a tablespoon of butter until it’s beautifully softened and lightly caramelized. This crucial step adds a deep, sweet foundation to the dish. Once done, transfer the cooked onions to the bottom of your slow cooker.
- Combine Ingredients: Add the kielbasa segments, shredded red cabbage, and apple wedges to the slow cooker, layering them over the onions.
- Prepare the Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together the remaining butter (melted), apple cider vinegar, ketchup, light brown sugar, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Pour this flavorful sauce evenly over all the ingredients in the slow cooker. Give everything a good stir to ensure all components are well coated.
- Cook to Perfection: Cover the slow cooker and cook on the LOW setting for 4 hours. The long, gentle cooking time allows the flavors to meld beautifully, the cabbage to soften, and the apples to become tender and sweet.
Once cooked, gently stir the dish one last time and serve warm. The result is a comforting, flavorful meal that the whole family will adore.
Tips for the Best Crock Pot Kielbasa
- Choose Your Kielbasa: While smoked kielbasa is typically used, feel free to experiment with fresh kielbasa or even turkey kielbasa for a leaner option. Ensure it’s cut into manageable, bite-sized pieces.
- Apple Selection: For a balanced flavor, use a combination of sweet and tart apples. Granny Smith apples offer a lovely tartness that cuts through the richness of the kielbasa, while Honeycrisp or Gala apples add sweetness and retain some texture.
- Don’t Skip the Onions: Caramelizing the onions beforehand adds a layer of depth and sweetness that truly enhances the overall flavor profile of the dish. It’s a small extra step that makes a big difference.
- Adjust Sweetness/Tang: Taste the sauce before adding it to the slow cooker and adjust the brown sugar or cider vinegar to suit your preference. Some prefer a sweeter dish, others a tangier one.
- Serving Suggestions: This dish is incredibly versatile. It pairs wonderfully with creamy mashed potatoes, fluffy white rice, egg noodles, or even a simple crusty bread to soak up the delicious sauce. A fresh green salad can also provide a refreshing contrast.
- Storage and Leftovers: Leftovers store well in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave. The flavors often deepen overnight!
Delicious Variations to Explore
Feeling creative? Here are a few ideas to customize your Crock Pot Kielbasa:
- Add More Vegetables: Incorporate sliced carrots, bell peppers (any color), or even small potatoes to make it an even heartier one-pot meal. Add them at the same time as the cabbage and apples.
- Spicier Kick: For those who enjoy a bit of heat, add a pinch of red pepper flakes along with the garlic powder, or a dash of hot sauce to the sauce mixture.
- Herbaceous Twist: Fresh herbs like a sprig of thyme or a bay leaf can add an aromatic depth to the dish.
- Mustard Lover’s Delight: Stir in a tablespoon of Dijon mustard or whole grain mustard into the sauce for an extra layer of zesty flavor.
- Different Sausage: While kielbasa is fantastic, you could also try this recipe with other smoked sausages like bratwurst or even chicken sausage.
More Great Slow Cooker Recipes
If you love the ease and deliciousness of slow cooker meals, you’ll definitely want to explore these other fantastic recipes:
- Cabbage Roll Soup
- Pot Roast Crockpot
- Easy Marinara Sauce
- Coca Cola Glazed Ham
- How to cook Quinoa in the Crockpot
Be sure to check out our extensive collection of copycat recipes, irresistible dessert recipes, and of course, many more Crock Pot Recipes for every occasion!
Crock Pot Kielbasa with Red Cabbage and Apples Recipe
How to make delicious Crock Pot Kielbasa with Red Cabbage and Apples Recipe
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Print Recipe
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 4 hours
Total Time: 4 hours 20 minutes
Servings: 4
Calories: 618 kcal
Author: Tammilee Tips
Ingredients
- 1 large yellow onion, thinly sliced
- 1 pound kielbasa, cut into 1 inch segments
- 1 small red cabbage, shredded
- 2 apples, cored and cut into wedges
- 3 Tablespoon Butter
- ¼ cup Apple Cider Vinegar
- ½ cup Ketchup
- 1 Tablespoon Light Brown Sugar
- ¼ teaspoon Garlic Powder
- ¼ teaspoon Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook onions in a skillet until lightly caramelized, then place in the crock pot.
- Place all remaining ingredients in the crock pot and stir well to combine.
- Cook on low for 4 hours.
Kitchen Tools
- Slow cooker
Nutrition
Calories from Fat 378
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We hope you enjoy this easy and incredibly flavorful Crock Pot Kielbasa with Red Cabbage and Apples. It’s a comforting, satisfying meal that brings together classic flavors with the convenience of slow cooking. Perfect for a busy evening, it promises a delicious reward with minimal fuss.
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Recipe originally shared on July 29, 2015. Updated December 2020.