Brown Sugar Kielbasa

I’m letting you in on my secret go-to potluck dish: Brown Sugar Kielbasa, a crowd pleasing recipe that only has two ingredients and cooks all by itself in the slow cooker while you’re at work. The only downside is that it’s not vegetarian, but it sure does feed a bunch of people with very little effort! I bring this to every Super Bowl party, baby shower, and potluck around, and everyone always asks for the recipe after.

All you need for ingredients is 3 packages kielbasa, any variety — I use turkey, because it’s a little less fatty and greasy — and 1 package (1 lb.) of dark brown sugar (light brown sugar is OK if dark is unavailable). 

You want a rough ratio of two or three packages kielbasa to one package sugar, but this recipe is flexible enough that you can add or subtract a kielbasa link and it’ll turn out fine. The sugar cooks over either low or high heat until it forms a liquid sauce. 

To cook it, slice the kielbasa into quarter-size pieces and place them in the slow cooker, then pour the entire box of sugar on top of the kielbasa, and stir quickly to combine.

Cover and cook on low for 5 hours (or on high for 2 1/2 hours). It will look very, very dark when it’s done. And that’s it! Ready to serve warm.

Set it overnight or while you’re at work, and when you get home you can take your slow cooker directly to the potluck or party. You’ll have perfectly cooked kielbasa chunks swimming in a sweet, syrupy brown sugar sauce.

Variations work very well with this recipe — mustard, onions, green peppers, fruit preserves, canned fruit, jelly, beans, bacon, garlic and chilli are all great additions here. Just read the comments below for even more inspiration! I think my favorite reader suggested change is to add in some ginger beer. How good does that sound? If you make tasty modification, don’t forget to share them!

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